window covering - tanTALK

Kath · 10-13-2001, 09:40 AM

My new salon faces the south. I do have awnings but the sun comes in almost all day. I have 1400 square feet, ten beds and 10 ton A.C. If it is comfortable in the lobby then it gets colder as you walk to the back of the salon, with it being very cold at the farthest back area. I do not want to put blinds or anything else that covers the windows. I like being able to look out and have people see in. Had a company give me a bid on putting film on the windows but, wow, that was very expensive. Any ideas?

Kathy

tangirl · 10-13-2001, 10:01 AM

Kath, I've been looking into this myself as my front windows face northwest. So, I get the lovely afternoon sun directly in my lobby. Solar screen, is expensive and pretty much blocks any views that you may have. Window tint can be expensive, but may be well worth the investment. I'm considering vertical blinds, but that can also be very expensive. Right now, this project is on hold for me until busy season.

Tamar · 10-13-2001, 10:15 AM

Find out who your local car dealerships use for window tinting, you may find a mom & pop shop that might do it for considerable savings. Best time is when car sales are slow. Be persistent and call them all til you find one - they are out there.

We found one for almost half the going rate but the issue isn't pressing at the moment since the change of weather.

Ginger · 10-13-2001, 10:31 AM

Kathy,

Could you partially close some of the vents in the back to keep it from being as cold? Of course, when busy season hits you'll need to open them back up because those beds running constantly will warm it up in a hurry!

Bronze Star · 10-13-2001, 12:43 PM

Kath,

I'm not sure how big your window is, but check with Blinds to Go about a dark clear film rolled blind. It's the coolest thing I've ever seen. You can see right through it, it's dark bluish almost purple and it minimizing heat and UV. I'm not sure how long (width) they can make it. But I know they can cut them to size (length) to fit your window. If they don't have it, someone's got to. It would be much less expensive than an applied covering that you can't remove once it's in place.

Also in the winter when you may welcome the warmth, you can raise it. It's completely adjustable depending on your needs. During the night time hours you can raise them to allow seeing both in and out much easier.

Kath · 10-13-2001, 02:13 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions! Someone suggested the "roller" shades and said they work great and you can buy them at Home Depot but I couldn't find them. They also told me that they are inexpensive, but don't last forever but are cheap enough that you can replace them.

The company that came out to give me a bid had the "car tinting" material and another kind. The only problem with that is you can't see in from the outside. The other has metal in the film that reflects back out the sun and heat. Of course, this is much more expensive. It is lighter in color and you can see through both sides easily.

I think I am going to continue to look for the shades. Closing the vents is another good idea that I hadn't thought of.

Thanks
Kathy

ellas14 · 10-13-2001, 02:25 PM

Kath,
In my salon I put the type of blinds that roll up, from a blind company. It is a nice material that I can see outside still but cuts out the sun and heat. At night people can see inside if they are down. During the day outside cannot see inside they are a nice color that match the theme of my salon.
They cost me $530.00. Well worth it!!!!!!

Becky · 12-04-2001, 02:53 AM

bump

Kath · 12-04-2001, 08:58 AM

Becky, thanks for the "bump". I have just yesterday resolved this problem. After getting the window tinting bid I contacted a glass company to make sure this is safe. They said that with double pane glass, putting solar tint on the glass that reflects the sun back onto the glass is extremely dangerous and could cause the gas that is between the panes to explode. They suggested replacing the glass itself with solar glass. I called the landlord and they said "NO" to anything on the windows. Blinds, curtains, shades, tinting etc.etc. I couldn't believe it. We are in a brand new mall with a brand new Target. They run the show around here. They said nothing on the windows to make it appear closed. I was beside myself. I got a bid from Blinds to Go on the roller type shades made of the tinting material. Called the landlord and begged for permission to please put these up. My problem is only from 8 am-12n. Of course all of this info is going through the secretary. Now it is so bad that the candles that I carry have faded, the lotions are watery. After weeks of no response to my problem, I called the friday before thanksgiving and told them I was ordering the custom shades and if they didn't like it they could talk to my lawyer.

That afternoon He called me, put me on speaker phone (I hate that) and called his secretary in to "witness" the call. Told me I was a constant complainer, tramping and griping about everything. He said he was going to review my lease because he thinks I am selling things that are not "tanning related" as stated in my lease i.e. candles and jewelry. I won't go into what I said. Called my lawyer and have been fuming ever since. In the a.m. I can't even read the screen on the computer because of the sun glare.

Well, yesterday, almost two months after my initial contact with them about the problem they sent me a letter saying I could put up the roller shades but if Target management complained I would have to take them down.

I have designed a beautiful salon. It has a european design with faux rock walls, grecian pillars, sky above the broken walls and vines coming over the walls. I DO NOT want to go to the expense of blinds and I DO NOT want to cover up windows. I HAVE to. So I will order the roller shades today. Wow, what a big deal! Now I am afraid that since I have "upset" the management he might try to make life miserable for me.

Kathy
BellaDonna Tan

tangirl · 12-04-2001, 10:45 AM

Kath - Please hang in there. It sounds like you have a horrible management co. to deal with. Is there any way that you can take the temperature near the windows when the sun is shining brightest. If the management co. keeps griping, let them know that the temperature is unbearable, blah, blah, blah, and that you are having to run the air conditioner more which is creating more wear and tear. Using some sort of shade just during that time period would ease the your usage of the air conditioner and make your lobby more comfortable for your clients, therefore increasing your business and the business to the shopping center.

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10-13-2001, 09:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kath Join Date: May 10 2001 Posts: 101 Rep Power: 23	My new salon faces the south. I do have awnings but the sun comes in almost all day. I have 1400 square feet, ten beds and 10 ton A.C. If it is comfortable in the lobby then it gets colder as you walk to the back of the salon, with it being very cold at the farthest back area. I do not want to put blinds or anything else that covers the windows. I like being able to look out and have people see in. Had a company give me a bid on putting film on the windows but, wow, that was very expensive. Any ideas? Kathy

10-13-2001, 10:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
tangirl Join Date: Jul 6 2001 Posts: 1,875 Rep Power: 23	Kath, I've been looking into this myself as my front windows face northwest. So, I get the lovely afternoon sun directly in my lobby. Solar screen, is expensive and pretty much blocks any views that you may have. Window tint can be expensive, but may be well worth the investment. I'm considering vertical blinds, but that can also be very expensive. Right now, this project is on hold for me until busy season.

10-13-2001, 10:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tamar Join Date: Aug 15 2001 Posts: 1,906 Rep Power: 23	Find out who your local car dealerships use for window tinting, you may find a mom & pop shop that might do it for considerable savings. Best time is when car sales are slow. Be persistent and call them all til you find one - they are out there. We found one for almost half the going rate but the issue isn't pressing at the moment since the change of weather.

10-13-2001, 10:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ginger Join Date: Jan 27 2000 Posts: 415 Rep Power: 25	Kathy, Could you partially close some of the vents in the back to keep it from being as cold? Of course, when busy season hits you'll need to open them back up because those beds running constantly will warm it up in a hurry!

10-13-2001, 12:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bronze Star Join Date: Apr 11 2001 Posts: 2,693 Rep Power: 24	Kath, I'm not sure how big your window is, but check with Blinds to Go about a dark clear film rolled blind. It's the coolest thing I've ever seen. You can see right through it, it's dark bluish almost purple and it minimizing heat and UV. I'm not sure how long (width) they can make it. But I know they can cut them to size (length) to fit your window. If they don't have it, someone's got to. It would be much less expensive than an applied covering that you can't remove once it's in place. Also in the winter when you may welcome the warmth, you can raise it. It's completely adjustable depending on your needs. During the night time hours you can raise them to allow seeing both in and out much easier.

10-13-2001, 02:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kath Join Date: May 10 2001 Posts: 101 Rep Power: 23	Thanks for all the suggestions! Someone suggested the "roller" shades and said they work great and you can buy them at Home Depot but I couldn't find them. They also told me that they are inexpensive, but don't last forever but are cheap enough that you can replace them. The company that came out to give me a bid had the "car tinting" material and another kind. The only problem with that is you can't see in from the outside. The other has metal in the film that reflects back out the sun and heat. Of course, this is much more expensive. It is lighter in color and you can see through both sides easily. I think I am going to continue to look for the shades. Closing the vents is another good idea that I hadn't thought of. Thanks Kathy

10-13-2001, 02:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
ellas14 Join Date: Aug 16 2001 Location: midwest Age: 51 Posts: 288 Rep Power: 23	Kath, In my salon I put the type of blinds that roll up, from a blind company. It is a nice material that I can see outside still but cuts out the sun and heat. At night people can see inside if they are down. During the day outside cannot see inside they are a nice color that match the theme of my salon. They cost me $530.00. Well worth it!!!!!!

12-04-2001, 02:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
Becky Waiting Confirmation Join Date: May 7 2001 Posts: 1,006 Rep Power: 0	bump

12-04-2001, 08:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
Kath Join Date: May 10 2001 Posts: 101 Rep Power: 23	Becky, thanks for the "bump". I have just yesterday resolved this problem. After getting the window tinting bid I contacted a glass company to make sure this is safe. They said that with double pane glass, putting solar tint on the glass that reflects the sun back onto the glass is extremely dangerous and could cause the gas that is between the panes to explode. They suggested replacing the glass itself with solar glass. I called the landlord and they said "NO" to anything on the windows. Blinds, curtains, shades, tinting etc.etc. I couldn't believe it. We are in a brand new mall with a brand new Target. They run the show around here. They said nothing on the windows to make it appear closed. I was beside myself. I got a bid from Blinds to Go on the roller type shades made of the tinting material. Called the landlord and begged for permission to please put these up. My problem is only from 8 am-12n. Of course all of this info is going through the secretary. Now it is so bad that the candles that I carry have faded, the lotions are watery. After weeks of no response to my problem, I called the friday before thanksgiving and told them I was ordering the custom shades and if they didn't like it they could talk to my lawyer. That afternoon He called me, put me on speaker phone (I hate that) and called his secretary in to "witness" the call. Told me I was a constant complainer, tramping and griping about everything. He said he was going to review my lease because he thinks I am selling things that are not "tanning related" as stated in my lease i.e. candles and jewelry. I won't go into what I said. Called my lawyer and have been fuming ever since. In the a.m. I can't even read the screen on the computer because of the sun glare. Well, yesterday, almost two months after my initial contact with them about the problem they sent me a letter saying I could put up the roller shades but if Target management complained I would have to take them down. I have designed a beautiful salon. It has a european design with faux rock walls, grecian pillars, sky above the broken walls and vines coming over the walls. I DO NOT want to go to the expense of blinds and I DO NOT want to cover up windows. I HAVE to. So I will order the roller shades today. Wow, what a big deal! Now I am afraid that since I have "upset" the management he might try to make life miserable for me. Kathy BellaDonna Tan

12-04-2001, 10:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
tangirl Join Date: Jul 6 2001 Posts: 1,875 Rep Power: 23	Kath - Please hang in there. It sounds like you have a horrible management co. to deal with. Is there any way that you can take the temperature near the windows when the sun is shining brightest. If the management co. keeps griping, let them know that the temperature is unbearable, blah, blah, blah, and that you are having to run the air conditioner more which is creating more wear and tear. Using some sort of shade just during that time period would ease the your usage of the air conditioner and make your lobby more comfortable for your clients, therefore increasing your business and the business to the shopping center.

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