6. Q: The material on my shade is rolling up crooked. What causes this and how do I fix it?

This is usually caused by the installation not being level; the shade will roll towards the higher side. It must be corrected immediately or the shade material, telescoping over the end, will rub the shade brackets and get damaged.

• Best solution is to remount the brackets so the shade will be level.
• Another solution is to lower the shade until the roller is exposed. On the side opposite the incorrect roll place a 3 inch length of 1 1/2" masking tape on the long edge of the shade material, or on the roller edge. This will balance (level) the roller. Additional layers of tape may be required until the shade rolls up evenly.
• Operate the shade slowly to be sure the roll is correct; stop at once if the material runs to one side.

MISCELLANEOUS

10. Q: I want to change the side my chain is on, or make my shade a reverse roll instead of regular. How do I do this?

• If your shade is a right hand control and regular roll, and you want a left hand reverse roll, you have to remove the shade and the brackets, and mount the brackets so that the pin end bracket is on the right and the clutch bracket (the one with the little flipper) is on the left. When you put the shade up, it will have to be a reverse roll. When the shade is all the way up, the bead should be at the top, touching the clutch on the side nearest the room.
  
  
• If your shade is a left hand control and regular roll, and you want a right hand reverse roll, you have to remove the shade and the brackets, and mount the brackets so that the pin end bracket is on the left and the clutch bracket (the one with the little flipper) is on the right. When you put the shade up, it will have to be a reverse roll. When the shade is all the way up, the bead should be at the top, touching the clutch on the side nearest the room.
  
  
• If your shade is a left hand control reverse roll, and you want a right hand control reverse roll, it’s a bit trickier to correct. If you have already installed the shade, roll the shade all the way up (the bead stopper will be at the top and on the side further from the glass) remove it from the brackets, take the brackets down, and reinstall the brackets so that the clutch bracket is on the right. Then, pull the clutch and the pin end out of the roller, and put the pin end on the end you just took the clutch from. Holding the clutch in your hand with the chain on the right hand side, pull the chain until the bead stopper is at the top on the opposite side (which will be again further from the glass when in the shade). Insert the clutch in to the right hand side of the tube and place the shade back on the brackets. It should operate correctly now, and be a right hand controlled reverse roll shade.
  
  
• If your shade is a right hand control reverse roll, and you want a left hand control reverse roll, roll the shade all the way up (the bead stopper will be at the top and on the side closer from the glass) remove it from the brackets, take the brackets down, and reinstall the brackets so that the clutch bracket is on the left. Then, pull the clutch and the pin end out of the roller, and put the pin end on the end you just took the clutch from. Holding the clutch in your hand with the chain on the left hand side, pull the chain until the bead stopper is at the top on the opposite side (which will be further to the glass when in the shade). Insert the clutch in to the left hand side of the tube and place the shade back on the brackets. It should operate correctly now, and be a left hand controlled reverse roll shade.

11. Q: My shipment came with some odd parts in the hardware bag. What are they? (See labeled photos here.)

a. some plastic discs about 1/2" in diameter that have a triangular piece notched out of them.

Your shade chain needs two stoppers. One is the plastic chain joiner; that one stops the shade from going up too far by hitting the clutch. (On metal chains, the joiner is also metal.) The other one, the "Pac Man" disc, is to stop it from going down too far. It is used on clutch chain shades that have a chain with closely placed beads. Operate the shade until it is down as far as you want it to go--the window sill, or just past it, or where you want it to stop. Then you force the Pac Man disc between two beads at the top of the shade right where the chain goes into the clutch.

b. some plastic, hinged, bean shaped pieces.

Your shade chain needs two stoppers. One is the plastic chain joiner; that one stops the shade from going up too far by hitting the clutch. (On metal chains, the joiner is also metal.) The other one, the "plastic bean," is to stop it from going down too far. It is used on clutch chain shades that have a chain with beads that are about 1 cm. apart. Operate the shade until it is down as far as you want it to go--the window sill, or just past it, or where you want it to stop. Then you place the bean over the two beads at the top of the shade right where the chain goes into the clutch and snap it shut.

c. some small, clear plastic hollow balls or cylinders, or small metal partial spheres

Your shade chain needs two stoppers. One is the plastic chain joiner; that one stops the shade from going up too far by hitting the clutch. (On metal chains, the joiner is also metal.) The other one, the "ball stopper," is to stop it from going down too far. It can be used on any clutch chain shade. Operate the shade until it is down as far as you want it to go--the window sill, or just past it, or where you want it to stop. Then you place the ball over the two beads at the top of the shade right where the chain goes into the clutch and force the bead into it. (Use pliers to force the metal spheres closed over the bead chain.)

12. Q: Will Solar Shades save me money?

• Windows have the lowest insulation value of any element in a building and are therefore responsible for the greatest energy loss.  50% of the solar heat that enters a room comes through the glass while 40% of the heat that escapes leaves through it. Transparent solar shades significantly reduce the high cost of energy consumption for cooling and heating without sacrificing visibility through a window.  Because they quickly pay for themselves, with skyrocketing fuel costs they are like putting money in the bank.
• Interior Solar Shades form an insulating air pocket between the shade and the window. Metallized fabrics or colors closest to white best reflect the heat back out through the glass in the summer.  If you put your hand on a black car and a white car, the white car is always cooler. In winter shades should be raised during the day to allow in the sun’s radiation. At night in the winter or on cloudy days they should be lowered to reflect heat back into  the room.  The addition of side channels to our Kool Vue film shades makes an excellent barrier against cold air transfer.
• Exterior Solar Shades are the best defense against the heat. They started in Europe as a way to keep buildings cool.  Because they absorb the solar radiation before it passes through and needs to be reflected out, they keep the interior much cooler. Darker colors on the exterior absorb more light and are therefore 10% more effective than light colors against the heat.