Pleated and cellular shades look pretty the same. Both are designed from pleated material [woven/non-woven], offer same functions and operate in similar way. They are also referred to as ‘top down – bottom up’ shades. This means the blinds can be lowered and raised. You can buy both kinds to control light filtration with or without cord.
How are cellular shades different than pleated ones?
Cellular shades
Honeycomb design is visible, when looked at cellular shades from the side, so they are popular as honeycomb shades. Insulation they provide is beneficial. Insulation helps with energy and sound. Check Veepisar – akna- ja uksekatted [Veepisar – Window and Door Covers] for great energy saving solution.
Advantages
- Offers high quality insulation in comparison to many window coverings
- More energy efficient, so in winter heat loss from window gets resisted and in summer heat stays out of the window, thus saves energy cost in due course
- Available in triple, double, and single honeycombs, typically non-woven fabric
- Pleats vary in sizes and lining can be added for more darkening effect
- Extensive color range for selection because cellular shades are designed from fabric
- Shade stack height is small because it can compress tightly, so the view through the window gets minimally blocked when raised
- Cord holes are not visible, so creates neat and streamlined appearance
- For child safety you can choose the cordless option
- The shape of the pleats gets well-maintained over time in comparison to pleated blinds
- Wider windows can be covered with wide widths of cellular blinds
Drawbacks
- Fabric shades are difficult to clean in comparison to faux wood or wood blinds
- Cellular shades are more costly than pleated ones
Pleated shades
From front voldikkardinad [pleated blinds] look like cellular shades but don’t offer similar insulation.
Advantages
- They are less costly than honeycomb shades
- Single fabric layer, which is typically woven
- You can use lining to darken a room or allow filter lighting
- You can buy them in different colors, textures and styles
- Small stack height, so less brightness through the window gets blocked
- You get cordless or continuous cord loop options, meaning no nasty cords dangling on the floor, where pets and kids can reach them
- You can use a motor to lower or raise them with a push on a button
Drawbacks
- Many pleated shades have visible cord holes all through, so less privacy and light control
- Less energy efficient than cellular shades
- Difficult to clean
How to measure energy efficiency for pleated or cellular shades?
For energy efficiency test window covering you need to remember that for summer it is shading coefficient and for winter, it is R-values.
Shading coefficient measure window heat reduction in summer. The low number means shade is very efficient. Coefficient of cellular shades range from .43 [semi-opaque] to .35 [opaque]. Regular pleated shade has approximate coefficient of .60. This means with cellular shades you get over 80% and more window heat reduction.
R-value measures the ability of fabric to repel heat loss in winter. High R-value means better insulation. R-value of single layer uncovered window glass is roughly 1.75. R-value of pleated shade is approximately 2.20. R-value single cellular shade ranges from 3.50 to 4.30. Therefore, a triple or double honeycomb shade will have an amazing R-value of 4.78.
Understand the difference and make a learned decision of choosing an ideal window solution!
Author’s Bio:
Nicholas Spiker has written this article. Veepisar – akna- ja uksekatted collection can be browsed on their website, veepisar.ee/tootekategooriad/voldikkardinad. You can even speak to their window solution experts and gain more details about voldikkardinad or honeycomb shades.
