Castex Window Shadings

For Vertical Windows

Castec's Solar Solutions product range combines two vital ingredients, innovative design and a great range of fabrics, to bring you practical and elegant solutions for virtually any solar shading need. This comprehensive product line includes an answer for virtually any window shading challenge, including solariums and skylights; and the wide range of solar shading fabrics offers varying degrees of sun protection, privacy, and even blackout features in a great selection of colors, weaves, and finishes.

Whether you are dealing with a small window, a very large window, a greenhouse, a sloped or curved glass surface, or an overhead skylight, Solar Solutions has a product to meet your needs.

ROLLSTAR

A Rollstar™ shade employs roll-shade technology to cover vertical windows. The fabric rolls around a roller tube when raised, and the shade is finished at the bottom with a neat bottom rail that has molded end caps. It is a simple and elegant product. A wide selection of options, including headboxes, fascias, and motorized lifting systems, help ensure an efficient yet aesthetic solution to solar shading needs for vertical windows.

Clutch-operated lifting system is standard; motorization is an optional add-on. Fascias and headboxes are available in various sizes.

Rollstar™ roll shades are compact when opened (drawn up). Since the fabric rolls up, the shade does not require the "stacking space" of a traditional folding shade. When the shade is down, the deployed fabric is smooth and uncluttered, providing simple and elegant sun protection and privacy. During the day, the solar-screen fabrics allow a clear view through the window, while blocking the view into the building from outside. In the evening, when the source of light is inside, additional window treatments such as draperies might be needed to provide night-time privacy.

The simple, uncluttered look of this product, its functional advantages, and its cost effectiveness, combined with Castec's superior parts and craftsmanship, make it extremely popular.

Rollstar roll shades can be made for window openings up to 240" wide.

If complete blackout is required, the shade can be made in blackout fabric with side and bottom channels and a headbox or fascia.

Note: In situations where the ratio of shade height to width is greater than 3 to 1, a RollstarT roll shade may not be the right choice. Beyond this ratio, roll shades tend to "track" from side to side as they roll up and down. This is unavoidable. In these situations, a SunstarT folding shade is an attractive and effective alternative.

SUNSTAR™

A Sunstar folding shade is finished neatly with a round bottom rail rather than a hem. Lifting cords run from the bottom of the shade through a series of pulleys and cord guides (rings attached to the shade). The cords lift the shade from the bottom, causing the shade to form a series of folds as it rises.

Because solar fabrics with vertical seams do not fold neatly, we cannot make the Sunstar folding shade with center panels or center seams. Instead, we railroad the fabric (turn it at a 90 degree angle) and conceal any horizontal seams in the stay pockets.

Sunstar folding shades have no side hems. Because of the quality of the solar fabrics, side seams are not necessary; and the additional thickness might impair the operation of the shade. The fabric edges are neatly finished.

Both manual and motorized lifting systems are available.

The classic look of a Sunstar shade makes it desirable in situations where some design detail is preferred. Stays running from side to side add structure, giving the shade an "architectural" look.

As with Rollstar roll shades, Sunstar folding shades allow a clear view through the window during the day, while blocking the view in from outside.

When the window to be covered is very narrow in relation to its height, a SunstarT folding shade is often used as an alternative to a Rollstar roll shade.

TRACKSTAR™

Trackstar shades are an ideal solution for treating curved windows, and are typically used in solariums and greenhouses.

The Trackstar shade design is a variation on the Sunstar folding shade style, with engineering modifications to allow smooth operation over curved windows. The sides of the shade are held in place by carriers that run along a fixed track.

A Trackstar shade is lifted from the bottom, creating the folded stack that is characteristic of a folding shade. Trackstar shades are used in situations where the slope of the glass is sufficient to use gravity in bringing it down. The path of the shade is guided by tracks, and special carriers attached to the shade travel along the tracks.

Most Trackstar™ shades are made up in solar-screen fabrics, but other fabrics can be used as well.

Both manual and motorized lifting systems are available.

SKYSTAR™

For windows that are flat and rectangular but without a vertical slope, a Skystar skylight shade is usually the preferred solution. Castec's Solar Solutions line features the following Skystar skylight shade styles:

Skystar 600, a motorized flat roll shade that is often made with blackout fabric.

The Skystar 600 is a complete roll shade and motorized lifting system. It can be manufactured with any fabric suitable for roll shades.

Skystar 701A, a manually operated folding shade system. The consumer uses a wand to draw the shade open or closed.
Skystar 701B, a motorized folding shade system with visible return cords.
Skystar 701C, a motorized folding shade system with a HelireelT motor. The design of this motor forces the cords to wind around the tube evenly, ensuring that the shade remains even when it is raised or lowered. The return cords are routed through the side channels, so they are not visible when the shade is drawn.

The Skystar-701 series folding skylight shades are a variation of the Sunstar folding shade, with engineering modifications to allow easy operation in situations in which gravity is not sufficient to close the shade. They include return cords and pulleys for extending the shade.

Skystar-701 series folding skylight shades are better suited for larger applications than the Skystar 600.

Although the most common application of these systems is covering overhead glass, such as skylights, they are not limited to this use. In fact, Skystar skylight shades can be used on any flat, rectangular area, including one with a perfectly vertical slope.

Customers who want more complete room darkening should select the Skystar 600. The Skystar 701 series skylight shades, due to their folding shade design, do not provide the same high level of room darkening.

If you are planning any design or construction project, you can rely on Commercial Draperies Unlimited for service, quality and price.
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