Most Common Questions & Answers Regarding RV Skirting

by Ray Waddell | Jun 6, 2022 | EZ Snap, RV Skirting

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Most Common Questions regarding RV Skirting.

How much does RV Skirting Cost?

Depending on what type of RV Skirting you choose, there can be a wide range in the cost. The most cost-effective type of RV Skirting is the “Do-it-Yourself” style like EZ Snap® RV Skirting. These “DYI” options are typically in the $1000 or less range, depending on the size and type of your RV. Use the EZ Snap RV Skirting Cost Calculator to find out how much will it cost to skirt your specific RV.
Click Link to Calculator

The expensive RV Skirting types of RV Skirting is custom-made by an upholstery or sewing shop and also the inflatable style of skirting. These two types can range from about $3000, all the way up to the $7000 range. It is the expensive labor of upholstery shops that drives the costs up. That is why the “DYI’ options are so cost-effective. You use your labor for FREE, but still, professional-looking end up with a quality and professional-looking RV Skirting. While the custom-made skirting option usually does a good job of stopping air infiltration, the inflatable style skirting has a reputation for deflating and being prone to air leaks that let the cold winter air in.

How much does RV Skirting Cost?

Depending on what type of RV Skirting you choose, there can be a wide range in the cost. The most cost-effective type of RV Skirting is the “Do-it-Yourself” style like EZ Snap® RV Skirting. These “DYI” options are typically in the $1000 or less range, depending on the size and type of your RV. Use the EZ Snap RV Skirting Cost Calculator to find out how much will it cost to skirt your specific RV.
Click Link to Calculator

The expensive RV Skirting types of RV Skirting is custom-made by an upholstery or sewing shop and also the inflatable style of skirting. These two types can range from about $3000, all the way up to the $7000 range. It is the expensive labor of upholstery shops that drives the costs up. That is why the “DYI’ options are so cost-effective. You use your labor for FREE, but still, professional-looking end up with a quality and professional-looking RV Skirting. While the custom-made skirting option usually does a good job of stopping air infiltration, the inflatable style skirting has a reputation for deflating and being prone to air leaks that let the cold winter air in.

What is the best RV Skirting?

The best RV Skirting is typically the one that stops air infiltration for a low cost, but is still made with quality materials and has a professional look.
Here are some RV Skirting types with their Pros & Cons:

“DIY” RV Skirting Kits (Like EZ Snap®)
AVG Cost = $1000
Pros: Low Cost $ – Can stop 100% of Air infiltration – High Quality – No special tools required – cheaper than custom made.
Cons: Must install yourself

Inflatable RV Skirting (Like Air Skirts)
AVG Cost = $2000 to $3000
Pros: No special tools required – Cheaper than custom-made
Cons: Expensive $$$ – Difficult to stop Air infiltration around objects – Prone to deflating in colder weather – Hard to repair once they develop leaks.

Custom-Made Sewn RV Skirting (Like Upholstrey Shops make)
AVG Cost = $3500 to $7000
Pros: Installed for you – High Quality – No special tools required – Can stop 100% of Air infiltration.
Cons: Very Expensive $$$$

What is the best RV Skirtingfor a 5th wheel or trailer

How does RV Skirting work?

The #1 most important feature of any RV Skirting is it must completely stop “Air Infiltration.”

Most people wrongly believe that it is the job of RV Skirting to insulate the RV against the cold of winter. While insulation helps in extremely cold weather, it is not nearly as important as keeping the cold air out and the warm air in (Air Infiltration). Imagine having an expensive, insulated winter coat with the zipper undone. This is why an RV Skirting that conforms to all the corners and objects on an RV is so important. Read all about the Myths of RV Skirting R-Value in this article. It is for this same reason that poorly fitted skirting or the inflatable variety of RV Skirting, typically do not function as effectively as a properly fitted vinyl skirting product. For an even more detailed explanation of how RV Skirting works, click here.

Is RV Skirting for Winter or Summer?

The main reason why RV Skirting is used is to winterize an RV, 5th Wheel, or Travel trailer. The skirting not only makes the RV floor more comfortable in the winter weather, but it also protects water lines from freezing.

Even though RV Skirting and underpinning is mostly used for winterizing an RV, it also has many advantages to being left on for the summer months as well. If you are air -conditioning your RV in the summer, RV skirting can help reduce your a/c costs by keeping the hot summer air from getting under the RV. The skirting material also works well at keeping rodents and wind-blown debris from getting under the rig. As mentioned in previous articles, the most important feature of any type of RV Skirting is that it stops air infiltration. It will not function well if it has air gaps and is not fitted to the contours of the RV.previous

Is Your Vinyl Siding Melting? Find Out The Cause And The Solution

by Ray Waddell | Mar 25, 2022 | Artificial Turf Melting, Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, Vinyl Siding Melting

Why is my vinyl siding warping?

It’s happening to homes across North America and homeowners are scrambling to fix their siding only to see it warp again.

It’s a relatively new phenomenon and while the vinyl siding might seem to warp out of the blue, it’s actually being caused by the sun reflecting off of windows that are coated with Low-E film.

Low-E film is a reflective coating that’s applied to windows so they can reflect heat and make homes more energy efficient.

However, under the right conditions, the sun can bounce off the Low-E window and concentrate into a powerful beam that can reach temperatures well over 200° F.

So, most of the time when vinyl siding melts or warps it’s because that’s where a beam from a Low-E window has landed.

The reason why the siding warps is not because it’s a defective product. It was just never intended to be exposed to temperatures that high, as most vinyl siding will melt at just 165° F.

Just one Low-E glass window can easily cause thousands of dollars in damage.

Most people don’t even realize what’s happening or why, they just see that large patches of siding have been warped or artificial turf has been scorched.

This is a relatively new problem and it’s rapidly growing every year because most new homes are being built with Low-E windows.

Melted siding has now become so widespread that the major vinyl siding manufacturers have updated their warranties to exclude damage from heat caused by window reflections.

Making things even more complicated is that a lot of the time it’s a neighbor’s Low-E window that is causing the damage.

So if this is happening to you or your neighbor, do not replace any damaged siding or artificial grass yet.

The window is the source of the heat beam, so that needs to be addressed first.

If you replace your siding or your turf without first fixing the window, you’ll just end up having to replace the same things again and again.

What’s the best way to stop my siding from melting?

The window is the problem, specifically the way the sun is reflecting off the Low-E coating.

Replacing the window may seem like the most obvious solution, but it’s not necessary.

Getting a window replaced is costly, and most Low-E glass windows are relatively new, energy-efficient, and are otherwise in good working order.

As long as you can block the sunlight from hitting the window in the first place, you can stop the heat beam from forming.

Do not install a product between the vinyl siding and the window as a means of protecting the house.

Anything that is in the path of the heat beam will get damaged, so installing something like a fence or umbrella would just mean constantly replacing something else instead of siding.

The key is to keep direct sunlight off the Low-E window.

Common ways to prevent your vinyl siding from melting are:

Installing an awning over the Low-E window that’s causing the issue.
Planting some shade trees in from of the low-e window.
Investing in heat resistant siding.
Installing shade screen over the Low-E window.

Some people recommend installing awnings over their Low-E windows as a way to block the sun from hitting them.

This solution can work because it blocks the sun from directly hitting the glass, but it does have some drawbacks.

It’s one of the more expensive options, and awnings require a lot of maintenance.

They can easily get damaged by wind if they are left extended, so they can really only be used so long as you are home.

Retracting your awning every time you leave the house may mean that the sun can still hit your Low-E window and form hot spots.

So even with an awning, you could still run into the same melted siding problems.

Planting some strategic trees as a means of shade would work, but again it’s not a practical solution.

Shade trees are expensive and not everyone has the available space to be able to plant a large shade tree.

Replacing melted siding with a heat-resistant type of siding is an option, but it’s by far the most costly as it would mean having to replace the siding for the entire house.

Some people have taken the step to replace their siding with heat-resistant vinyl siding.

This is by far the most expensive option as it can easily run into the thousands of dollars to replace the existing siding on a house with heat-resistant siding.

The easiest and cheapest solution is to cover the window that’s causing the damage.

Painting over the outside of the window is cheap and easy and provides an immediate fix to the problem.

However, the entire point of having a window in the first place is to get natural light into your space.

Installing EZ Snap window shade over the Low-E window is the best way to fix a window while still keeping natural light.

EZ Snap works by blocking 90 percent of the sun’s heat and light from ever reaching the glass.

What does reflect off the glass gets filtered a second time on its way back out, ensuring that no hot spots can form from any Low-E glass reflections.

To see how well the shading mesh works in action, here’s a review a customer sent in who had a Low-E window that was melting their siding. The video shows both the before and after of how EZ Snap stopped the hot spots from forming.

EZ Snap can be installed on almost any size and type of window.

Because EZ Snap uses an optical grade mesh, you still get to keep your view as well.

It’s also easy enough to install that you don’t need any previous experience.

Follow more information on how our line of shade products can prevent your melted siding and artificial grass from melting

Congratulations to Yoko, our latest Contest Winner

by Ray Waddell | Jul 27, 2021 | EZ Snap, News & Announcements

We’re happy to announce the latest winner of our ‘Win Your Purchase’ contest.

Congratulations to Yoko!

Here’s their winning review:

“We got EZ exterior window shades for our 3 skylight windows. Before ordering, we called customer service for some questions, and the person who answered the phone was very friendly and knowledgeable.

Once we got the products, my husband put the adhesive studs on the skylight windows. Super easy! It took him less than 1 hour to put the studs on all 3 windows on the roof. After waiting for at least 24 hours, as instructed, he put the shade screen on the windows, again in about 1 hour. He said it was very easy.

Now how do we feel about it? We love it! Before the installation, our living room/kitchen can be really hot especially in the afternoon in summer when the sun hits the floor directly through the windows for few hours. Now with the shades, although the room still gets warmer, the temperature does not go up as much as it used to be. Definitely, we are saving some energy bills. We also like that the shades darken the room but do not completely block the sunlight.

Before we got the EZ exterior window shades, we explored the option of motorized blinds on our skylight windows. But it is very costly, and we heard a lot of trouble with them such as the remote stops working after a season. We chose EZ exterior window shades, because, hopefully, they will last long, and we can take them off in winter/fall, if we want.

So far, we enjoy the shades every day, and we are very happy with the purchase.“

Congratulations again Yoko, and great job on the installation.

P.S. – If you have entered our contest and did not win this time, don’t worry; your entry will be also entered into our future draws as well.

How to Keep Your Boat or Yacht Cabin Cool without AC

by Ray Waddell | Apr 5, 2021 | Boat Shades, EZ Snap, Yacht Sun Shades

This Innovative boat shade system features 3M® technology and provides 3 benefits in one.

The EZ Snap® boat and yacht blinds and shading system has become one of the most popular and best-selling boating products in the last 5 years. This innovation provides boaters with 3 great benefits out of one low-cost product.

First, the EZ Snap shading mesh blocks up 90% of the sun’s heat, without blocking the view. Secondly, it also blocks up to 90% of the U.V. damage caused by the sun on boat upholstery and marine gauges, and last, but not least, it provides daytime privacy when moored in the marina or yacht club.

This patented shading system features the EZ Snap® non-fray solar shading mesh. This mesh can be “cut-to-size” right on-site for a perfect fit every time. Fits all types and sizes of boats, yachts, and sailboats. Boaters also love the “No Drill” EZ Snap® fasteners, featuring a very strong 3M peel and stick VHB adhesive.
No more drilling into the expensive hull of your vessel.

1. Block 90% of the sun’s heat, without blocking your view from the cabin of your boat.

The innovative shading EZ Snap® shading mesh is an optical grade which means it will not distort your view as you look through it. These shades come in either a black or a white color. We recommend white for boats or yachts if you are looking for the maximum amount of heating blocking and the most interior privacy when moored. The black color shades are easier to see through and do not stop as much heat from building up in the boat’s cabin, especially if you only have single-pane glass on your cabin.

Heat blocking boat window shades and blinds | Sailboat Window Shades by EZSnapDirect.com

2. Protect your yacht’s interior from UV damage and stop fading of your boat’s upholstery.

UV damage to the interior of your boat is one of the most expensive and frustrating problems boaters face. This problem is even worst in sunny locations like Florida, Texas, or California.

The EZ Snap® shading mesh is designed to stop up to 90% of the full spectrum of the sun’s damaging rays. This basically means in simple math, that you are also going to stop up to 90% of the UV damage to the upholstery fabric in the boat’s cabin and marine gauges.

Protect-your-boat-or-yachts-interior-from-UV-damage

3. Day-time privacy window blinds for your boat when moored.

Along with making your boat’s cabin cooler and stoping UV damage to your yacht’s interior, you get the added benefit of reducing the fishbowl effect when you’re moored in the marina.

You will be able to see clearly out of your cabin windows, but people on the dock around you will not be able to see clearly in. This not only reduces prying eyes from casing out items in your boat but provides a sense of privacy from all the boating walking to and from their boats in a yacht club or boat marina setting.

Yacht shades and boat blinds for daytime privacy in boat marina or yacht club moorage.

3D Animation of the EZ Snap Fastener System in Action.

This animation shows how the different EZ Snap parts fit together.

This boat Shade Sunscreen animation shows how easy it is to fashion your own exterior boat solar shades on your boat or yacht windows.

This animation first shows the “Peel and Stick” 3M Adhesive Snaps attaching to a large cabin cruiser yacht, then the EZ Snap pin, followed by the EZ Snap Thermo Weave shade cloth. And finally, it is all held in place by the color matching locking cap.

3 Best Ways to Cover Triangular or Arched Windows

by Ray Waddell | Mar 19, 2021 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, Save Energy, Window Shades

Putting blinds or shades on triangular-shaped windows or arched windows can be expensive and difficult to do. Most typical blinds or shading products are designed to work with square or rectangular windows. Triangle-shaped windows are usually found on A-frame style homes, while rounded or curved arched windows (cathedral windows) are more common. With both triangular or arched windows, a shading or blind product is typically custom made, as there really is no common size for these windows.

Here are the 3 best ways to cover triangle or arched windows.

1. Custom Interior Blinds for Triangular or Curved Windows

There are many interior blind companies that will custom make an interior blind for arched or triangular windows. The benefit of these types of window shades is that you can have them match the rest of your interior shades. Because they have to be custom-made for your specific window, they are usually very expensive. Many times these interior blinds are made to permanently cover the window and usually do not open to let in light or see the view. Another downside to interior blinds versus exterior shading produce is that interior blinds are up to 7 times less effective at stopping heat than exterior shades. The main reason for this is because the interior blinds stop the heat on the inside of the window after the heat has already gotten into the house.

2. Painting Over the Triangular or Arched Window.

This solution is as simple as it gets.

Block the light, you will block the heat. Painting the glass of the window will stop light from getting through and will result in reducing the light and heat all for the cost of a can of paint.

The obvious downside with painting the glass is that it is a fairly permanent fix. This one is as simple as it sounds. The key to cooling a hot skylight is to stop the sun before it gets through the glass.

If you can block the light, you can block the heat. Painting over your skylight will stop light from getting through and will keep your house much cooler for just the cost of a can of paint.

The main drawback with painting your window glass is that it is a fairly permanent fix. Scraping paint off is time-consuming and you will most likely end up with scratches on the surface of the glass.

Be sure to first prime the window glass with a product like Zinnser Bullseye Primer

3. EZ Snap® Exterior Shading System.

The EZ Snap system is not only the least expensive option, but it has the added benefit of retaining your view. The EZ Snap shading mesh is an optical grade and so you are able to clearly see through them with a clear and undistorted view.

The EZ Snap sunscreens block up to 90% of the sun’s heating rays while letting in 10% of the full-spectrum sunlight. This is great for plants that need some diffused light and it also provides sufficient ambient light in the room.

The magic that makes this such a great option for these odd-shaped windows is the fact that the EZ Snap heat blocking mesh is a non-fray material. This feature is what allows you custom size and shape the shades on-site for a perfect fit every time. The patented EZ Snap system features this special encapsulated weave that can be easily cut with a sharp pair of scissors without the need for hemming the edges.

Whichever method you choose to cover your odd-shaped windows remember that the US Department of Energy concluded that exterior blinds and shades are up to seven times more effective at stopping heat from entering the home than interior blinds or window tinting.

EZ Snap Coupons, Promo Codes, Discounts and Deals

by Ray Waddell | Jun 21, 2016 | EZ Snap, News & Announcements

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RV Skirting

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Looking for EZ Snap™ Coupons, Discounts & Deals?

No need to search the web…..

All EZ Snap Coupons, EZ Snap Promo codes, discounts or deals can be found on our dedicated coupon page.

EZ Snap™ Coupon Page Link.

We post any and all current coupons and promos available, so you do not have to search the web looking for coupon codes that are out dated or that don’t work.
EZ Snap™ sells RV Skirting and Shades direct to the consumer and so we already offer wholesale pricing to all of our online customers. Be sure to visit our EZ Snap™ coupon page to see the latest promotions or coupons we have available.

Melted Vinyl Siding Mystery Solved!

by Ray Waddell | Sep 17, 2015 | Exterior Window Shades, Vinyl Siding Melting | 0 comments

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What is causing the vinyl siding to melt and warp?

The sun is reflecting off of a nearby window or glass surface and the reflecting light can reach extreme temperatures. Typically, most vinyl siding products will start to melt and warp when they reach 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. On darker colored siding, temperatures have been recorded of nearly 220° F in the area where reflected light is hitting.

Is this a new problem?

This is a problem that has gotten much more common in the last 10 to 15 years. The main reason this is happening more and more often is from the increasing number of Low-E or energy efficient windows that are being installed in new homes or renovated homes. Low-E windows are designed to reflect more heat away from the glass by design. That is why they help cool your home. The problem is that reflected light is now more powerful than ever and it substantially increases the surface temperature of the objects it lands on, like vinyl siding.

Whats the solution??

The solution to this problem is to stop the sun’s rays before they can hit the glass and reflect off of the glass surface. When you install the EZ Snap exterior shades on your windows, it is like planting an instant shade tree in front of the offending window. EZ Snap stops up to 90% of the sun’s rays from reaching the glass and the 10% that does get through and is reflected back, must then pass through the EZ Snap mesh a second time, reducing it a further 90%. With 99% of the reflected light now eliminated, the problem of melted vinyl siding is also eliminated.

Added Benefits:

Not only does it solve the melted vinyl siding problem, but it also cools the interior of your home and the surface of the glass.
Provides Day time privacy
Reduces annoying glare inside and out.
Lowers your Air Conditioning bill.
Prevents birds from flying into the reflective glass surface.
Reduces the fading and damage caused by the suns U.V. rays.

For a more in-depth look a the EZ Snap product and how it is installed, be sure to watch the EZ Snap Exterior Shade video.
Here is a Link to it.

Is Your Vinyl Siding Melting? – Here Is A Quick And Inexpensive Solution

by Ray Waddell | Sep 16, 2015 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, Vinyl Siding Melting | 0 comments

Window Shades

Skylight Shades

RV Skirting

RV Shades

Boat Shades

What is causing the vinyl siding to melt and warp?

The sun is reflecting off of a nearby window or glass surface and the reflecting light can reach extreme temperatures. Typically, most vinyl siding products will start to melt and warp when they reach 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. On darker colored siding, temperatures have been recorded of nearly 220° F in the area where reflected light is hitting.

Is this a new problem?

This is a problem that has gotten much more common in the last 10 to 15 years. The main reason this is happening more and more often is from the increasing number of Low-E or energy efficient windows that are being installed in new homes or renovated homes. Low-E windows are designed to reflect more heat away from the glass by design. That is why they help cool your home. The problem is that reflected light is now more powerful than ever and it substantially increases the surface temperature of the objects it lands on, like vinyl siding.

Whats the solution??

The solution to this problem is to stop the sun’s rays before they can hit the glass and reflect off of the glass surface. When you install the EZ Snap exterior shades on your windows, it is like planting an instant shade tree in front of the offending window. EZ Snap stops up to 90% of the sun’s rays from reaching the glass and the 10% that does get through and is reflected back, must then pass through the EZ Snap mesh a second time, reducing it a further 90%. With 99% of the reflected light now eliminated, the problem of melted vinyl siding is also eliminated.

Added Benefits:

Not only does it solve the melted vinyl siding problem, but it also cools the interior of your home and the surface of the glass.
Provides Day time privacy
Reduces annoying glare inside and out.
Lowers your Air Conditioning bill.
Prevents birds from flying into the reflective glass surface.
Reduces the fading and damage caused by the suns U.V. rays.

For a more in-depth look a the EZ Snap product and how it is installed, be sure to watch the EZ Snap Exterior Shade video.
Here is a Link to it.

EZ Snap RV Shades Featured In MotorHome Magazine

by Ray Waddell | Jul 17, 2015 | EZ Snap | 0 comments

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The Secret is out.

EZ Snap is the quickest and most cost-effective way to get custom-made exterior shades for your RV. The more than 148,000 readers of MotorHome Magazine were treated to an in-depth article on the EZ Snap RV Shades.

The article detailed a full install done by magazine staff a two different RVs. They concluded that the EZ Snap fastener system made for an easy-to-install solution to custom RV window shades and an effective way to not only block the heating rays of the sun but also protect the interior of the RV.

As with many of our first-time users, they also were pleasantly surprised at how good the visibility through the EZ Snap shading was. This is thanks to the optical grade quality of the mesh.

Be sure to check out the full article for yourself in the August issue of MotorHome Magazine. Important install notes on the last page!!

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Blinds And Shades For Arched Or Curved Windows

by Ray Waddell | May 7, 2015 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, News & Announcements | 0 comments

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Blinds and Shades for Arched and curved windows are a real challenge to cover. That is until now.

EZSnap Exterior Shades on Arched Window EZ Snap Innovations has developed the perfect solution to providing shade to any shape of window, curved, arched, or even round.

Blinds for Arched Windows (Block the Heat, Not the View)

The specialized EZ Snap shading mesh is able to stop up to 90% of the sun’s heat and damaging UV rays, but it does not block your view. The EZ Snap mesh is made using an optical grade, exterior shading material. This allows you to see clearly through the mesh as if it was not even there.

Specialized Shading Mesh can be cut and shaped to fit any shape of window.

The EZ Snap exterior shades are made from an innovative shading mesh the can be cut to any size or shape without fraying. The EZ Snap mesh utilizes encapsulated yarns in its manufacturing procedure, producing an extremely strong, dimensionally stable shading mesh. These special properties are what allow you to cut to size your exterior blinds right on-site for a perfect fit every time. These non-fray properties also make it perfect for use on a triangle or triangular window shades or blinds.

EZ Snap Profiled On IdeaConnection

by Ray Waddell | Mar 21, 2013 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, News & Announcements | 2 comments

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EZ Snap’s unique system for attaching exterior window shades, has been recognized by the innovation website ideaconnection.com

Click here to view article:
“Innovative in exterior window shades and skylight blinds”

Ideaconnection.com profiles new and exciting breakthrough technologies and products. The innovative EZ Snap fastener system has revolutionized the exterior shading of windows, providing an easy way for home owners to make their own quality shades for much less than competitive products.

Follow EZ Snap On Twitter

by Ray Waddell | Nov 14, 2012 | News & Announcements | 0 comments

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EZ Snap is now on Twitter.

Follow us at:
https://twitter.com/ezsnap

Get our latest news and product information. It is a great way to keep up with who are latest authorized installers are and where they are located. It is also a great way to be the first to know about any product information updates or announcements.

You can also find EZ Snap on Facebook

How to install Your Own RV Skirting – DIY Video

by Ray Waddell | Aug 30, 2012 | EZ Snap, News & Announcements, RV Skirting | 1 comment

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EZ Snap has recently released a “How to” video on Installing your own RV Skirting.

If you are at all handy or a “Do-it-Yourselfer” DIY type, here is your opportunity to not only get a custom fit RV Skirting, but also save yourself a bundle of money at the same time.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

RV Skirting – Step by Step Video shows you how.

This video is designed to show you not only the benefits of installing your own RV Skirting, but also the step by step procedure of doing it. It covers the various tools you will need. You will be surprised to know just how simple it is to install your own RV skirting on your motor-home, trailer or fifth wheel.

The video also covers how to determine the size of the RV skirting kit you will need. Also you will learn how to determine the mounting locations of your fasteners and how to install the fasteners. In addition, you will also learn how to cut your RV skirting to size and fit it to your RV for a custom professional look. The EZ Snap pipe retainment system is also shown. This helps keep your skirting in place in winds and also maintains a nice tight look.

Near the end of the video, there is also a section on installing a fifth wheel enclosure skirt to the front of your 5^th wheel. And finally at the end of the video the all-important EZ Snap removal tool is detailed. The Instant RV Skirting zippers that are featured near the end of the video has now been discontinued and replaced by either a sewn in zipper for the fifth-wheel enclosure area or you can use the EZ Snap RV Skirting Gecko Velcro . This Velcro is specially designed to stay stuck stick to the RV skirting through all types of weather conditions.

How To Remove EZ Snap Adhesive Studs

by Ray Waddell | Aug 24, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap | 1 comment

VHB-Extreme-Holding-Power EZ Snap’s adhesive studs utilize the 3M VHB adhesive. This peel and stick adhesive is known as one of the highest bond strength adhesives ever made. As a matter of fact, V.H.B. stands for Very High Bond.
Check out this video on the power of the VHB adhesive from 3M.

Click Here to Watch VHB Video

Instructions on how to remove VHB adhesive studs.

The EZ Snap adhesive studs are designed to stand up to all types of extreme weather conditions. Canadian winters and Arizona heat, as well as, extreme wind forces. The ingredient that allows this extreme holding power is the magic of the VHB adhesive by 3M.

But what if you want to remove the studs one day, for example, to change them to a different color? Follow the steps below and you can make it like they were never there.

Removal procedure:

Grip and peel off the plastic part of the stud using pliers (needle nose are ideal).
At this point, you will most likely have quite a bit of the flexible foam left behind on the mounting surface. Using your thumb or a rag, roll-off this excessive foam as much as possible.
When you have removed as much of the flexible foam as you can, the remainder can be removed using a citrus oil-based cleaner, such as “Goo Gone” or “Goof Off”. These cleaners are designed to break the bond of the VHB adhesive.
Continue to apply the citrus oil cleaner until the adhesive is completely gone.
Clean area to remove any citrus oil residue using a 50/50 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol before installing another adhesive stud.
Apply a light coat of 3M Primer onto the mounting surface where the 3M adhesive will contact it.

Installing Aluminet Shade Mesh Using EZ Snap Fasteners

by Ray Waddell | Aug 14, 2012 | Random Thoughts | 0 comments

Window Shades

Skylight Shades

RV Skirting

RV Shades

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Aluminet is an agricultural grade shade cloth available from various farm and garden suppliers. Gardeners and home owners have used it for small gardening or shading projects before, attaching it with the EZ Snap fastener system. We thought we would give a more though description of how to install Aluminet shade cloth on your smaller projects. EZ Snap does not sell or distribute Aluminet, instead we use the EZ Snap optical grade shading mesh. Aluminet is very difficult to see through and so does not make a very good window shading product, unlike the EZ Snap shading mesh.

How to install Aluminet for a small project?

If you have a large project that will see substantial wind loads, then it is recommended that you use either a reinforced sewn hem with grommets or a large compression fastener that will grip hold of the Aluminet over a large area. If your Aluminet project is smaller in size, then the EZ Snap fastener system might be just what you are looking for. The adhesive EZ Snap fasteners will stick to a wide variety of surfaces, allowing you to install Aluminet in many different projects. If you use the EZ Snap fasteners with Aluminet, we recommend that you double or even triple fold the edge of the Aluminet that you are attaching to, to increase the holding power. Aluminet comes in a variety of densities and lighter densities do not have a lot of material to provide holding power. By doubling or tripling the layers of Aluminet in the area that you are attaching the EZ Snap fasteners, you add a lot more holding power to your project. If your project is large in size and will catch a lot of wind, then we recommend that you visit www.ae-zone.org for more detail on Aluminet and its uses.

Sun Reflecting Off Window Glass Melting Vinyl Siding? Here’s How To Stop It

by Ray Waddell | Jun 15, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap | 1 comment

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Is the vinyl siding on your house melting or warping for no reason?

Well, this is a much more common problem than people realize.

It is almost always caused by the sun reflecting off a nearby window onto the siding.

Stop the Sun from reflecting off of window glass and melting and warping vinyl siding with EZ Snap exterior shades.

The window acts like a magnifying glass, concentrating the sun’s energy onto a small area. Temperatures in these hot spots can soar into the hundreds of degrees. This phenomenon causes thousands in damage, but the good news is now there is a simple and quick solution.

So how do you prevent Melted Vinyl Siding from window reflections?

These easiest and most effective way to stop the reflecting sun rays from melting and warping the vinyl siding, is to block them from reaching the siding in the first place. Now, you could plant a tree and wait 10 to 20 years, but there is an easier way….

BEST SOLUTION FOR MELTED VINYL SIDING:
Exterior window shades stop the sun from not only entering the window, but also stop it from reflecting off of the glass. You end up not only stopping the sun from melting the siding, but the exterior window shade also substantially cools the room with the window. A do-it-yourself exterior shade system like the EZ Snap exterior shades can be easily installed be someone with no previous experience.
They are also very affordable, costing a little over $2 per square foot. If the offending window happens to be on your neighbor’s house, they are so affordable, you can offer to install the EZ Snap exterior shades for free for them. This saves them money on their air-conditioning bill and you instantly stop the sun from damaging you vinyl siding.

New EZ Snap Video Now Online

by Ray Waddell | Jun 15, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, News & Announcements | 3 comments

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RV Shades

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New EZ Snap Videos, now online! View at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZwLdd8yVso

EZ Snap Exterior Shade Video

New Stud Color Gray Is Now Available

by Ray Waddell | Jun 7, 2012 | News & Announcements | 0 comments

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Skylight Shades

RV Skirting

RV Shades

Boat Shades

Gray 3M Adhesive Stud Fastener We have just added the color gray to our line of EZ Snap adhesive studs.

You are now able to select from white, beige, black or gray for your project.

This new color is available in all of our product lines including window shades, skylight shades and RV Skirting.

How To Fix The Problem Of Faded Floors, Carpets And Furniture

by Ray Waddell | May 3, 2012 | EZ Snap | 0 comments

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Skylight Shades

RV Skirting

RV Shades

Boat Shades

If sun light is entering your home, there is the risk of it fading your flooring carpeting or furniture.

How do you prevent or reduce this problem and not darken the room too much or block the view.

One of the most economical solutions is installing exterior shading products on your skylights or windows. Exterior shades are designed to filter down the amount of damaging UV rays entering your home. The better ones are able to block up to 90% of these rays, while still allowing adequate ambient like to enter. Energy saving exterior shades like the EZ Snap shades, act like a shade tree placed in front of your window. The main differences being, they don’t block your view or take 30 years to grow large enough to shade your home.

Another factor that causes fading is heat. Heat is responsible for up to 25% of the fading of household items. The exterior window and skylight shades also reduce the amount of heat entering the home, further reducing damaging fading from happening. To learn more about the additional benefits of exterior shading products, Click Here.

How Being A ‘Do-It-Yourselfer’ Is Good For Your Soul

by Ray Waddell | Apr 16, 2012 | EZ Snap, Random Thoughts | 1 comment

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Boat Shades

The ‘Do-it-Yourselfers’ of the world are growing in numbers every year. The internet has increased the amount of information on how to do almost anything. DIYers, as they known, are a courageous bunch. They are willing to take a risk; even embrace a mistake or two, in return for the satisfaction and savings of doing it yourself.

The feeling of accomplishment is guaranteed to lift the spirits when you complete a project using your own hands and skills. This is not only good for your soul, but your health as well.

Here are the top 3 benefits for becoming a DIYer:

1. Sense of Accomplishment: We have all been taught from an early age that failure is bad. DIYers bravely embrace the risk of failing, knowing that, almost everything is possible when you take the time to educate yourself on your project. They see any failure or error as a learning a experience that increases their skill sets for the next project.
“There is no failure, except in no longer trying. ” Elbert Hubbard

2. Saving Big Money: When you hire someone to build or complete a project for you, you will be paying them with your “after-tax” dollars. In other words, to pay a worker $100 to do your project, you have to earn as much as $200 if you’re in the 50% tax bracket. When you do it yourself, your labor is free. Even if your project requires specialized tools, the money you save, more than pays for rental of the tools you would need. Seasoned DIYers know that most things are very easy to do, once you take the time to educate yourself on how it should be done. The internet is full of Guru’s giving their knowledge away for free.

3. Broaden your Knowledge and Skills: For every new project you take on, you gain new skills and increase your experience and knowledge. The more you do, the more you know and soon projects just become easier and easier. Before you know it, you are the “Go-To” guru for friends and family on how to get things done.

If you’re looking for a great Energy Saving “Do-it-Yourself” project that is easy to do on your own and will save you lots of money on your air-conditioning bill this summer, check out the line of “Do-it-Yourself” kits available at www.ezsnapdirect.com

New Golf Ball Protection Screen Saves Your Window And Energy At The Same Time

by Ray Waddell | Mar 28, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades | 4 comments

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Golf Ball Protection Screens for Windows

If you have ever lived next to a golf course, you or someone you know has a story of broken windows caused by golf balls. One of the perils of living next to a golf course is having a stray ball smash a window on your home. This is frustrating, expensive and sometimes frightening.

Window without EZ Snap golf ball protection screen One method of reducing the likelihood of having windows damaged by golf ball strikes is to install an exterior shading screen over the window. The screen acts as a barrier in front of the glass, slowing down and reducing the speed of the ball. In most cases this prevents the glass from being hit or breaking. If your really close to the T-box, you can have your contractor build you an additional frame around the window to increase the distance the screen is mounted from the glass, thereby increasing amount of force your screen can stop before the ball impacts the glass.

The beauty of this solution, is that you get so much more than glass protection from your screen. These screens also block up to 90% of the sun’s heat without blocking your view outside. In addition, they provide day time privacy from golfers and nosy neighbours. With so many benefits in one product, they pay for themselves in no time.

3 Benefits, One Product:

Protect window glass from golf ball strikes ( Especially when you our your contractor build a stand-off frame around the window).

Energy saving shades that block the heat without blocking the view.

Daytime privacy

To learn more about all the benefits of a golf ball protection screen, Click Here

22 Billion Reasons To Install EZ Snap and Reduce your Energy Costs

by Ray Waddell | Mar 6, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, Random Thoughts | 4 comments

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Skylight Shades

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RV Shades

Boat Shades

According to ConsumerReports.org the average amount of money that is spent by American’s for air conditioning is $22 billion ($22,000,000,000) per year.

Exterior shading products like awnings and EZ Snap exterior window shades can reduce the need for air conditioning by 60% to 70%. Imagine the amount of money that could be saved each year if even just one percent of the population installed EZ Snap on their windows.

The cost for all this air conditioning is not just money. The carbon foot print for air-conditioning use is massive. Millions of metric tons of Co2 enter into the atmosphere every year from the power needed to fuel American’s air-conditioning needs.

Top 4 ways to reduce your need for air-conditioning:

Install an exterior shading product like EZ Snap shades: This can reduce interior temperature by up to 15 degrees without using any electricity.

Turn on a fan: Fans help move air around the house making you feel cooler via the wind chill effect.

Use a dehumidifier: You have heard the saying, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”. Lowering the humidity, increases the effectiveness of your body to cool itself.

Plant trees to help shade your windows: This is the natural way to cool your home, but it can take decades to get results. EZ Snap is instant.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) for Windows

by Ray Waddell | Feb 21, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, Skylight Blinds & Shades | 0 comments

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SHGC stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. This number is commonly used as a guide line for rating the energy efficiency of windows and their various shading treatments.

The old term for term for this measurement was shading coefficient. SHGC values range from 0 to 1. The lower the SHGC number, the less solar gain or heat passing through the window. Many power utilities offer rebates to customers who upgrade their windows. They typically will give you a rebate based on the total SHGC number of your upgraded product.

Little known Secret

Most of these rebate programs will give you a rebate if your upgraded windows have a SHGC # of .4 or less.
Many times you can still qualify for a rebate if you add an exterior shading product that has a SHGC # of .4 or less. Be sure to check with your local power utility to find out the details of their specific rebate program.
The EZ Snap shading mesh has a SHGC of .1827. This SHGC number is based on a solar profile angle of 45 degrees (most common) and a clear, double pane window.

How To Build A Pergola That Provides Shade All Day Long

by Ray Waddell | Feb 14, 2012 | Pergola Shade | 1 comment

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Pergolas and gazebos are a popular and attractive way to add shade to a back yard or over a patio or deck. They do have some short comings though.

Depending on the time of day and the angle of the sun, they may be long periods of time when there is little or no shade under the pergola.

Many pergolas are built with a number of upright wooden timbers placed on top of the pergola frame. These provide shade to the area below when they are positioned perpendicular to the rays of the sun and when the sun is not too high in the sky.

As the sun moves throughout the day, the shading effect is lost as the rays of the sun become more parallel to the direction of the boards.

Pergola with shading mesh What is the best way to provide full shade coverage from your pergola, without totally blocking out the light?

Adding a solar mesh cover across the top of your pergola will instantly and economically solve this problem.

The solar mesh blocks up to 90% of the sun’s heat, while still allowing plenty of ambient light to enter. The mesh also retains the open feeling of the pergola by allowing you to see the sky through it.

We have had many of our customers tell us that they have covered their pergolas in this way using the EZ Snap exterior window shade kits. The non-fray EZ Snap mesh is easily sized to the top of the pergola.

If the pergola is wood, use the stainless steel EZ Snap screw in studs into the wood. Use the EZ Snap adhesive studs for vinyl or aluminum pergolas. Next fit and fasten the shading mesh into place just as you would if you were doing a window or skylight. The EZ Snap mesh is a quick and easy way to add more shade and comfort to your pergola project.

How UV Rays Fade and Damage Your Belongings

by Ray Waddell | Jan 30, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, RV Shades, Skylight Blinds & Shades, Yacht Sun Shades | 2 comments

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The sun is a very powerful force indeed. Especially when you consider the earth only receives about one two-billionth of the sun’s total energy. We have all experienced the power the sun has to fade and damage,whether it’s the paint on your car or your favorite chair.

Sun light contains three types of energy rays:

ultraviolet radiation
visible light
infrared radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) is the most dangerous and damaging. Ultraviolet rays break down the chemical bonds in coloring dyes, causing the color(s) in an object to fade over time. Some objects are more prone this bleaching effect, such as dyed textiles like carpet, drapes or furniture. Given enough time in the sun, everything eventually fades.

So how do we slow down the fading process in our homes?

When it comes to UV fading and damage in the home, UV light entering from windows is responsible for almost 100% of the problem. The perfect solution is to filter out the majority of the sun’s damaging rays, while still retaining enough of the visible light spectrum to properly light the room. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by using an exterior shading solution such as an awning or an exterior shade screen. These exterior solutions not only filter out the majority of the damaging UV rays, they also stop the heating rays of the sun before they enter the window.

The EZ Snap exterior shading material typically filters out up to 90% of the damaging UV radiation from the sun, as well as, 90% of the heating rays of the sun.

Learn more on Exterior Window Shades

The Stats Behind The Energy Savings of Exterior Shades

by Ray Waddell | Jan 23, 2012 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, Preventing Bird Strike Deaths, Skylight Blinds & Shades | 3 comments

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Exterior Shade is up to 7 Times More Effective

•   Exterior blinds and shades are up to 7 times more effective at stopping heat from entering the home than interior blinds or window tinting.
•   EZ Snap’s exterior shades block up to 90% of the sun’s heat
•   16% of the U.S. electricity is used for air conditioning.
•   43% of the U.S. peak energy load in the summer months is for air conditioning.
•   EZ Snap exterior shade screens can lower interior temperatures by up to 15 degrees F
•   Millions of birds could be saved annually if the use of exterior shades increased by as little as 10%
•   Cooling costs can be reduced by up to 60% by using an exterior window shade
•   Windows facing the summer sun can let in the equivalent amount of heat as a 1500 watt electric heater for every 10 sq/ft of glass
•   Exterior shades have 7 benefits in one product – Lower energy costs, increased comfort, reduced glare, reduced U.V. damage to the interior, day-time privacy, eliminate bird strikes, and windows look cleaner (less sun to reflect off of dirt)

Inside-view-looking-through-EZ-Snap-mesh-Polaroid-frame

Optical Grade Thermo-Weave by EZ Snap.

Blocks the Heat, But not the view.

EZ Snap Thermo weave exterior shade cloth. Blocks up to 90 % of the sun's heat without blocking the view.

3 Benefits of Using Exterior Blinds for your Yacht or Boat

by Ray Waddell | Jan 16, 2012 | EZ Snap, Yacht Sun Shades | 5 comments

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Boat Shades

Three benefits, one product.

By simply installing exterior window shades on your boat or yacht, you are getting three great benefits the moment they are installed.

1. Privacy:

Many boat owners spend just as much time on their boats, moored in the marina, as they do out on the water. When you’re sitting in your boats cabin, the last thing you want is to have every single person who walks by looking in at you. Exterior boat blinds give you day-time privacy. Anyone trying to looking in from the outside will find it almost impossible, but if you are sitting in the inside looking out, you will see out clearly, as if the shades where not even there.

2. Heat Block:

The sun is a powerful force and although it’s great to work on your tan while out on the water, there are times when you just want the comfort of the cool cabin of your boat. Exterior boat shades not only stop the sun before it enters the glass, they also shade and cool the glass itself. The EZ Snap exterior boat shades block up to 90% of the sun’s heat without blocking the view.

3. U.V. Protection:

The ultraviolet rays of the sun have the power to quickly discolor and ruined the interior seating and woodwork of your boat. Exterior shades and blinds for your yacht or boat filter the damaging UV rays entering your cabin. This substantially lessens the amount of damage they can do to your expensive boat interior.
They also cut down and the glare from the sun and the water. Sorry, I guess that’s 4 benefits in one product, not three.

Happy boating!

How RV Solar Shades Can Cool Your RV Without Air Conditioning

by Ray Waddell | Dec 22, 2011 | EZ Snap, RV Shades | 0 comments

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Are you tired of listening to the constant drone of your RV’s air conditioner?

RV Shades by EZ Snap There is a better way. By simply adding exterior RV solar shades or blinds to your RV, you can substantially reduce or even eliminate the need to run your RV air conditioning.

Why do exterior RV solar blinds work so well at stopping heat, compared to interior RV blinds? The secret is in the fact that they stop the heat before it enters the RV window, as well as, they also shade the glass of the RV window from the hot rays of the sun. In hot areas like Texas and Arizona, exterior RV solar shades are very common. On large class A motor homes, the front windshield is commonly covered due to its large size and for privacy. Many of today’s modern fifth wheel trailers also have large windows in the back or sides that benefit from a reduction of solar gain and an increase in privacy.

Day time privacy is one of the main benefits of adding a RV solar shade. With the EZ Snap RV solar screens installed on the RV, it is very difficult, if not impossible to see into the RV form the outside during the day. This is particularly handy in the close quarters of some of today’s crowded RV parks.

The recent innovation of the EZ Snap fastener system is now allowing RV owners to install their own RV solar shades.

The EZ Snap shading mesh is a non-fray material that can be cut and shaped right on-site by the RV owner. This has substantially reduced the cost of the RV solar shades and blinds by removing the expensive labour of having them custom built by an upholstery shop.

Whether you have a motorhome, 5th wheel, park model or trailer, installing your own RV solar blinds is a sure way to instantly increase your comfort and privacy.

The New And Improved EZ Snap Adhesive Stud Is Here

by Ray Waddell | Dec 16, 2011 | News & Announcements | 2 comments

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The new and improved EZ Snap adhesive stud is now available.

The holding power and performance of this new stud has greatly improved over the original.

We have worked with 3M™ on this stud to ensure that it will stand up to extremely hot or cold temperatures, as well as severe winds. As always, this adhesive stud is the ideal solution for attaching EZ Snap™ RV Skirting and Shades, except on wooden, rough or porous surfaces. With those types of surfaces, our stainless steel screw studs are still your best choice. This new stud is now our standard and the original is now discontinued.

These new studs are also now available in a variety of colors. White, black, grey and beige studs are now available. This allows you to better match the stud to the mounting surface color. That way, if your EZ Snap™ product is removed, the studs do a better job of blending in to the mounting surface.

Why Skylights Shades And Skylight Blinds Are So Important

by Ray Waddell | Dec 8, 2011 | EZ Snap, Skylight Blinds & Shades | 3 comments

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Excessive Heat from Skylights

One of the best ways to brighten up a dark room is a well-placed skylight or two. Skylights are fantastic for adding natural light to a home, but they are also one of the biggest sources for excessive heat buildup in a home.

Skylight-Shades-Product-Image Even though skylights tend to be much smaller in size than the typical windows, they can easily allow too much heat and light into the home. This is due to the fact that they are placed on the roof, usually directly facing the sun. This location and angle allows the sun’s heating rays to directly enter the home, usually for most of the daylight hours. Interior blinds are helpful at reducing the excessive light that enters, but they do little to stop heat. As with any shade or blind to be effective, they must be installed on the outside of the skylite or window.

Exterior shades and blinds on skylights, not only shade the skylight glass itself; they also stop the heat before it enters the skylight glass.

Once the heat enters the home it’s too late. Heat continues to build up, eventually raising the interior temperature. The benefit of adding an exterior skylight shade like EZ snap™ to your skylight is that, not only do you stop up to 90% of the sun’s heat, but you retain the benefit of having filtered light from the skylight.

The trick is to stop the heat while still allowing lots of ambient light to enter. After all, extra light is why you have a skylight in the first place. Customers have told us that once they had their EZ Snap™ skylight blinds installed, the light from the skylight was softened and the glare and hot spots was reduced. Exterior Skylight blinds and shades like EZ Snap™ also have the added benefit of reducing the damaging U.V. rays entering the skylight.

If you are going to add shade to reduce your heat load, your skylights are the number one place to start.

Window Privacy Film vs EZ Snap Exterior Shades

by Ray Waddell | Dec 1, 2011 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap | 1 comment

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Privacy without blocking your view!

There are few things more annoying than having your neighbors or people walking by staring through your windows. Closing the blinds or drawing the curtains works, but it also eliminates your view outside. When people think of getting more privacy on their windows without blocking their view, window privacy tint comes to mind, but there is a much better solution.

What is this better solution though?
EZ Snap™ exterior shades.

Let’s compare.
Both window tinting privacy film and EZ Snap™ shades will give you daytime privacy from the outside. Both do this without blocking your view from the inside. So what’s the big difference?

#1. Evening Views
At night time, the window privacy film turns your windows into a giant mirror, making it hard to see through to the outside. The reflective qualities of the film are now working against you and reflecting back all your interior lighting. EZ Snap exterior shades do not do this at all and so you still can enjoy your nighttime views.
The optical grade Thermo-Weave™ shading mesh the EZ Snap developed makes all the difference.

#2. Tinting causes Bird Strikes, EZ Snap stops them
Another big advantage of using EZ Snap™ exterior shades over a window privacy film is that it prevents bird strikes into your windows. As mentioned in our previous blogs topics, privacy or reflective window tint actually increases the likelihood of birds flying into your windows. Privacy window film makes your windows more reflective. It’s the reflectivity of the window that makes the glass invisible to flying birds. EZ Snap™ makes the window look like a solid surface to flying birds so they do not fly into it.

Pro Tip: Use a white color of EZ Snap shading mesh for even more Privacy. Lighter colors are even harder for prying eyes to see through when looking from the outside in.

Winterizing Your RV with RV Skirting

by Ray Waddell | Dec 1, 2011 | EZ Snap, RV Skirting | 0 comments

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One of the most effective ways to keep your RV from the cold winter winds is RV Skirting.

RV skirting provides a barrier between the elements and the area below your RV. The skirting helps contain warm air below your RV, as well as blocking out the cold winter winds. After you have skirted in your RV, or motor home you may want to consider a way of providing extra heat to the area under your RV. In warmer climates, something as simple as a light bulb can provide enough heat to keep the temperature above freezing. In colder climates, you may want to place an electric heater in this space.

METHOD ONE – Heat Taping

Always, be sure that there is no risk of a fire starting with your heating methods. If you have exposed plumbing, you may want to consider wrapping them with electric heat tape to further prevent against freezing.

METHOD TWO – Rigid Styrofoam

Another method of increasing your protection against the cold is to place rigid Styrofoam insulation around the area that you are planning to skirt and then installing the RV skirting. The RV skirting covers up and hides the insulation and also creates a further barrier from the cold air.

METHOD THREE – RV Skirting

Typically adding RV skirting to your motorhome or fifth wheel involves having to hire an upholstery firm to custom make an RV skirting for you. We now have an RV skirting and fifth wheel skirting installation video available on our site that will give you step by step instructions on how to install your own RV Skirting.
CLICK HERE to watch the RV Skirting Installation Video…

or contact us for more info: 1-877-439-7627 or [email protected]

Prevent Bird Strikes By Using Exterior Shades

by Ray Waddell | Dec 1, 2011 | Exterior Window Shades, EZ Snap, News & Announcements, Preventing Bird Strike Deaths | 3 comments

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It’s estimated that every home in America kills about 2 birds every year due to window collisions.

Currently, up to one billion birds die from hitting windows in just the US alone.

It’s a massive problem across the country.

If you’ve ever experienced a bird window collision you know it’s heartbreaking, and such widespread bird loss impacts our environment.

Birds are one of the most important players in our ecosystem. They help keep the pest population under control, they act as nature’s clean-up crew, they disperse seeds and much more.

Reducing the amount of birds hitting windows would not only mean protecting birds from harm, but also conserving our environment.

The White-throated Sparrow is one of the most commonly reported victims of window collisions. Photo by Cephas.

The reason birds fly into windows is because they don’t recognize glass as a solid surface. Birds will hit windows at full speed either because they can’t see the glass, or they believe the reflections they see in them are real and will fly towards them.

Unfortunately, most of the time window strikes happen without anyone realizing it. Either no one is in the room, or it’s too quiet of a sound for anyone to realize what happened. If the bird isn’t killed outright from the collision, they typically suffer broken wings or legs, making them easy prey for predators or scavengers.

For the person with a window that has had bird strikes, there are a lot of bird crash prevention products available.

One of the most popular is reflective tape. It’s designed to be a visual and auditory deterrent, with light reflecting off of it and the tape making a noise by twisting in the wind.

However, anything designed to scare birds usually is only effective for a limited amount of time. Birds become accustomed to these deterrents once they realize that they are not a threat.

The other most common types of bird deterrents are decals and tapes.

There are a lot of varieties of these on the market, but they all work in the same basic way. They stick onto windows and as long as they are spaced correctly, birds will be no longer perceive the glass as a clear passage.

These options are usually inexpensive and can be applied fairly quickly.

However, window decals and bird silhouettes only reduce the chance of a collision, and all will obstruct your view.

There is another easy and inexpensive solution, and this one won’t block your view.

View looking through EZ Snap Shade Screen.

EZ Snap Window Shades are ideal for preventing bird window strikes. EZ Snap Window Shades are a sun blocking screen that once installed, eliminate the reflectively of the glass completely.

Birds perceive the EZ Snap Shade as a solid object and won’t fly into it.

Also, because EZ Snap uses an optical grade mesh, you will still be able to see out of it and keep your view.

The kits are easy to install and can be hung in as little time as an afternoon.

We recently had a customer write to us to say that he was having a problem with bird strikes at his house and decided to try EZ Snap.

He said, “I wondered if installing the EZ Snap Screens on those windows might help prevent bird strikes on the glass. I can say now that it was an easy solution to a heart wrenching problem. We have not had any bird fatalities since I installed the screening this spring. The screens still allow plenty of daylight into the building and, of course, it allows unobstructed views to the outdoors. Easy to install and it performs as advertised.” Follow this link to read the full review from L. Stephenson.

Learn more about EZ Snap products here.

What to do if you have a bird strike your window and you find it stunned or injured:

Watch the bird carefully before getting close. It may be able to recover quickly and fly off right away.If the bird is conscious and sitting in a safe area, it may not need to be moved while it recovers.
If the bird is unconscious, gently pick it up and examine it for injuries.
If the bird is severely hurt, it will need immediate attention from a bird rescue organization.
If the bird is just stunned, gently place it in a cardboard box with sufficient air holes.
Once the bird is safe in the box, take it to somewhere warm and quiet.
Check on the bird regularly, but never open the box when you do. If the bird has recovered you don’t want it flying out indoors where it might get hurt again.
If it sounds like the bird is active, take the box outside and open it there.
Step away and see if the bird flies away.
If it doesn’t, close the box and bring it back inside.
If it’s been two hours and the bird still has not recovered, take it to the closest wild animal rehabilitation centre where it can get the proper care that it needs.