Woven Wood Shades in general are easy to operate and a Waterfall Woven Wood Shade are no exception. Our standard control is easy to use and will allow you to operate your shades consistently and with little effort. Our continuous loop option is an excellent choice for larger shades.

Assuming you select a liner (privacy or blackout) your shades will certainly provide an additional layer of insulation.

The short answer is no, however, it can block most natural light from coming in. The level of light blockage and privacy you will get from a Woven Wood shade is mostly the result of the material you select and the lining you choose. Generally speaking, the tighter the weave of a material, the less light will come through. By adding a black out liner you will block the majority of light. If you are going to be mounting the shade within the window [inside mount] there will be a deduction we will take on the width to ensure that the shade functions properly and this small "gap" will subsequently let some light in the sides. Selecting an outside mount will help alleviate some of the light seepage however then the shade will be projecting off the wall and there will still be some light still coming in.

For starters we do offer a stacking chart that will give you a general idea of what the "stack" will be. [look under measure + install]. Remember these are just approximates and the exact measurement will vary depending on length and material/lining selected. You can view stacking chart at: http://www.theshadestore.com/item-files/page_27330_file.pdf After you have checked out the stack chart, if you are still concerned you should consider doing an outside mount and installing the shade high enough above the window so that when up the shade does not block the window.