[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":88},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fNLQ4R-Z3j4tKnbdLnct_TAEN003Uy1kyWdQ-Y1N49_4":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"tags":6,"view_count":13,"vote_count":14,"answer_count":15,"has_accepted_answer":16,"accepted_reply_id":17,"created_at":18,"last_activity_at":19,"thumbnail_url":20,"is_technical":21,"has_solution_keywords":21,"related_thread_id":22,"author":23,"author_avatar":24,"body":25,"replies":26},18,"Whole-home blackout shades setup",[7,8,9,10,11,12],"lutron-sivoia","blackout-shades","whole-home-automation","shade-installation","low-voltage-wiring","home-assistant-integration",8455,22,10,true,6,"2024-11-08T14:43:16.117225","2025-01-13T14:43:16.117225","https:\u002F\u002Fpicsum.photos\u002Fseed\u002F14b9179a33a70ff7f919d213097e789a\u002F1024\u002F768",false,null,"TechSavvyHomeowner","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=TechSavvyHomeowner&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","Hey everyone, I'm planning a whole-home blackout shade installation and could really use some guidance from those who've been through this process. We just moved into a new construction home (about 4,200 sq ft) with 47 windows total, and my wife and I are both shift workers, so proper blackout capability is absolutely essential for us to get quality sleep during the day.\n\nI've been researching options for the past few months and I'm torn between a few different directions. Initially, I was looking at the Lutron Palladiom system because of the reputation and the clean aesthetic, but the quotes I've received have been eye-watering - we're talking north of $85,000 for the full installation with their premium fabrics. I understand you get what you pay for, but that's a significant chunk of change.\n\nI've also looked at Lutron Sivoia QS Triathlon shades as a potentially more budget-friendly option while staying in the Lutron ecosystem. The quotes for this have come in around $52,000-$58,000 depending on the integrator. Still expensive, but more manageable.\n\nThe third option I'm considering is going with a company like Hunter Douglas PowerView for the shades themselves and integrating them with a separate control system. I've heard mixed things about the reliability of the PowerView hub and integration capabilities, though.\n\nA few specific questions I'm hoping you can help with:\n\n1. For true blackout performance, what fabric opacity rating should I be targeting? I've seen some marketed as \"blackout\" that still let light through at the edges.\n\n2. Side channels vs. no side channels - are they worth the added cost and complexity for bedroom applications? Some integrators have pushed back saying they're unnecessary with the right fabric.\n\n3. Has anyone done a hybrid approach where you use premium shades in the master bedroom and main living areas, but more budget-friendly options in guest rooms and less-used spaces?\n\n4. What control system integration works best? We're currently running Home Assistant but I'm open to adding a dedicated shade controller if it makes sense.\n\n5. Battery-powered vs. hardwired - we have the opportunity to run low-voltage wiring since we're still in the finishing stages. Is hardwired really that much better for a whole-home deployment?\n\nI'd love to hear about your experiences, what you wish you'd known before starting, and any recommendations for getting the best value without sacrificing the blackout performance we need. Budget is flexible but I'd like to stay under $60k if possible for the complete system.\n\nThanks in advance for any insights!",[27,34,41,48,55,62,67,73,78,84],{"id":28,"author":29,"author_avatar":30,"created_at":31,"vote_count":32,"is_accepted":21,"body":33},1,"LutronFanatic","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=LutronFanatic&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","2024-11-12T14:43:16.117225",26,"Hardwired, hardwired, hardwired. Cannot stress this enough. With 47 windows, you do NOT want to be dealing with battery replacements and maintenance headaches for years to come. The upfront cost of running low-voltage is worth every penny.",{"id":35,"author":36,"author_avatar":37,"created_at":38,"vote_count":39,"is_accepted":21,"body":40},2,"PalladiomOwner","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=PalladiomOwner&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","2024-11-21T14:43:16.117225",21,"I went with Palladiom in my master suite and Sivoia QS throughout the rest of the house - best decision I made. The Palladiom aesthetic is gorgeous but honestly the blackout performance between the two lines is nearly identical when you spec the same fabrics. The main difference is the hardware finish and the whisper-quiet operation of the Palladiom. For bedrooms where you actually need blackout, I'd strongly recommend side channels. Yes, they add cost, but the light gap elimination is significant. Without them, you'll get light bleed around the edges that can be really noticeable in a dark room - especially problematic for shift workers like yourself. Budget around $150-200 extra per shade for the channels.",{"id":42,"author":43,"author_avatar":44,"created_at":45,"vote_count":46,"is_accepted":21,"body":47},3,"ShadeControlExpert","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=ShadeControlExpert&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","2024-11-23T14:43:16.117225",33,"For true blackout, you want fabrics rated at 0% openness factor. But here's what most people don't realize - the fabric is only part of the equation. Light gaps at the sides, top, and bottom are usually the bigger issue. Side channels solve the lateral gaps, but you also need proper mounting depth and a fascia or pocket to eliminate top gaps.",{"id":49,"author":50,"author_avatar":51,"created_at":52,"vote_count":53,"is_accepted":21,"body":54},4,"HomeAutoGeek","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=HomeAutoGeek&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","2024-11-28T14:43:16.117225",27,"I did exactly the hybrid approach you're describing. Lutron QS in the master and living room, Hunter Douglas PowerView in the secondary bedrooms and office. Honestly? I regret it. The integration headaches between the two systems have been frustrating, and the PowerView shades have had reliability issues that my Lutron shades simply haven't. The cost savings was maybe $8k but I've spent countless hours troubleshooting. If I could do it over, I'd go all Lutron and just spec slightly less expensive fabrics across the board to stay in budget. The single-ecosystem simplicity is worth a lot.",{"id":56,"author":57,"author_avatar":58,"created_at":59,"vote_count":60,"is_accepted":21,"body":61},5,"Ra2SelectUser","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=Ra2SelectUser&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","2024-12-10T14:43:16.117225",29,"Have you looked at RadioRA 3 with Sivoia shades? Might be a sweet spot for your budget and you'd get excellent Home Assistant integration through the official Lutron integration.",{"id":17,"author":63,"author_avatar":64,"created_at":59,"vote_count":65,"is_accepted":16,"body":66},"HighEndIntegrator","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=HighEndIntegrator&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true",52,"Professional integrator here - let me give you some real talk on your situation. At 47 windows with true blackout requirements and hardwired installation, your $60k budget is realistic but tight for an all-Lutron solution. Here's how I'd approach it:\n\nFirst, prioritize your windows. Not all 47 need the same level of treatment. Identify your critical blackout zones (bedrooms, media room) vs. light control zones (living areas) vs. basic privacy zones (bathrooms, utility areas). This tiered approach can save 20-30% while maintaining performance where it matters.\n\nSecond, Sivoia QS Triathlon with Designer Roller fabrics in the 0% openness blackout options will perform identically to Palladiom for light blocking. The difference is purely aesthetic and noise level.\n\nThird, side channels are absolutely worth it for bedrooms. Don't let anyone talk you out of them for a shift worker application.\n\nFourth, for Home Assistant integration, the Lutron Caseta\u002FRadioRA integration is rock solid. You could do a RadioRA 3 system with QS shades and have seamless control.\n\nI'd estimate you could do this right for $55-62k with proper prioritization. Get at least three quotes from Lutron-certified integrators.",{"id":68,"author":69,"author_avatar":70,"created_at":71,"vote_count":46,"is_accepted":21,"body":72},7,"DIYSmartHome","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=DIYSmartHome&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","2024-12-12T14:43:16.117225","Just curious - have you considered doing some of the installation yourself? The shade mounting isn't rocket science and some integrators will sell you the equipment and let you handle the physical install while they do programming.",{"id":74,"author":23,"author_avatar":24,"created_at":75,"vote_count":76,"is_accepted":21,"body":77},8,"2025-01-02T14:43:16.117225",14,"Thanks everyone for the incredibly helpful responses! @HighEndIntegrator - the tiered approach makes a lot of sense. I hadn't thought about categorizing windows by actual need rather than treating them all the same. Going to sit down this weekend and map out which windows fall into which category. And @HomeAutoGeek - really appreciate the honest feedback about the hybrid approach. That's exactly the kind of real-world experience I was hoping to hear about.",{"id":79,"author":80,"author_avatar":81,"created_at":82,"vote_count":60,"is_accepted":21,"body":83},9,"Control4Enthusiast","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=Control4Enthusiast&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","2025-01-05T14:43:16.117225","One thing nobody's mentioned - make sure your integrator accounts for motor direction and shade orientation during installation. I've seen jobs where shades were installed with the fabric rolling the wrong direction, which affects both the light gap at the roller and the aesthetic. Small detail but matters for blackout performance.",{"id":15,"author":85,"author_avatar":86,"created_at":19,"vote_count":60,"is_accepted":21,"body":87},"AutomationPro2020","https:\u002F\u002Fui-avatars.com\u002Fapi\u002F?name=AutomationPro2020&background=random&color=fff&size=256&bold=true","Since you're doing new construction, talk to your electrician NOW about running the low-voltage wiring before drywall goes up. This is the cheapest time to do it. Have them run Cat6 or 18\u002F2 to every window location - even ones you might not shade immediately. Future-proofing is basically free at the rough-in stage but expensive as a retrofit.",1784825298128]