Project planning resource
Bottom-Up Privacy Shading: Preconstruction Decision Guide
Need privacy at the lower part of glazing while keeping daylight above? Start with the privacy line, opening geometry and an accessible drive arrangement before selecting a system or closing the recess.
When Can Bottom-Up Privacy Shading Be Considered?
Consider a bottom-up concept when the occupied zone needs screening but the upper glazing should remain open to daylight. The direction of travel must be supported by the selected mechanism; turning an ordinary roller shade upside down is not a specification. Treat feasibility as open until the system supplier has reviewed the geometry, mounting, drive arrangement and service path.
First mark the required privacy height on an elevation. Separate this sightline objective from glare control, heat control and complete blackout. A privacy position does not itself verify any of those outcomes.
Resolve the Opening and Service Geometry Together
| Decision | Buyer input | Required output |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy and daylight | Elevation showing lower screening zone and upper daylight zone | Agreed coverage objective and operating positions |
| Opening geometry | Vertical/inclined condition, width/height basis, frame and obstructions | System direction plus geometry questions that need a selected-system drawing |
| Framing and blocking | Support material, fixing zones and construction sequence | Installer/structural review of supports matched to the selected equipment |
| Drive side | Elevation orientation and accessible power point | Marked drive end, cable entry and consistent opening ID |
| Removal access | Proposed finished recess, access hatch and route for removing parts | Service/removal sequence checked against the equipment instructions |
Use Selected-System Drawings, Not Generic Recess Dimensions
A public manufacturer example is the Lutron Sivoia QS tensioned-shade installation guide, document 045-156 Rev B. Its application drawing identifies a bottom-up arrangement with drive and pulley ends, and its installation steps require the corresponding support and prewire locations. This supports the planning question, not universal Saiwenna dimensions or Lutron compatibility.
Read the manufacturer-specific tensioned-shade reference (PDF) — use the instructions for the actual selected system before construction. No dimensions or load ratings from that example are transferred here.
Keep the Power Path Separate From the Control Platform
Mark both the motor-side supply and the way the command reaches the motor. A cable point at the wrong end can remain a problem even when its voltage is correct. Record where the power conversion equipment, controller and serviceable connections would sit; do not bury them behind a permanently closed finish.
- Power: destination mains information, proposed motor supply, equipment location and accessible cable route.
- Control: selected platform/controller, desired open/close/stop/preset behavior, feedback requirements and integrator.
- Validation: selected-system interface documentation and a representative test where required before release.
Use the Voltage & Power Guide for electrical selection inputs and Control Coordination for interface and acceptance questions. A named platform alone does not establish compatibility.
What Must Be Frozen Before Wall or Ceiling Closure?
- One opening ID and one coordinated drawing revision across architectural, shading and electrical records.
- Accepted system direction and the selected-system mounting/support detail.
- Drive side, cable entry and controller/power-supply locations.
- Accessible isolation, connection and service/removal route approved by the responsible trades.
- A closure hold point: list unresolved selections and name who may release the coordinated detail.
Record these decisions in the drive-side and wiring revision sign-off. A quotation or this checklist is not permission to close an unresolved construction detail.
Planning Risks to Resolve Early
| Risk | Consequence to avoid | Decision or record |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy line not agreed | A technically operable system may miss the sightline objective | Annotated elevation and buyer acceptance of coverage positions |
| Drive side reverses between drawings | Power arrives at the wrong end | Common orientation convention, opening ID and revision sign-off |
| Finished recess blocks removal | Maintenance would require opening finishes | Selected-equipment removal path reviewed before closure |
| Platform selected without interface evidence | Required commands or feedback may not be available | Interface documentation and acceptance plan |
| Support assumption remains open | Fixing design may not suit the selected assembly | Named installer/structural confirmation |
What to Send and What Saiwenna Returns
| Send | Review output |
|---|---|
| Elevation, sections, IDs and measurement basis | Opening-by-opening feasibility questions and system direction |
| Privacy/daylight objective and proposed recess | Coverage assumptions, access questions and details requiring engineering evidence |
| Power/control brief and responsible trades | Power/interface path to review, open items and responsibility allocation |
| Construction stage and closure milestone | Prioritized decision list and quotation basis where information is sufficient |
The output is a coordinated basis for the next decision. Final support design, wiring and construction release remain with the appointed project professionals using the accepted equipment documentation.
Typical Planning Scenario — not a completed Saiwenna project.
A designer wants privacy at the occupied zone of a tall window while retaining daylight above. The contractor has not yet closed the recess. The team marks the required screening zone, checks whether a documented bottom-up system fits the opening, identifies the drive end and asks how the assembly can be removed later. Any unresolved geometry or interface is held on the revision register before closure.
This is a generalized planning example, not a customer installation or performance claim.
Prepare a Reviewable Project Brief
Send the opening elevation, privacy objective, current revision, construction stage and power/control brief. Identify the next decision or closure milestone so the review can focus on it.