Glace Bay sits right on the open Atlantic at the eastern edge of Cape Breton, and on a winter night you feel every kilometre of that ocean. The town was built on coal, and its streets of company-era homes, many of them storey-and-a-half houses built close together, carry that history with pride.
These are warm, solid homes with windows that have taken a lot of north Atlantic weather. On December 21 the sun sets here at about 4:16 p.m., one of the earliest sunsets anywhere in Nova Scotia. Keeping the heat in through those long evenings is what most Glace Bay homeowners ask us about.
Your blinds are measured in your home, made in our Nova Scotia workshop and installed by our own crew on our regular Cape Breton trips.
What Glace Bay homes need
Insulation against the open ocean. Double-cell cellular shades, with side channels on the windward side.
Damp-proof materials. Faux wood and moisture-resistant roller shades for kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
Sensible pricing. Good products, fair quotes, no upselling.
Atlantic Light in Glace Bay
Approximate times, calculated for Glace Bay's location. Compare all 45 communities.
| Shortest day (Dec 21) | Longest day (Jun 21) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | 7:39 a.m. | 5:08 a.m. |
| Sunset | 4:16 p.m. | 8:54 p.m. |
| Daylight | 8 h 36 min | 15 h 46 min |
| Sun height at noon | 20° | 67° |
What it means for your windows: With the sun topping out at about 20 degrees in December, low light comes in under eaves and porch roofs that shade the same windows in summer. Glare control matters most from November to February. Dawn at about 5:08 a.m. in June is the main reason families here ask us for blackout bedrooms.
Communities we serve
We also serve Port Morien, Donkin, Birch Grove and New Waterford.
Popular in Glace Bay
- Cellular shades: the warmest window covering you can buy
- Faux wood blinds: built for steam and damp
- Roller shades: clean and simple, sheer to blackout
Around Glace Bay
Reserve Mines
Reserve Mines sits between Sydney and Glace Bay, a community shaped by the collieries and known across the island for its strong sense of identity and its role in the Antigonish Movement's co-operative housing. Homes are mostly modest, solid family houses, many built by the people who still live in them or by their parents.
Practical, warm and durable is the brief here. Many homes have had new windows at some point, but not all, and winter heating costs are a real concern.
What we fit most here: cellular shades for warmth throughout, blackout cellular in bedrooms, and faux wood blinds in kitchens and bathrooms.
Do cellular shades help with heating bills in older homes? Yes. The US Department of Energy found cellular shades can reduce heating energy use by up to 20% compared with uncovered windows. The benefit is largest in older homes and on cold, windy nights.
Do you serve Reserve Mines on your Cape Breton trips? Yes. Reserve Mines is included in our regular industrial Cape Breton measure and install trips.
Dominion
Dominion sits on the coast just west of Glace Bay, between the ocean and Lingan Bay, with its beach, its mining heritage and a close community of family homes. Many houses face the water or sit exposed to it, which means wind, salt and damp are part of daily life.
Window coverings here need to be tough and warm. Products that look good in a showroom but swell, rust or fade in two years are not worth the money.
What we fit most here: double-cell cellular shades on ocean-facing walls, moisture-resistant roller shades and faux wood in damp rooms, and corrosion-resistant hardware for homes close to the beach.
What blinds will not rust or swell near the ocean? Polyester roller, solar and cellular shades, faux wood and aluminum blinds, with corrosion-resistant hardware. Avoid real wood and natural fibres in rooms exposed to damp sea air.
Are blackout blinds needed for summer on the Cape Breton coast? For bedrooms, usually yes. On June 21 the sun rises at about 5:08 a.m. in the Glace Bay area, early enough to wake children and light sleepers through light-filtering fabric.
Frequently asked questions
Do you install blinds in Glace Bay?
Yes. Atlantic Shades measures and installs custom blinds and shades in Glace Bay, Reserve Mines, Dominion, Port Morien and the surrounding area, on regular scheduled Cape Breton trips.
What blinds are best for homes facing the open ocean?
Double-cell cellular shades for warmth, with moisture-resistant fabrics and corrosion-resistant hardware. In kitchens and bathrooms, faux wood or polyester roller shades handle the humidity best.
What time does the sun set in Glace Bay in winter?
On December 21 the sun sets at about 4:16 p.m. in Glace Bay and rises at about 7:39 a.m., giving roughly 8 hours and 36 minutes of daylight.
Nearby: Sydney · All of Nova Scotia