Is there such a thing as outside blinds? Ideas?

[Chris142]

My house is built weird. The driveway leads to the back of the house. Our main entrance is actually the back door.Anyway enough of that.

The front of the house faces west. There are 2 large windows. When the sun is in the west the room behind the windows (kitchen and dining rooms) are unbearably hot.

My wife was thinking of some sort of roll up and down blinds that we could lower in the evenings to help block the sun from heating this part up so much.

The distance between the poles is roughly 12 ft and I'm guessing 8 ft from the top where the poles mount to the small brick wall. We really enjoy the sunsets but gosh it gets hot in that room!

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Tdbo]

Something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=outdoor+blinds+roll+up&sprefix=outdoor+bli%2Caps%2C619

If link does not work, type outdoor blinds in search box.

 

[eljefino]

So you already have the blinds in the big windows that you keep closed a lot of the time, so those windows kinda stink for looking out on the world.

How about if you got metallic tint on that glass, 95% or so, designed to reflect UV back outside? That would be another layer, there.

You could get some light muslin cloth for your "porch curtains", it's so sheer you can see through it like bug screen and it would shade your porch, meaning less heat on the other side of the wall, another good thing. You could sew a few yardstick type things in the bottom to weight them from blowing, and roll the yardsticks up into some hooks up top when you don't want to use them.

 

[simple_gifts]

I assume you plan to install them between the poles and not over the windows? Consider awnings, not blinds.

 

[Chris142]

Ok so they are called awnings?

 

[Chris142]

We ususlly keep the inside blinds open till about 3p when the sun starts cooking us. Also theres no ac in this room. There is a swamp cooler in the room south of it that you cant see and a portable AC unit in there too. The swamp cooler helps a little but not enough

 

[spasm3]

Could you frame in a bit and use these on the edges of the patio.
120inches wide by 72 inches long roller shade.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coolaroo-Sesame-Exterior-Roller-Shade-120-in-W-x-72-in-L-460051/203304038

 

[artificialist]

Here in Florida, outdoor blinds are called hurricane shutters. Maybe you could search for those and find what you want.

 

[simple_gifts]

Awnings are more horizontal sun blocks than vertical ones; Just throwing it out there as an option.

They work like the exterior visors often seen on 1950's cars.

The advantage is that you are not obstructing the entire view when they are deployed.

http://web.joycefactorydirect.com/blog/bid/55519/Three-Benefits-of-Retractable-Awnings-in-Cleveland

 

[JHZR2]

HD and plenty of other home type stores sell roll up shades made of bamboo or plastic for this very reason. They are intended for people who have large porches that get AM or PM sun. Very common.

Start here:

http://www.blinds.com/control/subCategory/categoryID,147

 

[NMBurb02]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Could you frame in a bit and use these on the edges of the patio.
120inches wide by 72 inches long roller shade.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coolaroo-Sesame-Exterior-Roller-Shade-120-in-W-x-72-in-L-460051/203304038

This is probably the way to go. We had one over our back sliding glass window and used it from time to time. It has been off for a few months since the house's owner (we rent) had the door replaced and is planning to have the house repainted, after which the shade will be re-installed.

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

We have powered roll up shades at work to keep the sun off of one of our remote bulk dispense systems. Just flip the switch and the shade comes down on tracks. If they are powered you could probably put them on a timer.

 

[Nick1994]

Yes they have screens for windows that shade but you can still easily see out of. I'll put some pictures below. Search for "window shade screens"

Another thing you may want to consider is screening off the porch for shade so the porch is shaded too, look into "Arizona room"

 

[AZjeff]

sun shades

 

[Pop_Rivit]

We have roller style sun shades around the west side of the pergola that we drop on summer afternoons when the west sun gets intense. They are out there-just do a bit of searching and you'll find them.

 

[SHOZ]

I use to use cheap poly rollups blinds out on the porch over hang on the west side of my house. Made q big difference and they lasted about 5 years.

Something like this from WalMart

About this item

These durable and completely washable Roll Up Blinds come complete with an automatic cord lock, hooks for hanging and an E-Z-Trac adjustable headrail. They may be used alone or with complementary window treatments.


Radiance 1/4'' Oval PVC Roll Up Blinds:

Hooks for hanging
Perfect for patios, porches and sunrooms
Indoor/outdoor use
Durable PVC construction
Ideal for indoor or outdoor use
Automatic cord lock
E-Z Trac adjustable headrail
Easy to clean
Imported
Comes in 3 sizes: 60" x 72", 72" x 96", and 96" x 72"

Specifications
Primary Color: White
Multi Pack Indicator: No
Battery Type: Does Not Contain a Battery
Model No.: 0320156
Shipping Weight (in pounds): 6.0
Product in Inches (L x W x H): 60.0 x 0.01 x 72.0
Assembled in Country of Origin: USA or Imported

 

[Benzadmiral]

Normally Noo Awlins dwellers have no clue about keeping the sun out of their homes or cars -- they just jack the A/C higher, then complain about their power bills. But my barber has ones like in Shoz's post, mounted outside the east-facing windows of his shop, and rolls them down early in the morning. He knows that if you keep the sun's rays from getting to the window in the first place, your A/C doesn't have to work as hard.

 

[BRZED]

I have exterior rolling shutters that are great. They can keep the daylight out completely, insulate against heat, cold and noise, hail and storms, and they foil burglars. They work well in conjunction with the tilt and turn windows that I have.

 

[JustinH]

A bunch of people down here have Solar Screens installed on the side of the house that gets the most sun.

They work pretty good, my cousin has them on her house.

For us, we just keep the aluminum shutter style blinds down during the daytime and that works great. We have standard screens.

A lot of the 3m window tint companies down here also tint residential glass. That does an amazing job of rejecting heat.

 

[DBMaster]

There are window tints that come in shades ranging from clear to dark that reject INFRARED. They cost about twice as much as tints that just reject UV. But, it's the IR that heats up the room. That would be something to consider if you still want to enjoy the view.