Hello everyone!
We have a semi-detached house from 1921 with good insulation and fairly new windows from 2017, which we also bought in 2017. Unfortunately, it currently has no external shading. Our house stays cool for a long time, but the longer a heatwave lasts, the more it heats up. When temperatures stay above 30°C (86°F) for several days, even the best insulation can’t prevent the heat build-up. The living room and one child’s bedroom face east, so the sun beats down relentlessly on them until around 1 to 2 p.m., and for the rooms facing west, the sun arrives around that time as well. We now want to retrofit external shading as protection against heat. Below you’ll find the types of windows we have. The lower transom windows cannot be opened. There is no electrical wiring in the window reveals.
Based on my current research, the only really practical solution here seems to be an external roller shutter. Electric operation would likely be too much effort to retrofit; manual operation would mean drilling into four-year-old windows (thermal bridge?). They are PVC-aluminum windows, and we did not cut any corners there. Then there are various types of clip-on blinds, but those are ruled out because of the lower transoms and usability, right?
Our main priority is really effective protection against heat. We could also consider external blinds (such as Venetian blinds) if the operation works well. Since we all like to sleep in complete darkness, very good blackout capability would be a bonus, although our internal roller blinds already do quite well in that regard. We are the type who like to ventilate early in the morning and then keep everything tightly closed until evening during hot periods, because we just can’t take the heat otherwise—we are definitely not sun-lovers. The external window reveals have a depth of 22.5cm (9 inches), so there is quite a bit of space there for solutions recessed into the niche.
I wanted to tap into your collective experience here. Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees or imagine problems where none exist.
Attached are the types of windows we have.
We have a semi-detached house from 1921 with good insulation and fairly new windows from 2017, which we also bought in 2017. Unfortunately, it currently has no external shading. Our house stays cool for a long time, but the longer a heatwave lasts, the more it heats up. When temperatures stay above 30°C (86°F) for several days, even the best insulation can’t prevent the heat build-up. The living room and one child’s bedroom face east, so the sun beats down relentlessly on them until around 1 to 2 p.m., and for the rooms facing west, the sun arrives around that time as well. We now want to retrofit external shading as protection against heat. Below you’ll find the types of windows we have. The lower transom windows cannot be opened. There is no electrical wiring in the window reveals.
Based on my current research, the only really practical solution here seems to be an external roller shutter. Electric operation would likely be too much effort to retrofit; manual operation would mean drilling into four-year-old windows (thermal bridge?). They are PVC-aluminum windows, and we did not cut any corners there. Then there are various types of clip-on blinds, but those are ruled out because of the lower transoms and usability, right?
Our main priority is really effective protection against heat. We could also consider external blinds (such as Venetian blinds) if the operation works well. Since we all like to sleep in complete darkness, very good blackout capability would be a bonus, although our internal roller blinds already do quite well in that regard. We are the type who like to ventilate early in the morning and then keep everything tightly closed until evening during hot periods, because we just can’t take the heat otherwise—we are definitely not sun-lovers. The external window reveals have a depth of 22.5cm (9 inches), so there is quite a bit of space there for solutions recessed into the niche.
I wanted to tap into your collective experience here. Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees or imagine problems where none exist.
Attached are the types of windows we have.
Winniefred18 Apr 2021 13:27I love shutters!! However, we ruled them out because of space constraints. Only folding shutters would have worked, and these are particularly expensive.
Winniefred18 Apr 2021 13:30Mycraft schrieb:
The simplest and most effective measure would of course be a heat pump for cooling, since it’s relatively easy to retrofit and involves little messy work.
External blinds would also be an option, but they need to be controlled according to the sun and require power at every window.
Otherwise, there are awnings and shutters.
Natural shading from trees would be best, but… yes, that takes time.Unfortunately, trees are not an option either. On the east side, we have the courtyard, then the garage, and then a huge neighbor’s thuja hedge, which unfortunately doesn’t provide shade because it’s set back a bit to the north.
Awnings have the problem of operation.
I’m almost certain we won’t be able to avoid an electric solution. At least for the windows on the ground floor, we haven’t renewed the plaster yet. Maybe it could be done there.
Winniefred schrieb:
I almost think we can’t avoid an electric solution.You’re probably right... if you want it comfortable and efficient.H
hampshire18 Apr 2021 13:36Are sliding shutters also limited in space?
Italian window awnings can be fully automated and take up very little space.
Italian window awnings can be fully automated and take up very little space.
A simple internal blind on the window already makes a big difference. That would be my first approach. If that doesn’t help, you can always consider other options on a larger scale. For us, it is completely sufficient.
For your windows, one blind per sash (clipped to the window frame and extending in length just below the bottom pane).
For your windows, one blind per sash (clipped to the window frame and extending in length just below the bottom pane).
Winniefred18 Apr 2021 13:43We have interior blinds everywhere.
We don’t need anything automated or similar. That’s not a requirement for us. The main goal is heat protection in the end. Simple exterior roller shutters would be enough for me, but they are difficult to combine with transom windows. Visually, shutters would suit the house best. However, I’m not very fond of sliding shutters because of the tracks they require.
It might be a good idea to get a quote for this. It should also be eligible for subsidies. But I think we’ll need to save for a while, and ideally, we want a solution for this summer.
We don’t need anything automated or similar. That’s not a requirement for us. The main goal is heat protection in the end. Simple exterior roller shutters would be enough for me, but they are difficult to combine with transom windows. Visually, shutters would suit the house best. However, I’m not very fond of sliding shutters because of the tracks they require.
It might be a good idea to get a quote for this. It should also be eligible for subsidies. But I think we’ll need to save for a while, and ideally, we want a solution for this summer.