Winniefred18 Apr 2021 10:08Hello 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.
Sun protection, such as awnings, roller shutters, or similar options, is a possibility and can be done with the appropriate cost and effort.
The second option is to leave everything as it is and install a split air conditioning system with one outdoor unit and two or three indoor units.
I would plan for both options, gather quotes, and then decide on one.
The second option is to leave everything as it is and install a split air conditioning system with one outdoor unit and two or three indoor units.
I would plan for both options, gather quotes, and then decide on one.
S
Smialbuddler18 Apr 2021 13:13Nida35a schrieb:
The second option is to leave everything as is and install a split air conditioning system with one outdoor unit and two or three indoor units. Not directed at you personally, but more at the general trend: isn’t that ecological madness? Instead of addressing the root cause, which would be possible, another energy guzzler is being installed. Oh well...
Winniefred18 Apr 2021 13:22The effort is exactly the problem. I don’t want to open up a perfectly working insulation just to install a roller shutter, and afterward I would have an aesthetic issue because the new plaster and paint would be noticeable. This might be an option if the façade needed renovation anyway, but it doesn’t.
Maybe there are solutions I haven’t considered yet.
Maybe there are solutions I haven’t considered yet.
S
Smialbuddler18 Apr 2021 13:26What is your opinion on shutters? Depending on the house, they can look very attractive, provide reliable heat protection, and can be manually operated from the inside using a crank. They can be fully retrofitted with just a small hole needed for the crank.
The simplest and most effective solution would of course be using the heat pump for cooling, as it is relatively easy to retrofit and involves minimal messy work.
External blinds are also an option, but these need to be controlled based on sunlight and require power at every window.
Otherwise, there are awnings and shutters.
Natural shading from trees would be best, but... yes, it takes time.
External blinds are also an option, but these need to be controlled based on sunlight and require power at every window.
Otherwise, there are awnings and shutters.
Natural shading from trees would be best, but... yes, it takes time.
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