Blocking Sunlight From South Facing Windows

[Gimesalot]

DIY Mustachians I need your help.  We have a large house with all of the windows facing south! (Silly New Orleans construction).  In the winter it was great, because on sunny days, we barely ran the heat, but summer is quickly approaching.  DH and I are looking for solutions to limit the heat that comes in through the windows.  Here are the two options we have found:

example thermal curtains: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Home-Fashion-Insulated-Blackout/dp/B003S6O7A2/ref=sr_1_1?s=furniture&ie=UTF8&qid=1427206574&sr=1-1&keywords=curtains+thermal  We would also have to buy the rods.  Maintenance would include the removal of copious amounts of cat hair on a regular basis.

example sun screen: http://www.lowes.com/pd_142288-55-3004165_4294772362__?productId=1016809&Ntt=window+screens&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dwindow%2Bscreens&facetInfo=  We might have to purchase kits to make our screens cover the entire window instead of just the bottom half.  In addition, I would probably want to change the screens in the winter, when the sunlight is beneficial to lowering bills.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[Melf]

We've got a similar issue on the south-east end of our house.  It stays so much warmer in the two bedrooms at that end of the house.  That's fine in the winter but once it warms up, it's almost unbearable due to the heat. 

I've put window tint film that is supposed to block most of the UV heat and light.  I've also taped up left-over reflective barrier material over the windows from where we installed it in our attic a couple years ago.  In addition to these two layers, we have vinyl mini blinds and heavy curtains in one of the rooms.  All of these combined seem to help quite a bit.  Of course, there is no light coming in those windows now but it beats the heat.

The other room is worse but it's my gf's lazy, slovenly, 26y/o son's room so I'm not really motivated to help improve his situation much at all.  This room is the worse of the two since it has a 20ft tall vaulted ceiling that holds a lot of heat in addition to a large, arched window over two standard windows that that let in huge amounts of sunlight.  It's like a sauna in there but he keeps the door closed so that keeps most of the heat trapped in there with him.  Otherwise, I'd be blocking all of those windows off just like the other room.

I'm sure heavy/thermal curtains would help your situation.  I'm not sure about the window screen you referenced.  That is some pretty expensive stuff so I sure hope it works if you go that route.

[QajakBoy]

You really need to block the heat from the sun before it enters the house.
One example is http://www.sunsetter.com/order_easyshades.asp.  If you are a Costco member, I think that they are available at a discount through Costco.

The problem with thermal curtains is that they don't really stop the heat from getting into the house.  They stop most of the heat from getting past the curtains, but the heat will rise above the curtains to the ceiling and eventually heat up the room and the rest of the house. 

[zolotiyeruki]

Agreed that you need to block the sun from entering in the first place.  When we lived in Houston, we bought some roll-up shades that I hung from the eaves outside the big single-paned windows.  The window tint film is good as well.

If you're planning on being there long-term, you might also consider planting a big shade tree outside as well.

[Gimesalot]

I'm not sure about the window screen you referenced.  That is some pretty expensive stuff so I sure hope it works if you go that route.

Ha! I didn't notice the price.  I priced it out earlier this year and it came to about $250 for all of our windows.  (Turns our that the smaller pieces are less expensive than buying a larger piece.)  We would end up getting a few of these: http://www.lowes.com/pd_142288-55-3007933_1z0v72z+1z0v730+1z13zdb+4294772362__?productId=1016857&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=25|50|Phifer

I like the sunshades but with 5 rooms to do, and installation being on the second floor, I think these are out of the budget. 

I think we will move forward with the screens.  Thanks!

[3okirb]

In houses that are initially designed to use winter sun and block summer sun, there are larger overhangs.  The sun in the summer is at a higher angle and is blocked by the overhand, and the sun in the winter is lower and isn't.  Maybe you can figure out a way to extend your overhangs, or maybe make a smaller one for each window. 

Another way that won't help you now, but will in the future is plant some deciduous trees.  In the winter, the leaves are gone and you'll get the sun.  In the summer the leaves will block the sun.

[Gone Fishing]

In houses that are initially designed to use winter sun and block summer sun, there are larger overhangs.  The sun in the summer is at a higher angle and is blocked by the overhand, and the sun in the winter is lower and isn't.  Maybe you can figure out a way to extend your overhangs, or maybe make a smaller one for each window. 

Another way that won't help you now, but will in the future is plant some deciduous trees.  In the winter, the leaves are gone and you'll get the sun.  In the summer the leaves will block the sun.

Along these lines, I built window awnings out of steel roofing on my south side windows.  Shade in the summer and plenty of sun in the winter.  No changes season to season, they just work.  Makes the woodwork last longer, too.

[FrugalSpendthrift]

In houses that are initially designed to use winter sun and block summer sun, there are larger overhangs.  The sun in the summer is at a higher angle and is blocked by the overhand, and the sun in the winter is lower and isn't.  Maybe you can figure out a way to extend your overhangs, or maybe make a smaller one for each window. 

Another way that won't help you now, but will in the future is plant some deciduous trees.  In the winter, the leaves are gone and you'll get the sun.  In the summer the leaves will block the sun.

That's what I was thinking.  A completely passive design that requires no changes with the season would be ideal.

If trees aren't a good option, then maybe look for some other plants that grow fast, like hop bines.

[Gimesalot]

I might look into a passive design once our siding is in better shape.  Right now, it wouldn't support this sort of addition.  I would love to have it fixed but with hurricane season starting in a 2 months, I don't see it happening.

[NorCal]

Do you have the option of planting any plants / trees with seasonal leaves?  You could plant them strategically to provide shade in the summer, but light in the winter when the leaves fall off.

May not be an option due to climate or house location, but might be worth a look. 

[Slowdown]

Roller shutters or simply shutters would be best because they are on the outside, preventing the heat from even reaching your windowpane. Or are your windows too large for shutters? Then I'd vote for fast growing trees or, as interim solution, for a marquee.

[mtn]

I was briefly in an apartment over the summer with this issue; and the AC could not keep up at all. I put tinfoil around cardboard and put it up in the windows. Helped tremendously. Not good looking though.

[zolotiyeruki]

I wrapped cheap walmart fleece blankets around sheets of styrofoam from the hardware store.  Looks ok, and made a BIG difference in our kids' rooms.  And dirt cheap.  Granted, I was trying to keep heat *in*, but the principle still applies.  You could even get the foil-faced styrofoam and make it even more effective!

[JLee]

Hmm, blackout curtains are cheaper than I thought.  I have a similar problem, but not so much with south-facing sun (there's a porch with a low roof on the south side of my house). I'm not sure how much of a benefit I'll have by blocking the other windows, but I imagine it'll be better than not doing it. Phoenix gets hot!

[hodedofome]

I did the screens from Lowe's for a few years and it helped. I live in Texas. I eventually went to dual pane windows and don't need the screens anymore. Unfortunately my house didn't have any trees when we moved in and those can take a while to grow. Crape Myrtle trees grow fast and I put those in front of the windows and those took care of the shade now. I bought the Crape Myrtles at 30 gallon sizes and it didn't take but a few years for them to cover the windows completely. Obviously energy efficient windows take care of the problem completely.

The trees lose their leaves in the winter so I still get the sun.

[HipGnosis]

I might look into a passive design once our siding is in better shape.  Right now, it wouldn't support this sort of addition.  I would love to have it fixed but with hurricane season starting in a 2 months, I don't see it happening.

I might be misunderstanding, but that doesn't make sense to me.
Adding an overhang of most any type would require at least a partial re-do of the siding. 
Siding (as I know it) isn't used to support anything.

If you can't add an overhang, what about a free-standing, but close to the bldg, pergola? 

[cshaw]

I have a similar issue with south facing windows.  Two of them in our family room are too high to even reach, so I've been looking at motorized window treatments and think I'll go this route.  I like that I can program them to close before the sun pops up and then open up later in the day to let natural light in once the windows are in the shade.

http://homedepot.baliblinds.com/motorized_treatments/index.jsp

[Clean Shaven]

We used solar screens on our last house, fitted to the exterior, in place of the regular bug screens. You can get them in black or tan (and probably other colors too).  We put them on in late spring, took them down in early fall. Easy to do. They made a big difference in the amount of heat coming in.

[postvmvs]

The cheapest solution is aluminum foil taped on the window. I am surprised no one mentioned this. Obvious downside is the lack of view out the window and perceived tackiness. At a minimum it would be an easy test to carry out.

[chops]

In houses that are initially designed to use winter sun and block summer sun, there are larger overhangs.  The sun in the summer is at a higher angle and is blocked by the overhand, and the sun in the winter is lower and isn't.  Maybe you can figure out a way to extend your overhangs, or maybe make a smaller one for each window. 


Along these lines, I built window awnings out of steel roofing on my south side windows.  Shade in the summer and plenty of sun in the winter.  No changes season to season, they just work.  Makes the woodwork last longer, too.

In terms of adding an overhang after the house was built (as I am looking at a number of homes with primarily south facing windows and am considering how I can mitigate the same issue as the OP in the future), does anyone have any suggestions for figuring out how long of a overhang you would need to block the sun?   Geography location may also play into this fact?  I'm sure MMM must have had to calculate this out when he redid his roof.

Thanks!

 - Chops

[Rural]

In houses that are initially designed to use winter sun and block summer sun, there are larger overhangs.  The sun in the summer is at a higher angle and is blocked by the overhand, and the sun in the winter is lower and isn't.  Maybe you can figure out a way to extend your overhangs, or maybe make a smaller one for each window. 

Along these lines, I built window awnings out of steel roofing on my south side windows.  Shade in the summer and plenty of sun in the winter.  No changes season to season, they just work.  Makes the woodwork last longer, too.

In terms of adding an overhang after the house was built (as I am looking at a number of homes with primarily south facing windows and am considering how I can mitigate the same issue as the OP in the future), does anyone have any suggestions for figuring out how long of a overhang you would need to block the sun?   Geography location may also play into this fact?  I'm sure MMM must have had to calculate this out when he redid his roof.

Thanks!

 - Chops

There are a lot of good tools for this online. Here's one of the sites my husband and I used in designing our passive solar heated house so that we wouldn't heat up in the summer.


http://susdesign.com/tools.php

[teadirt]

Do you have the option of planting any plants / trees with seasonal leaves?  You could plant them strategically to provide shade in the summer, but light in the winter when the leaves fall off.

May not be an option due to climate or house location, but might be worth a look.

This was my first thought as well. Trees are amazing-- they increase property value over time, provide free food (fruit trees), and cool your house!

If you go this route, make sure you choose a species that is well suited to your environment. Look around and see what trees/shrubs are thriving in YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

[Jack]

I might look into a passive design once our siding is in better shape.  Right now, it wouldn't support this sort of addition.  I would love to have it fixed but with hurricane season starting in a 2 months, I don't see it happening.

Your siding is irrelevant. If you're not attaching the awning or overhang (or whatever) to structure, you're doing it wrong.

Also, the correct solution will depend on the architectural style of your house: shutters belong on one kind of house (e.g. a French Colonial), a pergola belongs on another (e.g. a Craftsman), and an awning belongs on a third (e.g. a post-WWII American Small House).