Here comes the Sun.
Great having the sun back. Personally I love the heat but if you don’t and the sun is heating up your rooms, here are some reasonably priced things you can do to help control the temperature.
In my opinion the best thing you can do is have solar film applied to the windows. It is applied to the outside of the window and can reduce the UV rays ( ie heat) by as much as 80%. The UV rays are also what damage your floor and bleach out your sofa fabric. This film, if professionally installed, is one of the best heat beaters I’ve ever seen - that still allows you to see out the window. In Salmon Arm Trademark Glass is the dealer I am most familiar with. Several of my clients have had the film installed and all have been just thrilled with the results.
You can install black-out roller blinds, Roman blinds, venetians or cellular shades. These work very well, just remember that there will be up to one third of an inch gap on each side of the blind to allow for hardware. On a window 60 x 40 this gap would be equivalent to a hole about 5 inches square. If you add a good deep valance and side panels, all blackout lined, you will get good heat protection but this solution does not allow you to see out. On the gallery I have posted a before and after sequence of a blackout roller blind with a lot of light seepage around the edges and the result with a blackout lined valance and side panels.
Shade cloth is available now that will block about 75% of the UV rays and allows great view out, very little view in on a sunny day. This product is sewable and quite inexpensive, perfect for patio or balcony curtains. I have this fabric coming, should be here within a few weeks. I will sell it as a finished drape or blind or as yardage so call me for more information. 250-833-1120.
You can have black out liners made for your existing drapery. There is a new blackout lining on the market that is quite drapeable, much nicer in feel that the older, stiff blackout lining. These liners can be made totally detachable for cleaning and can be made to attach to almost any drapery treatment. Totally opaque but fantastic heat protection, both keeping heat out in summer and in in the winter. On the gallery I have a before and after with dimout lining. The sun reflection on the floor is quite visible and the heat control these drapes provide was immediately noticeable.
I have seen fabric disintegrate after being exposed to the sun in just 1 season. I have seen hardwood floors bleached after a short time, and sofa fabric completely ruined by the sun. All these can be avoided it you put the right coverage on your window to start with.
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