Exterior Solar Blinds - Part 1 - The Need

We have an issue in our home. No, not the type that you need to call a New York lawyer or a California attorney-at-law. The issue is the sun.

The back of our home faces due south. Across the entire south wall of our family room is almost nothing but 5 foot high windows. It provides us with a great view of the backyard and of the forest behind our house. However, with this great view comes direct sun light.

This winter we had ENERGY STAR rated replacement windows installed in our main floor and some of the windows in the walkout basement. Even with these windows, the family room becomes uncomfortably warm during the day in the winter and spring. I can only imagine that it will become the same unbearably hot during this and every future summer as it did last summer, even with the new windows, unless we do something.

And, the last place I want my money to go is to the electric utility company to pay for the constant air conditioning that we will be forced to expend during the summers because of the heat build up from the direct sun light. I do have better things to do with my money, thank you very much.

As well, in the above picture you can see the dark hardwood flooring. Now, look in the picture below. It is the same hardwood flooring but in the day time in full direct sun. Notice how the interior window shade does not really help that much to protect the sun from hitting the hardwood and making a noticeable difference.

After a couple of years my fear is that we will end of with the sun’s UV rays fading the rich dark brown luster of the hardwood, even on a cloudy day. Here is a close-up of the family room’s flooring with the interior blind pulled down. Yikes! Our poor dark brown flooring.

We have to do something. Might as well act now before the summer heat is upon us.

We looked into awnings. There are lots and lots of different types. However, because the south wall of our family room has 45 degree angles at both ends, we are talking either a very large awning or three separate awnings, one for each of the three sides of the south wall. Have you seen the price of awnings these days? Estimates I could obtain would indicate that we would be spending at the very least $2,500, yikes!

As well, there is precious little wall between the top of our south windows and the roof. This means that the only option we have is to install the awnings directly on top of our roof. No thanks. I don’t need to add worrying about water leaks appearing on the ceiling of our family room because of pouring sealed awing supports to my list of things to worry about.

And, we do still want to be able to see out the windows in the day time to enjoy the view. So, purchasing new interior window coverings is not a desirable option for us.

What’s left? We are convinced that exterior solar blinds are the answer. Enter EZ Snap. To continue to the next installment, simply select this link to Part 2.