Cardboard and Aluminium Foil Cut the cardboard to fit your window panes and cover it with aluminium foil to reflect sunlight. This method isn't as aesthetically pleasing as other solutions listed, but it is effective and easy to remove when no longer needed.
If you are not a fan of cardboard or aluminum foil, there are pleated paper shades that are very cheap and just use tape for install. An example is here and here. These can usually be found at big box hardware stores and any other large home goods stores.
- Tinting: Use tinted glass or adhesive films that reduce visibility and light. Sealing Gaps: - Ensure that your window frames are properly sealed to prevent light from leaking through any gaps. External Options: - Awnings or Overhangs: Install awnings or overhangs to block direct light from entering the windows.
Solar shades or reflective window film are the best window coverings to block heat. Solar shades confine solar heat gain and block damaging UV rays while keeping a view of the outdoors. And the reflective window films reflect heat away from the windows so they cannot enter the interior.
You can use tough garbage bags or any strong plastic that can handle a bit of roughness. Use duct tape or masking tape to cover and seal these gaps, preventing drafts and potential water infiltration. Additionally, consider reinforcing the covering by adding extra screws or nails along the edges.
Insulated cellular shades are typically considered to have the highest R-values of all window coverings. The air pockets in the honeycomb cross-sections act as insulators, increasing the R-value and reducing the conduction of heat through the window.
Solar heat absorption: The plastic film absorbs a significant amount of the sun's heat energy that would normally be reflected away by the glass. Heat trapping: The absorbed heat is then trapped inside the plastic layer, creating a warm microclimate between the plastic and the window glass.
You can easily and cheaply use tin foil or cardboard to black out your windows. Save a pretty penny by cutting either material to the size of your windows and taping it to the window. This is one of the easiest and most budget-friendly blackout solutions, but it definitely isn't the most aesthetically friendly.
Draperies, Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, roll up shades, and a variety of other interior attachments are common additions to residential windows. They are used more for aesthetics and privacy than for solar heat gain prevention, but they can be effective heat blockers just the same.
According to the HowToGoSolar, a free online resource geared toward educating homeowners on the benefits of solar power and energy efficiency, bubble wrapped windows show insulating improvements that are 50% better on single-glazed windows, cutting utility bills almost in half.
All you need is a roll of tin foil, a spray bottle filled with water, and a window. Just spray some water on the window, roll out the tin foil directly over the water, and voila!
Blackout window film will completely block out the visible light spectrum. It won't, however, solve your summer overheating issues. If you want to stop anyone from being able to see within your home – and don't want to look out onto your outdoor space – use blackout film, by all means.
What's the point of using plastic wrap? Plastic wrap is a great solution to save money when you have drafty windows. Plastic does an excellent job of keeping the heat from escaping if it stays intact.
If you are in a pinch, bubble wrap is an excellent insulator for summer windows. Simply spray a light mist of water on your windows, and lay bubble wrap against them to act as another layer of glass. The bubble wrap will stick as long as you need, and it works to keep the hot out and the cold in.
Spreading tin foil on any windows that receive direct sunlight can redirect the sun and heat away from your home. While it may introduce a somewhat space-age aesthetic to your household, it's a cheap and temporary fix to the problem of extreme heat.
Large west, east and north-facing windows should be shaded for increased energy efficiency. External shading is much more effective at keeping your home cool than internal blinds or curtains, as it stops the heat reaching the glass, but using both external and internal window coverings will provide maximum protection.
What colour blinds keep the heat out most effectively in summer? White or another light-coloured blind is the lining shade you want in order to insulate against the sun in summer, and to lower the extent to which the room heats up and holds onto the heat.
You can choose your own preferred window covering, as well as the material and the colour. You can create a sleek interplay of lines by adding vertical blinds or Venetian blinds to your home, or why not go for a classic look with folded blinds.
One of the easiest and most forgiving methods for DIY frosted glass involves decorative window film or adhesive vinyl shelf lining. Decorative window film adheres using static cling, so it is entirely removable and repositionable.