Car window sun screens?

[CraftyDiva]

You know those sun screens for cars, right? Go in your windshield to block sun from heating car even more then it is.

Well, I'm wondering if anyone knows of a similar product for home windows. My dining room faces west with nothing blocking sunlight (no trees, buildings). Right now I could bake a cake in it, it's so hot. Have blinds,drapes and the sun is still coming in. Actually it's so bad I've had to replace the blinds 3 times because the sun bakes them brittle and they crack. Priced window films and fell on the floor when they told me the cost.

Thinking of even putting aluminum foil on the upper part just get some relief.

Any thrifty homesteader ideas?

[Jessikate]

The only thing I can think about would be that heavy black lanscaping plastic - or aluminum foil, used of course!

[moopups]

The same reflective tinting that is used on car windows should work in that application.

[CraftyDiva]

Originally Posted by moopups

The same reflective tinting that is used on car windows should work in that application.

Is tinting windows a do-it-yourself project? Would I get the tint at an auto parts store?

[kppop]

Priced window films and
***

Did you price this as a do it your self project or were you paying a company to do it? Doing it yourself is pretty cheap and it's very easy to do. Well worth it ..when I lived in S Florida every window in the house was tinted..if you aren't careful the sun will kill your carpet and furniture in addition to your blinds.

[CraftyDiva]

Originally Posted by kppop

Priced window films and
***

Did you price this as a do it your self project or were you paying a company to do it? Doing it yourself is pretty cheap and it's very easy to do. Well worth it ..when I lived in S Florida every window in the house was tinted..if you aren't careful the sun will kill your carpet and furniture in addition to your blinds.

Priced at $1200.00 by installer for 3 36"X72" windows.
Where would one look for the film?

[CraftyDiva]

Did a search for window film, and I think I'll stick with the my foil idea.
http://solarfilmco.com/house-window-film.html
Custom shades would run $110 each window.
Just the film (do it yourself) $300 and change each window. Which doesn't make any sense, the shades would be cheaper but the film is permanent.

Might check a few auto stores and Home depot for prices.

[thebeav]

Do you then remove the film in the winter when you want the sun to warm the house?

[CraftyDiva]

Originally Posted by thebeav

Do you then remove the film in the winter when you want the sun to warm the house?

I think the film retains the heat inside as well, so no heat loss. The shades seem to be the better value if your going this route.

[kppop]

Originally Posted by CraftyDiva

Priced at $1200.00 by installer for 3 36"X72" windows.
Where would one look for the film?

******

We bought ours at either Home Depot or Lowes. It was on a roll..different heights and different strengths to choose from. I cant remember the exact price but I do know it wasn't $100 per window.

[kppop]

Just went to Home Depot.com and they have a 4ft tall x 15 ft long piece of film for under $50. At the home page do a search for window tint and it brings you to the window page..click on the window tint link and there you will find all kinds of good stuff!! Good luck and I hope this helps.

[NWSneaky]

About 6'x8'. We also have a west facing kitchen window. About a year ago I did a search and found reflective film --- real cheap in large rolls and lots of do-it-yourself instructions on their site.

[AngieM2]

Go to the camping section of Walmart or the likes and get a solar blanket for about $2. One makes a nice curtain for a window. They do make these same things with a casing for a solar blanket. In summer put the reflective side out, and in the winter the reflective side in to keep heat in. I have them in one of my south windows.

You could do this as a lining to regular curtains, and then you can take them down, etc.

Angie

[rzrubek]

Here in the desert of AZ the sun gets extremely hot. Our window screens are actually shadecloth, probably 70% (don't know for sure, didn't intall them). so if you have screens already in place, check into shadecloth. Just replace your screen with it. Actually, now that i think about it more, the suggestion for the reflective films is probably better. Around here they also sell these bamboo screens that roll up. they mount outside your window, hanging from eye hooks screwed into your eves. You just roll them up when you don't want the sun blocked. They keep the sunlight from ever getting into your house to start with.

[LittleJohn]

They sell a high quality fabric here for makeing insulating window shades also have magnetic strip in 100' rolls to put on them so they will seal well.
http://www.solar-components.com/quilts.htm

[foxtrapper]

I'd be pretty inclined to cob up an externally mounted storm window using shade cloth or the like in your case. You want to keep the heat from coming in in the first place, if at all possible. It's pretty easy to make a storm window of this type using the metal frames for screens.

[Old John]

Hi Crafty Diva & Y'all,

Have you thought about Awnings? They would be kinda pricey to start
with but they last forever.
We were fortunate enough to have Aluminum Awnings on all four of
our West-facing windows., when we bought our little place.
They really do the trick for keeping out the Sun.
You might be able to get the folding type Awnings if you need the
Sun in winter time.

The only problem I had was the old deck had a narrow walk, around
that side of the house, from the big deck on the front to the small deck
in the back. About half dozen times I'd be not paying attention and run
my forehead right into an Awning. They don't give away from you at all.
And, it would set my butt right down on the deck.

But, the deck was all so rotted out it had to be replaced.
So, I had it widened past the Awnings.
The Awnings were the only part we got to keep.
I washed them down with clorox water & they shined right up.
They are probably 25 yrs. old.
Awnings would definitely be a good Investment, if you have the money.
And, a permanent solution, as well as adding value.