DIY @slrpnk.net tofu berserker (he/they) @slrpnk.net 4mo ago

installing awnings?

hi all. i live in western Colorado, in the desert part rather than the mountain part, and it's HOT. and sunny. my house has a long west-facing wall full of large windows, and we've been keeping the blinds shut all day but it's not helping. i'm thinking of installing awnings.

my questions are, a) have you done this or something similar, and if so what did you do, b) are there awnings available that are NOT just plastic? and c) any other hints, tips, or ideas would be welcome.

39 comments

Is this by any chance inspired by the recent Technology Connections video? As a homeowner with a brutal western exposure, I'm in the same boat.
- I came to ask the same question! I love technology connections!
- Of course it was. The timing is too coincidental...
- i wanted awning before that video, but that video made me start pricing out my options! ha.
- 100%
Depending on the angles of the hot sun you’re getting something like this might be an idea and I think they look great.
- Another winning suggestion by SatansMaggotyCumFart!
- I have these on my building and fuck I wish they were just real awnings. It rains a ton and I'd appreciate shelter from that too, not these half ass sun shades
  
  Something to consider, is if you might want rain cover. I have to say these do look better than a traditional awning though.
  
  You could place the top pieces at an angle instead of vertical like in the pic.
  
  Or if you built something like this that had a slope to it, you could put polycarbonate on top. Or corrugated metal or fabric etc. You would just need the slope so that rain and snow wouldn't settle on it.
  
  I have never seen these before just now, but if I had them on my house, I would hang viney plants in baskets from them and let it grow in such a manner that it creates a canopy.
- that's really cool. Do you know what to call that? I assume some considerations are needed for keeping the window shaded through all sun positions.
  
  Horizontal slate awning and if you keep track of the hot sun angles and build accordingly you’re golden.
  
  I have similar ones and they shade in summer and let in sun in the winter.
A fellow technology connections enjoyer
- Awnings, so hot right now
- 100%
I do energy consulting, and it's hard to effectively shade east and west windows from morning and evening sun. Awnings on the west lose effectiveness because the sun gets lower and lower in the sky as it sets, requiring an awning to be lower (blocking the view) to still provide shade to the window. An awning will help to block the more southern portion coming around earlier in the day, but the most effective would likely be adjustable exterior blinds or coverings rather than an awning.

As you've discovered, interior blinds aren't very effective too. Once that sun is through the window, it's hard to get back out.
- Retractable awnings should be able to cope with this issue, right? At the expense of having to be actively managed, unless you go all in and get a motorized one with IoT-controls.
  
  They'd be better than nothing, but you're right, actively managed often means not managed unless it really has to be. But, they could stay down all day for the hottest parts of the year without issue.
- yeah, i'm thinking (tentatively) about trying to get some non-plastic, manually retractable cloth ones. then i can leave them fully extended for the hot-as-balls summer and dial them back for other seasons.
Playing the long game, plant some trees that will eventually give you afternoon shade!

Search "aluminum awnings" and you'll get a ton of results like these
- yes, that actually is my very long term strategy, but the trees are not in place yet. my wife and i had a permaculture analyst suggest plants that produce edible foods for our area, so there are some plans for that and maybe also sunflowers or amaranth to do a natural block. but for today, i'm thinking awnings.
Here in Europe we use roller shutters in front of windows or doors for this. Works great, but the house gets really dark inside. A quick google search tells me this might be limited to Germany and bordering countries though.
- They are quite common in southern Europe too. Some are solid, and some are like these with holes for light and ventilation. They can also be lowered fully to block light and ventilation.
  
  Those in the picture are also common in Germany and the Netherlands.
- Yes, here in South Limburg in the Netherlands a lot of homes have these installed and I guess keeping the sun out is the best option, whether it be awning or roller shutter.
  
  We have solar reflecting blinds, and keeping windows and filters shut helps quite a bit. Solar reflecting blinds are still heating up the window panes though. Temperatures inside still up to 30°C (86°F) in heat waves as we also have a flat roof that we insulated last year, heat build up day by day. We went checking on awnings, but good ones are quite expensive, we went earlier this year for a split unit AC.
  
  We also use a sun umbrella on the balcony door which has the largest window pain, it definitely helps, maybe a cheap/quick solution instead of awnings.
Can't help you with awnings, but you should invest in some cellular shades for your windows. We have the same problem, the entire length of our house, with the rooms we spend the most time in, faces west and from about 1pm-740pm it gets uninterrupted full sun, and brother it is HOT. Even with regular blinds you can feel the temperature increase from one side of the house every step as you walk towards the other side.

Cellular shades are a GAME CHANGER. They fold up into basically nothing when not in use, and when you pull them down the heat stays out. It rules, and it's a very affordable and easy to install fix while you build your awnings. You will not regret them.
The comments on this page might have some info

https://lemmy.world/post/17590082
- that's where i saw that video! appreciated.
Plant Trees and shrubs along that section if possible?

Or move. This will only get worse the longer we deny it by doing nothing substantive. That's what I did.
- i'd love to move, but i want to improve where i am while i'm here. we have some plans for trees and sunflowers or amaranth on that side, but i think it's a "both/and" situation rather than an "either/or" for me.
We put blackout cell shades in our east facing mud room and they made a big difference. You want something with a reflective component, not just like curtains.

I think the best would be something external, like shutters.
- oh dang, shutters! i forgot they're not just decorative.
How about putting retractable solar water heating panels over those windows?
- i might do something similar when we eventually replace everything in our house with electric stuff, but for now we have a gas-powered water heater. i am saving for a full solar installation on our roof, though, which would power everything. solar is the one energy-producer we have here in absolutely wild abundance.
  
  I met someone in GJ who excavated a pit, built a house in it, and walled it up on two sides so only exposed at two ends, the rest buried and banked.
  
  At the time it seemed elaborate, but he was way ahead if me.

39 comments