Anyone have external shutters to keep house cool?

[colouringindoors]

It is crazy hot here.... And my blinds shut all day thing is not proving enough.

So I was thinking of houses I've stayed in in Europe which have roller shutters on all the windows which really keep places cool.

Does anyone have these in the UK? If so where did you get them from?

This is one company I've found (if you're not sure what I'm talking about 😅)

www.rochesecurity.com/window-security-shutters/

I want them. I am German and never understood the negativity from people in Britain about them.

Unfortunately I have bay windows as well, I don't think they will work but I am starting to dream about some of the rooms....

While we are at it, can we have the kind of windows which open inwards and tilt, so I can wash my windows from the inside.

Well not actually me, coz I bought a house where I can't change the style of windows but everyone else, especially new builds.

I was looking at these, I think you'd have to have motorised ones as windows in the UK usually open outwards instead of inwards. It also means you can't have them shut at night for darkness and open windows for ventilation, so I have (very sadly) shelved the idea for now.

I don't actually know Why we have outwards opening windows though, is it something to do with rain?

I have been wishing for those too. What I actually do is to buy blackout fabric and upholstery velcro from John Lewis and velcro the blackout material to the outside of the window on hot days. It has the same effect and keeps the house beautifully cook. We take the fabric down in the evening.

This is the stuff: www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-blackout-curtain-lining-fabric/p189126

This velcro looks good:

www.johnlewis.com/velcro-brand-heavy-duty-stick-on-strips-white/p301676

"Beautifully cool"! not "beautifully cook". #fail

@FinallyHere

While we are at it, can we have the kind of windows which open inwards and tilt, so I can wash my windows from the inside.

Well not actually me, coz I bought a house where I can't change the style of windows but everyone else, especially new builds.

We have two of them in our bathroom, finally able to air after three people showering.

We tried to get them for other rooms as well but 10 years ago we were told our windows are too wide.

We do need to replace some windows in the next 3-5 years and I will look at them again.

www.ultraglaze-choices.co.uk/windows/tilt-and-turn-windows-bromley/

StrongLegs ooooI was wondering about some sort of outdoor curtain/blind. One of the windows in question is a bay so shutters would be crazy expensive.

Primose.co.uk sell an outdoor curtain (but currently sold out)

I could cope with the fact that if the shutters are down, the windows are closed.

Bumping

Yes, but I live in Portugal where every house has them!

Oh yes we installed these in our (U.K) flat a few years ago (based on experience of living in Europe where they're very common (ie hot summers and snowy winters) keeps the heat out in summer (and warmth in in winter). They come in manual or electric . Good for security too, BUT we needed to get planning permission to do it !

We had them when living in Germany and Cyprus, they were great as both a black out and for temperature regulation. Although they also made me feel claustrophobic...

@reluctantbrit Danke schön for the link.

I have been looking for ages, really great to get a supplier.

I used to live in a Military quarter and we had the tilt and turn windows fitted 30 odd years ago, and some of the windows were quite big

I’m in Australia and have them. Love them.

@StrongLegs this seems like a genius idea! What do you velcro it to? I’m imagining you open the window, velcro the fabric to itself in a loop and then shut it?

@IvanTheDragon We have PVC windows and I just stick the adhesive vecro to the window frame. It does unsitck eventually but certainly lasts a summer and sometimes two. I sew the other velcro to the blackout fabric, and I do it with a really strong stitch so it stays on, since I'm always a bit lazy and just tear it down off the window. It works fine like that.

We only do the back windows, so nobody would notice that we have a slightly Heath Robinson setup. It's just makes the house so much cooler and a pleasure to be in, even when it's 30 degrees outside.

We generally put the blinds up just before it starts to get hot, and we take them down after the sun has moved round so that it is not shining directly on those windows.

@StrongLegs your set-up sounds brilliant. I've got 2 pvc windows and one big aluminium one (i guess I could put hooks up above that one... 🤔) never even knew about upholstery velcro!

@colouringindoors - Thanks, I'm really glad you like it. I hope it helps keep your house cool if you give it a go. It's really made our lives so much easier.