Thanks to bifolds we boiled last year. Not keen to do it again!

[Tiptoptum]

So, I did not design my house, and I bought it in Spring when the entire wall made up of bifolds seemed quite nice.

Summer came and I discovered in a South facing kitchen a wall of glass was not actually nice at all, and the heat has lifted the veneer on some kitchen units and it heated the floor so much we couldn’t step on it.

So. I can’t afford awnings, and the set up won’t suit a Pergola, and as they are bifolds rather than windows, I need to be able to freely move them.

I am poor, so looking for cost effective ideas

I toyed with Vertical blinds, but I don’t like them and they are a sod to clean, I was thinking of four large roller blinds, attached to the wall above them, which I can then raise/lower, but I’m worried they will get in the way or look weird.

Ive also seen a film I can put on the windows, particularly a mirrored one that means no one can see in? I quite like the idea of that, but I don’t know how well it works?

I will have to cover the units this year with a large sheet as they can’t cope with the heat through the windows, but would obviously like something that is effective. It’s difficult because it’s the kitchen, and it get steamy with cooking and dirty, so anything like curtains will look crap quite quickly.

Has anyone tried the film (especially the mirrored ones?) or tried anything else?

ikea plissee blinds

you can attach them with velcro or clips.
cost effective and a temporary solution.

I paid less than £150 for a drop down 3m awning for my enormous living room window. It’s meant we no longer need the curtains shut all summer.
you could do similar with a sail shade and angle it down to provide the cover you need, probably for around £70.

Why would you say that? Just because I have a house that came with bifolds it doesn’t mean I don’t have any financial issues. I have a mortgage and bills and do not have £££££ to spend money doing things to it. I don’t get why you need to comment on my financial situation.

Everyone else, Thankyou

@allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld you seem delightful.

I'd use someone in the garden to help with shade, maybe a wall of movable potted shrubs that you can secure reeded/bamboo screens?

I've got a south facing room in my house, without any external shade (1st floor) and blinds/black outs/curtains just don't make enough of a difference - would love external shutters, but instead I just don't use that room in the summer which is a pain

I got it from Active Window Films on Amazon. There are cheaper brands so I’m not sure how it compares to them but it seems good quality and it’s definitely lasted well (been up for five years)

I've seen friends use a sail as an economical way to create an awning. not read the thread so apologies if anyone has already suggested this. He's pretty handy st DIY and used an actual sail but i think you can buy sail shades to fit yourself

Thank you for sharing this lovely picture. We are thinking of getting the Blinds 2go ones - thermally lined, click fit, honeycomb ones to provide additional insulation for both winter and summer. Have you had any trouble sliding them open / shut as they don't come with a tab handle? Thank you.

@gensurf no they are fine to slide up and down. The only thing is they sometimes "pop" off the little lugs that hold them in place. But it's just a case of reinstating it all and takes a couple of seconds.
I also have honeycomb and it does help in winter too

@Sodndashitall Cheers for the helpful feedback. Did you go for the aluminium lined ones or without aluminium? Thanks so much again. :-)

@GenSurf no didn't bother with the aluminium because I wanted the maximum light for the summer when it's very sunny and I have them down

We have white cotton curtains in the outside, cheap ones from IKEA that still let some light through. They're run on a wire across the windows and give it a lovely Mediterranean feel. I hot wash with bleach in September and they've lasted 3 years fine. Curtains on the inside will reflect some light but still allow the heat into the room.

@DdJames Thanks for sharing a pic of your blind. We were wondering whether to get the light filtering version or the foil lined thermal version. Did you find that your light filtering blind provided good insulation and UV protection for furniture? I'd value your feedback. Thanks!

Ideally keeping the sun off the window full stop will help. How about a roll out awning? We have a manual one that extends 4m, my parents have an electric one. They do definitely help.

@GenSurf I have Duette® Batiste Fulltone 25mm Translucent on my patio doors. They give shade and block the suns rays coming in but are not room darkening. They really help keep the heat out in summer and are definitely more insulating than my previous blinds.

I have a Luxaflex 25mm Room Darkening Duette Blind in my bedroom, it doesn’t let any light in at all. I couldn’t get the lightlock side channels as I have the LiteRise control. I wanted one big free hanging top down bottom up blind with just a fixed head rail.

I used Vale blinds, who were excellent, and fitted ourselves.

Thx so much for yr advice @Sodndashitall . We have just received the Blinds2go ClickFit Adapt Bifold honeycomb blinds and they do filter the light wonderfully. Two issues though:

1. the blinds are well glued on the front but the back (the white side) is badly glued and partly coming off after 2 days so I am concerned how long they will last. Refer picture. Is this the same construction as the ones you have? I wonder if this is normal for their current construction method?

2. the top two bars do not meet and looks faulty. I had to tighten the spring on all the blinds but the two bars simply don’t meet even when pushed together. Does anyone else on Mumsnet have this issue with the Blinds2go Adapt ClickFit blinds?

Any thoughts or ideas or suggestions much appreciated, thank you.

I have just ordered these for same reasons. I have coped so far with moving the outdoor parasol around and when we had a very hot summer, sticking blackout material to the windows! Works as a temporary solution only!

I'd love an awning as well but they cost a lot for a proper one. You can buy cheaper ones you fit yourself but these don't look good and I think have to be put up and down.

On the bit coming off. I'd complain because none of mine have had anything like that.
I'm not sure I understand the second question. The photo looks like 2 bars of blinds? Mine are slightly down from the top of window. See photo

Thank you @Sodndashitall really helpful to see the photo and I will complain about the glued bits coming off. Maybe they’ve started to cut costs recently.

If you could share a photo of the back of your blind on top, that would be really helpful in case I need to persuade them that mine are faulty! Much appreciated and have a lovely weekend.

Not sure if this is visible as there's a reflection on the window

Thank you @Sodndashitall Much appreciated indeed. You’re such a superstar! 🤩🤩🤩