What options against excessive heat in south-facing kitchen? Awnings window films blinds...

[ParentOfOne]

We have a south-facing kitchen which can easily get 12-14C warmer than outside. It's basically a greenhouse. Great in the winter, awful in spring and summer.

For those who have been in similar situations, how have you handled it? Other than installing air conditioning.

We are looking at:

• window films which supposedly reduce heat absorption
• retractable external awnings or just a parasol, to put in the garden and give some shade to the kitchen French doors
• blinds and shutters

We already have fans and keep the kitchen as ventilated as possible, but that doesn't do much

Any thoughts / suggestions / recommendations?

Aside from possibly needing planning permission, where does one find external shutters? A quick google doesn't yield anything.

I think the companies which make internal blinds will typically do external blinds and shutters, too.

The guy who showed us the louvres does, for example: https://powellblinds.com/external-blinds/

We got our awnings here, not sure if they also do external shutters https://shutter-love.co.uk/product-range/

Banham does shutters but they are mostly for security.

A quick search also brings up https://www.shutterdesign.co.uk/external-shutters.html

PS The Italians do it best: virtually every house or flat has these shutters, strategically placed beyond the windows, so that the shutters block the sunlight but, most importantly, block the sun from hitting and warming up the glass. E.g. https://bringingtravelhome.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/wanted-italian-tapparelle-stateside/

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VHhwEYBod0s

OP I'm sure I've seen the UK equivalent but it was too pricey for me.

@EmmaEmerald do you remember where / which installers?
I want to look at those options in the near future

It was 10+ years ago that I looked...

Pretty sure I had a quote from this one

https://www.balatroni.com/en/

A search brings up this company but it almost doesn't look real!

https://www.windowo.co.uk/zanzartap-40-pinto-insulated-aluminum-roller-shutter-with-mosquito-net

They're both Italian companies! I doubt they ship to the UK post Brexit..

This also rings a bell and is UK based
if the product is shipped from Italy, it might be even more expensive, worth a try though.

https://penumbrablinds.co.uk/our-products/external-blinds/weinor-external-roller-blinds/vertitex-ii-external-roller-blind-2/

I feel like I'm missing a London based company...I remember their ads saying how they'd fitted a lot in flats in Battersea...if it comes back to me, I'll let you know.

If you google “external electric shutters uk” it brings up a fair few promising links. Eg lexblinds, enviroblinds.

Yes there are quite a few firms doing external shutters. I have glass wall to wall and even when it’s feasible to have the awning out, when it’s not too windy which is often and the awning has to be retracted, by late afternoon the sun is getting through at lower end of glass. I have to put thick cardboard propped up outside against the glass to stop us boiling. Agree with those who have said stop sun hitting window in the first place. Design of my house not good to accommodate external shutters but apart from a pergola I think I’m going to have to get some good advice ie not someone from a firm with vested interest. Bit of a nightmare as i have always melted in anything above 18C. Hate the heat.

@Yujismum You might want to look into the smartlouvres I had mentioned. Look for "smart louvres" and "powell blinds" (the fitter). Beautiful they are not :) but they have been used in hospitals and offices to reduce the need for air conditioning.

This may have been mentioned already, but it's important to keep the windows closed when it's hot outside, and open them when the sun goes down.

Cross-ventilation is also key: when possible, create a breeze by opening windows on both the north and south side of a property.

And we also found that replacing the skylight above the stairs with one that opens up helps a bit, as it creates a small breeze. A skylight like this, but openable: https://www.houzz.com/photos/custom-home-skylights-and-stairs-traditional-staircase-toronto-phvw-vp~141029029

Something else we may want to try, but not immediately, is to paint the roof with a heat-reflective paint; but I presume that might help in the loft, which already has air conditioning, and not necessarily much in the 1st floor south-facing bedrooms.

The best solution we've found is a grape vine. Deciduous so no blocking light in the winter and huge leaves in the summer, plus grapes. They don't need much of a pergola and will climb anything. It provides much better shade than an awning because it stops all wave lengths, looks much prettier and works in the wind. We live on the continent so have more blind options and slightly hotter summers than the UK and it's still the best we've found.

@StamppotAndGravy Do you have a picture? Does it cover the ground floor only? Our issue is the kitchen on the ground floor (but we have awnings) and the bedrooms on the 1st floor.

ParentOfOne Many thanks for info. Will definitely have a look. Yes I do all the closing windows to keep heat out and opening when cooler and trying when possible to have a through draft. I have a loft conversion and skylight but unfortunately it too is SW facing but as the loft also has a large window NE facing I can create some minor airflow. But last year I couldn’t even open the windows till well after sunset as external temperature was still higher than internal temp. Sitting in the dark having closed curtains and awning out if possible is soooo miserable. Spent a lot of last summer doing that. I may not like the heat of the sun but I do like the light. My idea of heaven is sunny mornings with frost on the grass and walking with the dogs. Or rain, I do rain. 😊

Thank you! Enviroblinds seem to do the very same type of shutters which are ubiquitous in Italy https://enviroblinds.co.uk/products/roller-shutters/
I wonder about planning permission, though, even if only for rooms overlooking a back garden, so not visible from the street

@StamppotAndGravy Thanks that sounds a possibility.

@ParentOfOne
Overheating became a component of the building regulations in June 2022 but it had a staggered start so won't fully come into effect until June this year and only applies to new residential buildings (houses, flats, halls of residence, care homes etc)
So design now does have to take this into account but it's slow in coming into effect so most current new houses won't yet be designed to comply... hopefully this will make a difference 🤞
Many architects do take it into account and passivhaus is a good example of this - unfortunately mass house builders rarely use architects and go for marketing and budget (bare minimum standards) rather than good design so lots of houses are badly designed for solar gain.

I have those external shutters, am in France and have a south facing house by design and big windows. I rarely use them in the day and only use them for security at night. I have indoor blinds if it too bright ( rare).The house is not big and did not want that locked in the dark feeling that you often get in this part of France.
We have a pergola where the roof slats pivot so you block out the sun fully, partially or not at all. Means I can still use the patio if there is a short shower. Was probably the best thing we bought. Means we can use the patio most of the year. I also have some largish plants and that helps.

Follow as we have this issue. The kitchen and living room are south facing. Plus, when they were extended the previous owners put in slanted windows instead above the windows/door back to the roof. Looks lovely, but it is an oven in the summer and very expensive to get blinds for. It got to 36 degrees inside last year, and that was with all windows shut, curtain drawn and cardboard taped over the slanty bits. It was unbrearable.

Can I ask where you got these from and any pictures or links? Thank you

Both velux branded. These are they.

www.velux.co.uk/products/blinds-and-shutters/pleated-blinds/blackout-energy-pleated-blind

www.velux.co.uk/products/blinds-and-shutters/exterior-sunscreening/awning-blinds

I am considering getting the external shutters though. While the shades make a difference it's not as much as I need. Perhaps if it wasn't a bedroom it would be good enough but we still sweltered last summer.

RenegadeMrs. OMG! It ‘only’ got as hot as 26 in here last year with all the opening/closing windows/awning/curtains/ 2 large very efficient fans. I feel for you! Am in my 70’s health issues which can be dangerous in heat. Dreading the coming summer.

@Yujismum yes, I think it's dangerous. Not helped that we live in a small detached red brick house. The bricks basically bake and give off heat through most of the night too. Every room has external walls, so it doesn't cool as much as it probably should at night. And then it all heats up again during the day. It a vicious cycle. It is a great house most of the year, but dreadful during the heat. We really need to do something about it, but it all costs £££. Hopefully this summer won't be as hot as the last one!

We have a south facing kitchen diner that was unusable the last few summers, it was getting up to 38c and you couldn’t walk on the floor in bare feet. We are on the top of a hill so there is just no shade all day. Last winter we put in a canopy over the patio with retractable curtains, and it has made a massive difference - in case it’s useful, it is similar to this
https://www.gardenstreet.co.uk/garden-buildings-structures-c13/canopies-awnings-c27/palram-canopia-sierra-patio-cover-white-p9156

RenegadeMrs yes have been looking at all the options today and as you say most cost £££. I am in terraced house and neighbours (they are really nice people) love the heat and have their doors open all day. So I guess their houses keep pretty warm! I am hoping for a cooler summer but Spain has just touched a record 40C. Doesn’t bode well.