Has anyone had external shutters fitted?

[wheresmymojo]

With climate change and all that I'm starting to think about getting some external shutters for our windows.

They're much more effective at keeping the house cool than internal shutters or keeping your blinds/curtains closed.

Has anyone had external shutters fitted?

Did you have wood or UPVC?

For some reason my brain thinks traditional wood would be cooler but I don't know why?!

Do your windows open inwards or outwards? I believe many UK houses aren't suitable as windows open out...

Live in France and we had external persiennes fitted. They were attached to a frame that fitted in the window reveal. Made of vertical PVC strips 2cm wide. They folded back. Might work.

Yes, the windows open out.

I suppose I was thinking that you would have the windows closed on the sunny side anyway (especially on really hot days it's better to have all windows closed once the outside air is warmer than inside until the evening)

But how would you physically access the shutters to open or close them? You have to have the windows open to close the shutters.

I went through the same process in my mind OP and gave up when I realised that - because then you're into having to have electric ones and they're much more hassle.

Roller shutters, like you get in Germany, have an internal cord (if you have manual ones). But they wouldn't work with outward opening windows - would be fine if you had sash though.

We have solid wooden internal ones and they are definitely making a big difference in this heat.

When we change our windows we will look to get some.

We also have solid wood internal ones on a Georgian property and last nights internal temp was 22degs so they’re obviously making a huge impact.

We have wooden internal ones and they're great! They're not in every room and I'll be adding them to the rest when I can!!

Where are you? In many parts of England you unfortunately need planning permission to install external blinds.
I am looking into louvres:
Look up "smartlouvre" or "powell blinds"

I also feel our internal shutters in the bedroom have made this summer bearable. I also have a blackout roller blind between the shutter and glass
, so my room was cool and pitch black.

I think the thing about external blinds is that they trap the heat out rather than trap the heat in

Ooh, following with interest. We have sash windows so outward-opening isn’t a problem, and the windows open wide enough to be able to fold back shutters when needed. I think. In practice I don’t know how I’d feel leaning out of a first-floor window to do it. But anything to escape the heat!

We live in France and have traditional wooden ones. They make a big difference and great for keeping light & heat out x

Also in France with external wooden shutters. They are vital here, however they need regular upkeep (repainting/varnishing, sometimes readjusting) every few years which is quite a big chore.

Interesting. Shutters kept being referred to on the news in the last few days, but I thought most uk houses wouldn't be able to have them fitted.

I have a very responsible job and am supposedly intelligent but I didn't actually think about that

So does that mean all windows in France open inwards or like sash windows?

@wheresmymojo I also have a responsible job and was utterly convinced it was a great idea for some time until I clocked it. It's really annoying!

We recently purchased an old, stone built house, it already had metal electric shutters, fitted at some of the windows downstairs and also some on pulleys, upstairs. They don’t look pretty, but they are amazing for keeping out the heat and light.
our house would have had sash, but it now has horrible old, upvc windows, that all open out, ant it’s not a problem with the shutters.
we’ve also discovered original old shutters, even on the bay window, so we’ re in the process of renovating them. They are also wonderful for keeping in or out the heat, and keeping out light.
we didn’t like the look of the newer electric and manual external shutters, but they are brilliant, I think they were most likely fitted for security.
the original shutters are beautiful.

They open inwards, and I've only just realised how weird it seems that windows open outwards in England 😅

I've also been wondering about this. Would they also keep heat in better in winter time?

In Switzerland they have electric metal shutters that roll down like an outside Venetian blind. They also have very well designed / insulated buildings though. I'd love those on our house to keep the sun off all the windows. Funnily enough it's worse in September / October when the sun is lower in the sky and just beats in all day (south facing). Ah well, no spare money for renovations so will continue roasting!

I'm in Aus and we have PVC roller shutter blinds. For us they're great to keep the heat out in summer and the heat in in winter (we don't have double glazing).

Roller shutters have an internal handle for putting up/down. You can have them on windows that open outward. You shouldn't have your window open anyway when the blinds are down, that would defeat the purpose of the blind.

I also loved them when DC were younger as in summer their rooms were dark and easy to get them to sleep.

Yes, we shut them as soon as the sun goes down.