Is this weather making anyone else consider changes to their house?

[Taggiesbeefdaube]

I’ve had a quote for air on for the bedrooms which isn’t cheap (£13k) but is doable. The units would also give heat in the winter. We have solar panels so don’t needto worry about the cost of running the air con.

also considering shutters or brise soleil (mini pergola like things above the south facing windows)

I have thermal blinds on the biggest windows which stop some of the heat in the house.

Wondering about planting for shade closer to the house.

Honestly it makes very little difference in a heatwave. Once the walls get hot they take a lot of time to cool down and a few cooler hours just doesn’t do it. I’ve been doing this for years. This year I have done the reflective foil over some of our windows and the large bifolds, it reduces the temp by a couple of degrees most (plus I can’t see out).

I think trees could make a difference and would not add to the issue further.

These posts on trees and greenery are key. Our front garden and back garden are well planted and it really helps.

Town planning in hot countries sees a reduction in street temp when done right too.

Three pergolas at the back of our (south facing) house on a patio which is often too hot and exposed to sit comfortably. For under £600 it looks and acts like a bit of a verandah, so I am pleased with it all around, even if it's just cheap aluminum. Quotes coming in for solar film on the upstairs windows.

I want to plant more trees in the garden. I don't see the point of dry crispy grass when we could be planting for shade now. For once our pain in the ass astroturf if he could get away with it neighbour has stopped moaning about our established trees on the boundary 'stealing' light from his oversized extension and started to realise shade is good.

Oh yes, and also looking at pots outside a glass external door which is not used.

I read an article a couple of years ago about Australian ecologists or climate scientists or something who just very densely planted a standard urban corner plot with native species and monitored it. They had achieved outstanding results and it was beautiful to boot.

We have air con too, dh is an air con engineer so it was silly not to. It’s absolutely amazing and I wouldn’t be without it in this heat. Plus most units heat too so can be beneficial in the winter for a quick blast of heat in the morning

It makes a huge difference especially if you have thermal curtains/ blinds. We keep the front room closed up and it's amazing how much cooler it stays to the rest of the house.

Not my experience. I have bifolds with internal blinds (open plan kitchen - not cooked for a week) and despite having foil over them. opening the windows/doors in the evening/morning (leaving some windows open at night) lowers the temp to 21 for a few hours but it’s already back to 26 downstairs, upstairs is hotter. Might try thermal curtains or the reflective films next year but at the moment I’m considering aircon to be installed next year.

I have to say it also makes a massive difference in my house. I am very strict about all windows being closed and the curtains being closed as soon as it starts to get warm outside. This minimises the heat gain inside the house. We then open all windows and doors in the evening as soon as the outside temperature is lower than inside (or if there's a breeze). I do have decent thermal curtains though which helps.

A windows routine, thermal liners to thin curtains in the south facing sitting room and tin foil on as many windows as we could access have made a 4-5 C degree difference for my parents when implemented properly by us. This is comparing heatwave 1 to 2.

We aren’t allowed external shutters or air con, according to the rules of our conservation area.

I do wonder if that will need to change. Maintaining the appearance of the area is nice, but we do also need to be able to keep our houses cool.

Planting will be essential then. Blocking the sun from hitting glass is crucial. Trees make an enormous difference. Trees in pots need more watering but grey water usage helps and having lots of water butts helps too. We have eight in total coming off the house, the shed and the garage

Have a look at ductless aircon and see if you'd be allowed that?

We rent so only have temporary options.
I bought some blackout lining fabric and made 2 simple flat panels for my daughters bedroom window. Used a pressure shower curtain rod to hang them temporarily. A very cheap temporary fix, but its proved really effective.
Also thermal curtain across glass front door helps immensely.

I live in a hot country and here finding the balance between the two extreme seasons is also tricky.

Our houses are cooler in summer, but like now, absolutely freezing in winter. A lot of the time, it's warmer outside that inside the house.

One thing that you will never find here is a glass structure of any sort. No conservatories or glass greenhouses. Outdoor areas quite often have thatch roofs which are cooler.

Very limited amount of carpets. Most houses are tiled throughout. If there is a carpet it would only be in tbe bedroom. The downside is that tiles are bloody freezing in winter, underfloor heating is a real splurge.

Not everyone has aircon, but most will have ceiling fans. This is what I have and they do help quite a lot.

Our gardens are quite different. People plant more trees/larger shrubs than flowers generally. I'm not saying we don't have flowers, but I often see photos of UK gardens and they are mostly flowers and not many trees. Of course the tree species will be different. But for an example I have a a big row of Canna plants along my boundary wall. My dog sleeps right in amongst them when it's really hot. 😀 And at night in summer he prefers to sleep outside and in the morning I find his little nest of squished Cannas where he's slept all night and kept cool.
I do realise space makes a difference but an area with not much flora and an area with, does make a big difference. Also climbers to grow over a wooden beamed patio roof also helps.

This all takes time, and money unfortunately, but these are some of the differences I have picked up between Northern and Southern Hemisphere way of living.

Maybe more air con units.

Even the week between the heatwaves we struggled to get most rooms back below 25c. Garden office is a greenhouse. Both work from home. 2 year old’s bedroom is often 30c.

An awning for the back garden as we have bifold doors - kitchen/diner is like an oven (plus better blinds that just fit on the glass.

possibly air con but I’m not mega keen - will investigate in the winter. I also think they are a contributor to global warming abd they really dry me out (when in hotels I just wake up do thirsty and dry).

@ediepopI am very late to this thread. Can you make the extension roof run the opposite way to normal so the roof velux doesn’t face the sun. It would mean some sort of guttering system between the extension roof and original house.

You do see buildings with that sort off roof so it must be possible?

For those in the UK that are talking about external shutters, do your windows open inward then? How come? That is very unusual in UK properties

Hmm that's not a bad shout, I hadn't thought of that. It might be tricky to organise with our neighbour, but it'd be worth raising with an architect. Thanks for the idea!

I'd like to convert attic and put air conditioner and heat up there with in-ceiling ducts for the bedrooms at night. Anyone done that, and is it worth it?

Sash windows in our case.

We will probably get air con in the whole house, we have a couple of portable units but they are a bit noisy

We are part way through having our conservatory that we inherited as part of the house we bought nearly 20 years ago made more habitable. A proper roof has replaced the glazing and we will be installing thermal blinds and some means of cooling. It’s sat for most of our time here as an unused room and dumping ground because it’s always been too hot in summer and too cold in winter.

I was planning on replacing my en-suite this year but am going to put in air con instead. One in the loft room, one in my bedroom and one in our open plan kitchen

Do you mind me asking the kind of price you’re looking at for this? Been thinking about having a roof put on our (built before our time) conservatory. It’s only small but it’s just a wasted space at the moment. Don’t know whether a new conservatory from scratch would be better value!