Curtains and Window Films?
Question:My room is west facing and during the summer, my room ends up being hotter than outside due to the fact that the sun's rays slips into my rooms through my blinds. It is excruciating as I do not own an air conditioner.
I have thought about getting curtains to help block out the heat, but I need help in choosing what type/style and color. My original plan was the get white ones as white reflects light, but some people told me to get dark? But from my knowledge, dark absorbs heat?
Also, I will also be getting window films, but I need help choosing exactly what kind to get.
Answers:
Sounds like you need a silver film like a LLumar Silver 20. Super heat rejection - -highly reflective.
Check : http://www.llumar.com
Dealer locator.
If you get this film I'd go white on the drapes.
Sorry, I don't know anything about window films except that they help block the rays that fade carpet and fabrics.
As for the curtains, I would look to get something with a blackout liner. The liner is white, and serves to protect the fabric and block light from entering the room. Usually this is an option with custom window treatments.
If you don't sew, or know someone who does, you could purchase blackout liner from a fabric store, and regular curtains, and go to the local seamstress at the dry cleaners and have them sew the blackout liner to your store bought curtains for you.
First, does the window open?
If it does, then your best bet would be a mylar film which you could place against the glass ON THE OUTSIDE, and leaving the window open, of course, would reduce interior temperatures.
If it does not open then you need to find out more about the window before applying a reflective coat/film on the inside, as too much reflected sunlight could cause some double-pane windows to overheat and break. Look for the manufacturer information label and call/ask about YOUR windows.
Otherwise, use white inside , as you originally believed.
there are "insulated draperies" and "insulated heavy plastic" that are good to use on windows, these are not ordinary cotton curtains.. Yes, keep the white on the outside so as not to absorb light and the heat, and black on the inside. so you can sleep at night. I am using the insulated draperies plus a quilt like material. I also use insulation strips and several fans and an AC. you need a fan to keep the air moving. If you have too much heat in there you will create mold and then have an entirely new problem, so you need fans. I just have one rod on each window that holds my drape. If you perspire a lot be sure you are drinking enough water.
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