How to shade house from afternoon sun?

[kchris]

I am looking for ideas to shade the Western side of my house. It gets full sun from midday on and really heats up the house. Ideally something not too wide as there is vehicle access along this side which I don't want to impede. Open to anything, plants, hedges, screens etc. but I do have dogs that love to destroy plants, so it'd have to be something out of their reach. I live in far north Qld, so tropical climate.

 

 

[EricL]

Hello @kchris 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about shading your house from the afternoon sun.

I propose installing Coolaroo 2.4 x 2.4m Shell HeatShield Crank Operated Outdoor Blind. It works by reducing the infrared energy absorbed into the fabric and less energy means less heat. This means that the surface on a Coolaroo HeatShield™ blind stays up to 10℃ cooler than standard fabric, which helps prevent heat from entering your home, creating a cooler, more comfortable environment through the hot summer months. 

I propose using 90 x 45mm Outdoor Framing H3 Treated Pine - 2.4m and installing it onto the frame of your eaves. You can have it close to your windows so that it does not interfere with your vehicle access. The blind can then be anchored onto the framing pine and the bottom hooks anchored onto your house wall. Because they are hand cranked, they can be adjusted so that your pets will not be able to reach them.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[kchris]

Thanks @EricL for your suggestions on outdoor blinds & a great idea. I did seriously consider this option as it is relatively simple and quick to install, however the sun up here in north Qld is something else! I can actually feel the heat on the inside of the wall just by hand, and aircon is non-negotiable all year, so I would prefer an option that will shade the walls as well as the windows. 

[EricL]

Hello @kchris 

It is possible to install multiple sets of these blinds just as one of our members did. Having them next to each other side by side will protect your main wall from the brunt of the heat of the sun. This type of installation means that you'll need to have it close to the edge of the eaves away from your windows. By allowing the blinds to be the first point of contact with the sun, your walls should be relatively cooler and will not absorb too much radiant heat. 

One other option is to install another set of roller blinds behind the primary set. This in effect will double the heat protection on your wall. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @AlanM52 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @kchris 

QLD sun is fierce, so I was thinking of options that would work within the use of the yard and your doggos.

The idea that popped into my mind is similar to @EricL 's and not as flexible but would work to keep the sun off your walls.

Picture this - 

Same timber that @EricL has suggested installed out near the Facia. I would suggest segmants of 2.4m just as a standard.

Then for every 2.4M install 4 of Everhang 20mm Zinc Plated Screw Eye Hook 10PK 72438 or the 30mm version

Choose the sandy coloured shadecloth Pillar 3.66 x 10m Cream 90% Shade Cloth 

Then sandwitch the shade cloth end between two pieces of H3 timber. Screw the timber then shadecloth then the timber together. 

You can then either install eye bolts or hooks that match up with the ones in the eave.

The two could be joined together with marine rope, wire, cable ties or chain links.

Hang the screen.

For the second part, Its pretty much the reverse of the top connection.

Then using Polytuf 300mm Anchor Screw - 2 Pack secure the bottom eye bolts to the ground using Grunt 10mm x 25m White Braided Marine Rope 

You can then repeat along the length of your house.

As the shade cloth witll be vertical, vehicle access should be ok, being up to 500-600mm off the wall the sun wont be beating down on the wall so you have an air gap insulation. Best part yet is that you can remove in winter and roll up to store.

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @kchris 

You could consider shade cloth screens supported under the facia boards to the ground with pegs as an initial test run. Based on your acceptable effectiveness, you could then look at a more permanent solution along those lines. This could be a frame under the facia to the ground but using motorised blinds thats raised and lowered on a timer to suit the sunlite hours.

Nailbag