Just one week until closing. I go through my first walkthrough Tuesday. I've been to the house several times to check on some things and do some measuring. I've noticed one thing...the sun shines brutally into my family room and master bedroom in the afternoon. I've already ordered faux wood blinds but I have a feeling I may need more ammunition to battle the heat. Which do you prefer: solar screens or window tinting? os
We have solar screens that are also alarm screens. They hook up to our alarm system and if they are cut or removed, it triggers the alarm. I like them a lot. There are quite a few different tinting options out there as well and it IS cheaper than the solar screens, but I prefer my screens because they are easy to replace if need be.
Thanks Jeff. The place where I got my quote is also installing my blinds. The tinting actually cost more with their quote...I was kinda suprised. os
That is kinda surprising! We went with screens because we have 5 big windows right across the back room of the house looking out onto our back yard. We wanted some kind of security just to feel safe and the screens were suggested. This summer, we are going to replace all the windows with new wood windows because these are the original windows and are not even close to air tight. I think with new windows and the screens, we'll have much better energy efficiency.
Plant some trees... in many years you'll have plenty of shade! I know, I know... you want shade NOW, that's cool, get the screens or tint, but still, be sure to plant a tree or two... if not in the back, somewhere on your property. You can enjoy watching it grow over the years! In a few years you can tell the kids, neighbors, dog, whatever.... "I remember when I could put my hand around that tree, now look at it!" I miss the trees we planted at our old home. We planted a sycamore and a red bud, beautiful trees and unfortunately we sold that home and don't have any visitation rights!?
But don't be like my Dad and forget that trees grow. I remember my Dad planting lots of trees in the backyard of my boyhood home when we moved in. When we left that house about ten years later, you couldn't grow grass in the backyard anymore because there was absolutely no sunlight making it to the ground through all those trees. The people who moved in after us ended up cutting a few of them down.
Careful with the palm tree. This is the absolute WRONG climate for the standard palm tree. We are not tropical enough to support them and, as a result, they tend to have problems. Besides, they aren't good shade trees anyway. Oak, pecan, chinese elm, sweet gum, magnolia, etc. are great for big trees. You can go with smaller 15-30 foot flowering trees if you want smaller. Personally, I'd go for a water oak or live oak. They are big, sturdy and love the climate here so they won't need much help after the first few years. Plus, they are evergreen so they provide shade even on those not-so-rare 80-degree February days.
Solar screens for sure...they help a lot. Also if you can get insulation throughout the house even on interior walls it helps the noise levels a lot. DaDakota
