Outdoor blinds can be a superb addition to a home in several ways, and they can be a great idea for several reasons. Before you start researching outdoor blinds online, it would make sense to get it clear in your mind what you are looking for help with, so here are some points to consider.
Heat Reduction
You know what it’s like in an area where the weather can vary. If you live in a hot place or a cold place or a wet place, you know where you are and what you need to do to make your home comfortable. But if you’re in an area where you can get four seasons in one day, you need adaptability, versatility, flexibility. You need to be able to respond to whatever the day throws at you, and if you get a hot one, or an extended period of hot ones, keeping cool is the order of the day.
While air-conditioning can be very effective, sometime it feels like a waste of time paying to cool your house, only to lose it all through the windows. Those who don’t pay the bills may want to put the aircon up full until they have to put on a jumper, but the people responsible for the household bills don’t see it like that. If you are here looking for answers, that is probably your role.
The A/C has its place, but what did people do for the thousands of years before it was invented? They took steps such as creating cool draughts and just as importantly, removing the source of the problem: the sun. In very hot lands, out in the countryside, people share shade like they share water, because it’s a matter of life and death. In Australia we’re always being told to stay hydrated, so we drink plenty of water, and we have learned to stay out of the sun, too. While you’re unlikely to get sunburnt indoors, you can get baked unless you keep that glorious golden ball at bay. That means you have to create shade, and that is what blinds are for.
But blinds are not just for indoors. If your property was designed to make the most of summery conditions, with outdoor areas, maybe a deck, a patio, or a balcony, to make the most of it you need to keep the sun off it.
It’s not just direct sunlight on your body that causes trouble. The sun on your windows fills them with heat which seeps into the room as if it was doing something positive but is in fact just raising the temperature.
Outdoor patio blinds can shield the windows so the glass can’t absorb the rays and it remains relatively cool. You can buy outdoor patio blinds online and a good company can measure up and fit them for you too.
Weatherproof Blinds
The thing with outdoor screening is you need weatherproof blinds, because it can get a bit wild out there and you don’t want some blind that looks good but gets damaged at the first sign of blustery wind and rain. Blinds can come in clear or tinted PVC or a mesh that lets some air through for ventilation. This can be UV resistant, too, which is a benefit, because if you keep the sun off the windows it’s going to do its destructive stuff on the blinds.
Another thing with mesh is preventing fraying around the edges, and there are brands and styles that are designed with this in mind. The sturdy, corrosion-resistant aluminium frames can protect the edges, and the winding mechanism and locking system can be better on some than others.
There are a lot of options with outdoor blinds, so it is important to choose a good company with both the range and the experience to help you choose the right one for your particular application.
Awnings for More Traditional Protection
An awning, also known as a canopy, is like a screen that projects out from a wall, keeping the sun off what is below. They can often be seen above shop windows, protecting what the shopkeeper is promoting from getting damaged or faded by the sun. These are equally appropriate at home, doing the same job of simply putting something in the way. Traditionally made of canvas, they may now be in a more modern fabric, and they can be as colourful or as muted as you like, as can many outdoor blinds.
Aesthetic Impact of Outdoor Blinds
In addition to the practical purposes, outdoor patio blinds can look great and add character to a building. If yours is a bit featureless and boxy, buying outdoor blinds online can give your place some individuality.
Outdoor Roller Blinds for Security
This is an altogether different aspect that falls in the general category of outdoor patio blinds. Tough exterior roller blinds can make a building a fortress. If you go away from time to time and want to keep the place both cool and secure, talk to a good supplier about security blinds and you can do two jobs in once.