Saga of the Solar Shades

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This week and several weeks to come we are engaged in home improvements, which may reduce energy use for heating/cooling, or possibly improve property value.

The past week was the installation of solar shades.

Since the 1000 Year Great Ice Storm of 2009 when we lost all the significant shade trees on our property, our home and occupants have broiled in the summer as the air conditioner struggled to keep up with the relentless heat invasion through our eight--make that 12--windows. We had 4 sets of two windows side and side.

 Plus one inhabitant in this household insists the front door be open most of the day, and at least one vertical shade open all day. Both preferences allow the sun's energy to permeate our living space with record speed.

The heat also comes down the through-two-roofs vent pipe for our range (ceramic stove) hood. I found putting the range hood on the very lowest speed during the hottest late afternoon hours curtails the heat transfer.

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In the past we replaced the house's original windows with double paned windows, which helped somewhat. We installed vertical blinds which blocked some energy transfer, when closed.

The HVAC unit runs constantly in the late afternoon from about 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. It cannot keep up with the infiltration; the thermostat reads 3 degrees above the 77 degree setting.

Master Bathroom
Solar Shade
(inside)

So we opted for solar shades. These roll-up shades remind me of my parents' and grand-parents' window treatments before Venetian blinds became the trend in the '40s at my house.

Remember the Venetian wood slats? Guess what! I was assigned the chore of dusting them. At my home windows were exceedingly tall as we had 10' ceilings, maybe higher as I remember. Short-legged and short armed moi had to climb on chairs and stand on tip-toes to reach the highest slat to dust. I dusted every slat, all three sections, the valence and cords, etc.--no wonder I am allergic to dust.

This rose/vase sits in the win-
dow window box. Photo is made
through the solar shade inside
the house giving it an ethereal
feeling, similar to using filters
with camera lens.

A year ago I ordered a solar shade for a window box in front of the Kitchen sink. I was impressed with its characteristics including how much solar energy blocked. Once a thriving group of succulent plants, the window box plants wilted and died under the unrelenting summer sun, which had been shielded by a beautiful 100 year old red oak tree.

I order solar shades from Lowe's June 11 the order arrived at my front door June 18 and installers were here June 23rd in the afternoon. After two hours m/l they were gone. If we had tried to install ourselves, I would not be writing this article. We'd still be installing.

Master Bedroom Windows
Outside - Daytime

There are several options in solar materials. We chose a bronze/silver material with characteristics of 91% glare reduction, 85% solar energy reduction, 99 % UV rejection.

One feature peculiar to this material is during DAYLIGHT hours nobody can see through the windows from OUTSIDE, although we can see outside. The silver side faces outside and reflects/blocks light. (I've made pictures through this material, which look a bit dreamy.) 

Master Bedroom Solar Shades + Vertical Blinds
(inside).Temps in this room is now 3-5 deg. less.

At night, if lights are on inside the house, one can see in the windows, although not very detailed. But we are adding verticals, too, so we won't be seen running around the house in our bunny suits. HA! HA!

Now we are remounting the verticals which will further block the sun's energy, etc. We are also hoping this window treatment will retain heat more efficiently in the winter.

Homeowner installers  leaves messes;
There is always tomorrow for cleanup!

Remounting vertical blinds is not progressing speedily or efficiently as the installers, so we have cayuse around the house! I dread my housekeeper's remarks this Friday. She is not fond of working around messes.

This traumatized Luckie as she had to isolated in a room as the installers did not need her underfoot. She sulked the rest of Wednesday afternoon after the installers left. Spoiled rotten dog!

During this past week I had two exercise classes, Police Auxiliary meeting, City Council and Friday shopping for custom sized vertical blind rails, and groceries. WHEW! too much for an old lady.

But I found time to eat a banana! HA! HA! Just wanted you to know I have my priorities straight...FOOD rules.

How about that ambient backlight
nearly matching the banana skins!

WHATTA WEEK AHEAD!

Since our return from NC in mid-April, we have played phone tag in an effort to arrange for carpet/uphostery cleaning and pest control, as well as an expensive re-do of our refinished trestle dining table.

We were beginning to be paranoid, wondering if we had B.O. or leprosy as no one returned calls. In a serious recession where it is purported businesses area on respirators, you'd think the phone would ring off the wall.

For nearly a month I've tried to schedule steam carpet cleaning and pest control. My husband (H) was in  charge of nagging the reluctant refinisher.

The trestle dining table with distressed finish is about 35 years old and showed signs of use and abuse. It is a wonderful table with insert and seats 8. We have 8 matching chairs. Earlier this year we contracted and paid for the table to be refinished. When returned, it looked beautiful.

But very soon it seemed the 7 coats of shellac were flawed. Whenever and wherever chairs incidently touched the table the shellac cracked and left an open white indentation down to the wood. It looked worse than before.

We called the refinisher, telling him we had used the table for a meal one time. Most of the white dings were along edges where the housekeeper moved chairs and vacuumed. I moved one chair myself and dinged a corner leaving a similar gouge. The refinisher inferred we were abusing the surface when he arrived to view our complaint, but agreed to redo the table soon.

H made several trips over 4 month to remind him the table was still waiting. One of the trips my husband made to the shop, the refinisher admitted he had purchased a bad lot of shellac and had to re-do several pieces. He made several promises to pick it up and never showed. 

Finally the refinisher narrowed it down to June 4. H stayed home specifically to see if he kept the date. Early afternoon I gave up and left the house. H stayed. He showed up late that afternoon.

WOW, one job down, two to go!

The first pest control business, whose name I retrieved from City Hall, never returned my call.

In the mail I received an ad from a highly advertised company; however, their (lack of) service nearly leveled a church we once attended, and they bought out a service which had proven undependable and cured me on the popular 3-4 month treatment subscription. That flyer went in file 13.

Finally, one pest control service returned a call only to get my recorder. I tagged back; third time is charm- we connected and have an appointed Monday morning. 

Now for the carpet/uphostery. I called one franchise twice which used an answering service. NO return calls at all.

So I called a service which advertised all kinds of carpet cleaning, especially restoration from fire and water damage. That service no longer did routine cleaning but referred me to three area steam cleaning services. I called one of the three; BINGO! I have them scheduled Monday afternoon.

Going to me a busy MONDAY! I also have council workshop Monday evening.

Luckie complicates matter. It will take one of us all day to contain her away from the pesticides used by the pest control service. I recently sprayed a few areas in house for ants, mostly inside cabinets, behind appliances and around kitchen sink and lavatories. I caught Luckie licking the floor near the dishwasher where I a few drops dried on the floor.

And the rest of the week looks about the same. Two Silver Sneaker sessions....Police Auxiliary Benefit Dinner at VFW (I have to provide a dish, and something for a silent auction).... Housekeeper on Friday....I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

But at least my B.O. or leprosy has left me.... now about that vertigo (BPPY)..it's better, but has a way of reminding me it is still around.

It may be "see you in the funny papers" this week, as my parents used to say.

Well, Blogger is full of surprises again. Today there is no easy way to add cutlines to graphics. All graphics are Broderbund CLICKART.