Replies

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Jun 18, 2003 02:57am | #1

   I have a redwood sunroom that is all glass, 12x20.  To knock down some of the sunlight, it came equipped with shades, which are nothing more than screens that are densely woven (4 or 5 strands one way to one strand perpendicular.)  It is effective (noticably) at blocking some sun.  There is about a 10 -15 degrees difference between having the shade or not, for the same day.

   Mine came with the sunroom (The Sunroom Company has since gone out of business) and they slide in redwood grooves.  Several are torn, so eventually I'll need to replace them. 

   One drawback to the screens/shades is that they need to go up in stages (14 screens total in 7 bays, so each bay has 2) depending on the elevation of the sun.  I put the lower set in about a month ago.  It's time to put in the upper set for the summer.  In september, the upper set comes down, in October/November, the lower set is stored for the winter (I made a box slung under the sunroom to store them in.)

   I'm not getting any younger, so if there was a more practical (and economic) solution, I'd look seriously into it.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!
1. 
   sregent | Jun 18, 2003 04:09pm | #4

   Thanks for the reply.  My room came with some rubber-like sun block roller shades (bad smell and more trouble than they are worth). 

   I have looked at what 4 seasons has but the shades will cost more than what I paid for the sun room to begin with.

   Thanks again. I appreciated you taking the time to respond.

2. 
   NickNukeEm | Jun 18, 2003 03:25pm | #2

   So I opened the paper this morning and what did I find?  An ad from a company called, Shade & Shutter Systems inc.  They may have what you're looking for.  Call 1-800-522-1599.  http://www.shadeandshutter.com  The ad mentions a product called EasyShader Sunscreen panels for use with solariums, but I couldn't finnd the product on the web site.

   Hope this helps.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!
1. 
   sregent | Jun 18, 2003 04:10pm | #5

   Thanks again for the response.  I will look into the company and hopefully they will have some easy, cost effective solutions.  Thank you.

3. 
   RalphWicklund | Jun 18, 2003 03:44pm | #3

   On the cheap side:

   Idea #1. Buy inexpensive mini-blinds. Have the store (or you) trim them to the inside dimension of the 1/8" track. Remove the number of slats you don't need, keeping the rest together with the original stringing. Extend and bend slightly to fit the slats into the tracks. Move as a unit up or down to desired position.

   Idea #2. Buy standard sun screen material; it's sold by the square foot. Cut to size to handle - slightly larger than the window track area. Buy 1/8" (or appropriate size) standard vinyl screen spline, also sold by the foot or in a small package. Insert the screen into the window tracks and with a spline tool, insert the spline to hold the screen.

   Idea #3. Buy sunblock reflective film. Follow the directions on the package.

   Idea #4. same as #3 but hire specialty firm to install.

1. 
   sregent | Jun 18, 2003 04:14pm | #6

   Thanks for the reply.  I will lookinto the "standard" sun screen material, but i'm not sure about the sline idea.  I was hoping to figure a way to make these panels relatively easy to take down during the winter when I want to sun.

   Thanks for giving some ideas.  I appreciate it.