House shielding for everyone - Abecedazahrady.cz

There is always a solution, you just need to clarify what you expect from the shielding. The basic requirement - protection against the sun's rays - is no longer enough for many of us, the aesthetic point of view, quality materials, the issue of maintenance are also important, but also the very fact to what extent the new shading will allow you to see outside.

Soon or later?

If you plan to buy a shade this year, consider in advance how you will control it. "Additional installation of motors is possible, but then the already installed interior blinds or blinds must be dismantled, taken to the company, equipped with a drive and reapplied to the windows. Which can take up to two weeks. From our experience, however, I must point out that this is not a very frequent customer request," says Adam Krč from the company Stínění CZ. At the same time, however, he adds that, on the contrary, most clients request motorization for outdoor sun protection.

And Roman Martinů from the Somfy company adds that the question of motorization of exterior shading is always easier and sometimes more economical to solve during the construction or major reconstruction of the property. "However, due to a limited budget, it does not have to be about the acquisition of shading technology, but, for example, about the distribution of cabling and for outdoor blinds/blinds, the installation of their boxes under the plaster of the facade. These preparatory works are not so financially demanding and you will pave the way for them when you decide to purchase the shading itself.'

Photo: Somfy

What you can have indoors

The shading you buy for your home protects you from a lot of penetrating sunlight and to some extent from heat.

Rediscovered blinds

Everyone knows the classic textile blinds, but they are also much more diverse today than before, the range of colors and patterns is endless. Two blinds in one cassette are also sold, where one acts as a screen - it darkens the room, and when you want light, you pull down the second blind to let it in (they are also referred to as black-out). However, the well-known Roman blinds, which are more decorative after all, are coming to prominence again.

However, even more decorative solutions include facette or twinrollo - both types of shading consist of two layers of fabric where transparent and opaque stripes alternate (for facette, the width of the stripes varies in millimeters, for twinrollo in centimeters). It is by manipulating the stripes that you regulate the amount of sunlight that penetrates into the interior: you can have it "open" completely, partially or "closed". For the sake of completeness, let's add that some sellers classify these two types of shading as blinds and others as blinds.

Modern blinds

You are certainly also familiar with traditional horizontal blinds with aluminum slats, but if you want not only protection against the sun, but also decoration, get to know other options. For example, blinds called megaview offer a double storage of the slats together - and thus give you a better view outside when opened.

In the textile shading group, for example, plissé, which is a blind with pleats, attracts attention, while duette resembles double plissé (it looks like honeycombs). Silhouette consists of two layers of transparent fabric, between which fabric slats are woven: when tilted it shades, when horizontal it decorates. And maronette? This system combines vertical blinds with a light transparent curtain. What is flying now

Do you like colors? Or colorful patterns? Today you can have almost anything you want on interior shading as well. There is even a service where you can apply, for example, your own photo to certain types of shading. However, before you decide on an unconventional solution, consider - will you like it even in a year or two? "For example, two years ago the motif of leaves was very popular. But many of those who were interested in this pattern at the time have already taken a look," says Adam Krč from the company Stínění CZ.

However, if you don't give in to trends, then know that, according to an expert, the currently popular color is green, symbolizing a return to nature. Don't like it or it doesn't fit your home? It doesn't matter, modern shading offers a wide range of solutions, you can often choose from several dozen colors for one type. The aluminum blinds have also been recoloured, so it is no longer the case that you only have to buy grey-silver or brownish-gold versions for your home.

And which type of interior shading is currently popular? "Plissé blinds are very popular, for which you can choose fabrics with different degrees of light transmission, or textiles with pearl coatings with a high degree of light reflection.

Compared to a classic interior blind, this system is unique in that the shading intensity can be adjusted simultaneously by retracting/extending the upper or lower profile, which allows creating a shading strip of any height. Perhaps you will also be charmed by the special plissé design with two fabrics, which you can use to change the interior according to the mood of the moment," offers a tip from Karmen Škrobánková from the Isotra company.

Material window

Of the many materials used in interior shading technology, let's mention aluminum, bamboo or wooden slats for blinds, and textiles with special treatments also play a role. Polyester is often used, there are also substances with a glass fiber content, especially suitable for allergy sufferers, fabrics with a non-flammable treatment, with an antistatic surface and the like. "Special materials include, for example, polyester with a steamed layer of aluminum, which can be used in addition to pleated blinds and vertical blinds. This prevents the so-called greenhouse effect - the temperature in the room caused by sunlight decreases," says Blanka Brázdová from the Sundrape company.

It is precisely with regard to the various modifications of the textile that it is not possible to clearly recommend how to take care of interior shading in general - many impurities can be wiped off with a damp sponge, some textiles can also be washed by hand and others belong to the dry cleaners. To save time, ask about the so-called non-dirty treatment, thanks to which your shading will last for several years without cleaning.

And before you make your final choice, also let the store show you how your chosen shade actually works. For example, those who like natural materials and would like to purchase wooden blinds should know that their storage, even after being pulled out, will take up a certain amount of space, and the same applies to Roman blinds. Everything has its pros and cons.

Come outside with us

At the outset, let us remind you that exterior shading technology has a more demanding task after all - it must catch the sun's rays before they penetrate into the interior, and in addition to the thermoregulation function, it also reduces the noise level from street. Outdoor blinds and blinds are applied so-called under the plaster or above the window, and if this is not possible, you can choose to install them in front of the window.

Even here, however, first consider what exactly you want. "Blinds can be tilted and retracted, blinds can only be retracted/extracted. Blinds are also used for safety reasons - overcoming them is more difficult than when the window is not protected in any way," points out Blanka Brázdová. In addition, you can choose from different shapes of slats for the blinds, for example those in the shape of the letter Z or S darken very well, while the slats in the shape of C can be tilted from both sides. If you can't choose, then know that a "universal" solution is also sold - roller blinds.

Slats of blinds are most often made of aluminum, blinds are also made of aluminum, or of plastic with a special treatment. Another option is again textiles, for example acrylic or a so-called screen (a technical fabric made of glass fibers coated with PVC, which may or may not be completely blackout).

Let's talk about awnings

Do you want to protect your windows and balconies with them? Then you will probably buy a folding awning. It's a bit like blinds: the fabric is pulled down and, depending on the setting, moves closer or closer to the window or balcony. So-called awning blinds are also available, in this case the upper part retracts perpendicular to the window and the lower part moves away from it. Do you have a bigger terrace? Then a retractable awning is perfect for you. If it wasn't enough on its own, get it with a so-called frill that can be pulled down to the ground; then you will protect yourself from the sun not only from above, but also from the front. And if it still doesn't seem enough to you, it can also be supplemented with sun visors from the sides.

Photo: Somfy

While these awnings always need to be attached to the facade, you can also find models on the market that "stand by themselves". They are referred to as independent awnings, and because they have arms that can be extended to two sides (normal awnings always extend in one direction), they cover a larger area. Outdoor shading technology is more stressed due to the vagaries of the weather, which applies not only to its construction , but also for textiles (acrylic is commonly used, but polyester can also be found in cheaper variants).

That's why you need to choose special fabric treatments. "For example, the Cleangard surface treatment uses the ultra-modern NPP (Nanotechnology Protection Process) awning fabric protection system. This technology gives fabrics maximum water resistance and protects them against dirt in the long term, and also eliminates up to 95 percent of solar radiation," says Karmen Škrobánková from the Isotra company as an example.

Management: how to do it?

You can still rely only on your hands or there are more convenient ways.

Interior

Blinds and blinds are installed in window frames, in linings or above windows, vertical blinds in the ceiling or on the wall using guide rails. And then you can control them mechanically, i.e. with a chain, string or stick. However, if your home is larger and you want a more comfortable solution, consider motor control. Either for each window separately, which does save your hands, but you're still quite busy, or with a remote control. What is good to know? The interior shading can be regulated completely or only partially using the motor (for example, you will manually pull down or pull out the blinds, but entrust their tilting to the motor).

On the contrary, a more sophisticated way is offered by the addition of wireless solar sensors. For example, the Sunis Indoor sensor reacts to the sun's rays falling into the room - it protects it from overheating, while the Thermosunis sensor is useful on colder days: it helps with solar heating. When the temperature in the room drops below a certain preset threshold, the sensor will automatically block the sun protection function, and then it can help with "heating".

While the sensors just need to be attached to the window glass, window sill or furniture, the drive (motor) needs to be installed, for example, in the profile of the shielding or it can also be outside the shielding.

And he adds with a smile that the installation of drives may be a skilled husband in some cases, but only with simple motorization and control - one button or controller for one drive. "In the case of more complex installation of multiple drives in groups, programming and connection with a solar or wind sensor, be sure to contact the experts. Also consult with them about the additional motorization of the shading technology that you already use at home - only after the assessment of the current state will the proposal of a specific solution come into play."

However, motorization of the shading is advantageous not only from the point of view of user comfort. Thanks to wind or shock sensors, blinds, roller blinds and, above all, awnings can be pulled out (closed) by themselves in case of adverse climatic conditions, thus protecting them from potential damage. Although shading technology in itself is a source of savings, automation will take it to a completely different dimension , a comprehensive control system that reacts to weather conditions using special solar, wind, temperature and precipitation sensors.

And if your household is managed via an intelligent control system, there is nothing easier than incorporating automatic operation or programming of all shading technology, both interior and exterior, into it.

Another solution: pergolas

Traditional garden structures, which are usually decorated with climbing plants, are made of wood. Although plants can also offer some shade, you will get more protection from the sun if you provide a pergola with a roof. If you want to strengthen it more, then use railings, possibly with padding, or trellises between the support posts.

However, from the point of view of shading, the classic pergola may not suit everyone, so try to be inspired by the so-called movable shading pergolas. The structure is either made of wood or metal, and depending on the type, they are installed next to the house, but there are also stand-alone pergolas available, which you can then place, for example, further into the garden. How are they different from classic pergolas? The construction has both a minimalist design and, on the other hand, it is equipped with a wrap-around textile roof specially adapted against the effects of sun, rain and wind.

Similarly to the already mentioned awnings, in this case as well, in some models, the textile roof can be extended to the ground and windproof blinds can be added on the sides. Thanks to this, you will get a space protected from all sides, which can then be used almost all year round - especially if you also get heating. Of course, even with shading pergolas, you can count not only on mechanical, but better then on automated control of the roof or blinds.

A sunshade fits everywhere

While solar sails that "take up" several tens of square meters are used by owners of large plots of land, the sunshade can be used everywhere - on the balcony, on the terrace and in the garden. Depending on the type, we distinguish parasols with a central or side leg, the structure is most often made of aluminum, and you may be surprised that wooden parasols are also popular.

“Polyester is almost exclusively used for the covers, which is dyed and further modified to make it resistant to water and the accumulation of dirt, mold and the like. At the very least, we sell acrylic, which is not used much so far, which is several times more durable, but also more expensive than a parasol equipped with polyester," says Jana Koňušíková from Teek CZ. And he adds that fashion trends have not penetrated this segment in any way; people still prefer light shades precisely because of the threat of color changes due to aggressive sunlight.

However, do not think, even such a seemingly ordinary thing as a parasol undergoes a certain development. Today, models with a side leg are increasingly sought after, people prefer a more massive solution (semi-professional parasols), a tilting system (horizontally or even vertically), rotation around its axis, and if you want something really extra, then have it equipped with a motor. Don't be surprised, it takes more than two hands to handle a parasol with a side leg that has larger dimensions (4 x 4 meters or more).

And what else would an expert advise you? “The seller should advise you to choose the right load so that the parasol is stable; for large sizes, stability is most assured if it is anchored to the ground. In addition, every parasol should have its own protective cover.'

Basic orientation

Interior:

Exterior:

Additional motorization

In the case of interior and exterior shielding, powered motorization can always be used from the electrical network in the property, which also entails appropriate construction interventions. The second option, in which construction interventions are minimal, is offered by solar panels that are part of the motor for outdoor shading, and for interior shading there is still a solution in the form of batteries. Even in the open position, Silhouette captures up to 90 percent of UV radiation, thus protecting the floor and furniture from fading.

Photo: Somfy

Sunscreen film

There are many variants on the market with different degrees of light transmission, but their main task is to limit overheating of your home on hot days. In addition, they also contain a filter that captures almost 100% of UV radiation.

The most effective shading...

...is exterior, most often it is an outdoor blind or blind. They catch the sun's rays even before they even penetrate through the window into the interior. But - they cannot always be used. In some places, additional installation is simply not possible, while in other places the exterior shading technology offers 100% shading, thermal insulation and burglary protection, but does not allow sufficiently flexible light regulation. In such cases, it is advisable to equip the house or apartment with an interior type of shading.

External shading protects the room from heat in the summer, and prevents heat loss in the winter. More comfort If your exterior shading is equipped with a motor, you can also use sun and wind sensors (blinds, awnings, blinds), or even a rain sensor, infrared heating, or lighting (awnings).

What else should you know?

Manual control of outdoor shading is not only laborious, but also puts more strain on the mechanism of the device itself. Do you have a dog and want to give it more comfort in the summer? Outdoor blinds designed for dog kennels and kennels are also available. Unlike classic pergolas, modern movable pergolas can react to the whims of the weather. Did you know that you can prevent the sunshade from getting dirty by regularly showering the cover with clean water?

The article was published in the magazine Bydlení, stavby, reality.