Wow...APS rates have gone up quite a bit in the last year...

[Ponderosa]

Those shade screens used to be standard issue on houses here. Even my early starter houses had them. The better places had aluminum ones with tiny louvers. I had no idea you had to buy them aftermarket for a new house. I suppose the builder will sell you them as an upgrade for 3x what they are worth.

I've been replacing the ones on my house - rolling my own - and it makes a big difference on the heat sensed near the windows I have done versus those with the worn out screens (over time, the black goop falls off leaving a much more open mesh). They have a brown/white mixed one that gives a very slick look. I am going to put those on the front windows even though those are on the north side and get very little sun on them. I like the look. I hope the HOA does too .

[jgunn72]

Originally Posted by joninaz

The thermal curtains - are those on the inside? If so, I would have thought it would be more effective to block the sun's impact before the rays hit the pane.

I was a bit skeptical at first like you about whether it would truly keep out the heat since it would seem best to block the heat before it comes through the window. I looked at other alternatives and about fainted from the price. For our master bedroom we bought nice thermal drapes with valences and all. Before, with just the plastic blinds, the master bedroom was warm (80 or so) nearly all day in the summer from the heat gain. If you put your hand a foot or so away from the window you could feel the intense heat radiating outward from the south facing window into the master. Now with the thermal drapes trapping the heat from radiating into the room, you can put your hand a foot from the window and feel no heat coming whatsoever.
The thermals work better than I ever could imagine.
I am sold on thermal curtains, and suggested my buddy get them for his south facing master because he has the exact same issue. Other alternatives are too expensive and some would prevent collecting heat in the winter when you do want it.

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Those shade screens used to be standard issue on houses here. Even my early starter houses had them. The better places had aluminum ones with tiny louvers. I had no idea you had to buy them aftermarket for a new house. I suppose the builder will sell you them as an upgrade for 3x what they are worth.

They still do come standard...but they are very "standard". I think they are more to keep bugs/flys out then to actually keep the house cool. They don't do much to keep the sun's rays out.

The new ones we had installed block up to 90% of the sun's rays out, so the house is pretty dark...it's actually taking some adjustment because it feels like it's always cloudy out with them installed now...but I'm already keeping a huge difference in how cool the front office is.