Do outdoor blinds reduce heat?
As someone who has worked with outdoor blinds in Perth over the years, I would say, “Absolutely!”
Spring is usually a new beginning. However, before you know it, those afternoons that used to be so nice are soon turned into a battle with the sun because of the summer heat.
I tend to recommend that homeowners plan as temperatures rise in Perth. Stay ahead of summer heat by installing outdoor blinds before the hottest months arrive.
Outdoor blinds are useful for more than just shading; they also enhance overall interior cosiness and act as a dependable window sun blocker.
I will discuss the benefits of external sun shades and answer the question “Do outdoor blinds reduce heat?” in this guide so you can make a smart decision that helps keep your house or office cooler.
If you want other heat-reducing alternatives, folding arm awnings are also a great choice.
How Do Outdoor Blinds Reduce Heat?
The heat builds up easily in your house, particularly through glass windows, which trap the sun’s heat. Even with indoor curtains or blinds, sunlight can still heat the indoor environment even higher than you think.
Outdoor blinds and external sun shades are much more effective because they prevent sunlight from reaching the glass. They serve as a window sun blocker, preventing heat from entering your living quarters or outdoor entertainment areas, keeping the air in your house cooler throughout the day.
Purpose-built heat-reducing blinds offer strong window sun protection, reducing harsh glare and minimising the impact of summer sun. Outdoor blinds of quality can repel up to 90 percent of incoming heat and UV rays, making a noticeable difference in Australia during the hottest months of the year.
The way you want it will depend on the location, layout and features that you desire.
So, do outdoor blinds reduce heat? Absolutely—and here’s how they achieve it:
Stops the Sun From Hitting Windows
The best way to keep the house cool is to ensure that the sun does not shine through the windows at all, and to use external sun shades and outdoor blinds to achieve this.
The systems act as powerful window sun blockers, controlling the natural exposure to light, heat, and UV radiation before it reaches the interior of your house.
Having these heat-reducing blinds at home keeps the heat low, lowering the indoor temperature so one does not have to run the air conditioner all the time.
So, if you are asking yourself, ‘Do outdoor blinds reduce heat?’, the answer is yes.
Fabrics Repel The Heat
High-quality outdoor blind fabrics can block up to 90 percent of the heat from the sun, as well as reflect and absorb harmful UV rays.
Combined with an appropriate colour selection, these heat-reducing blinds can be a successful option for reducing indoor heat.
Automatically React To The Sun
Even better, the outdoor blinds can adapt to the glare of the sun when you are not even at home.
You can program your blinds to respond to weather conditions or to open and close at specific times with intelligent automation, including timers, sun-sensing technology, and more.
It will let you get back to work or take a day out to the already cool, shaded, and closed-in home from the hot afternoon heat without even having to lift a finger.
Other Things Outdoor Blinds Can Do for Your Home
Outdoor blinds offer far more than just shade. Below, I’ve outlined the key ways they can enhance your home’s comfort, style, and overall performance.
Control the Light Entering
Unlike most other shading systems, natural light can be controlled accurately with external blinds featuring adjustable slats. You can adjust them to control the direction and amount of sunlight that enters the room. Other designs can tilt the slats in either direction, allowing the light to angle inwards or outwards.
Other slats interlock so that, when closed, they create an almost smooth surface. This will enable you to achieve almost complete darkness, which would be very helpful when you want to take a daytime nap.
They are also easy to install and use. Ziptrak Blinds are ideal for window shading, allowing you to raise or lower the blind to any height with a simple motion, giving you total control of light and shade.
Save A/C Costs
Exterior shading devices (like external venetian blinds or louvres) reduced building cooling energy demand by more than 60%, compared to having no shading.
External blinds are used as window sun blockers, reflecting sunlight before it enters the house. They can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 10 °C by preventing solar heat from entering the building, reducing the need to cool the air with air conditioning, and saving on energy costs. This makes them among the most efficient types of window sun protection.
Their slats do get warmer, but the heat naturally escapes through the open air, so no hot air is concentrated at the window.
Adds Privacy from the Outside
French windows are beautiful, but they can open your home to the world, as though it were on display. Exterior sun shades, like roof to fence blinds, also provide privacy while allowing light inside. You can even adjust the slats so curious eyes on the outside cannot peep inside. They serve as a window sun blocker, giving you the power to control those who may peep into your house.
A study showed adjustable external horizontal slats could save 40–60% of lighting energy (by reducing glare) while also reducing solar radiation that would otherwise contribute to heat gain.
These blinds also offer basic security. They make intruders have more difficulty accessing your home as a physical barrier. Motorised blinds can be programmed to make your home appear occupied even when you are not there.
If your house is near others, outdoor blinds let you enjoy privacy without blocking airflow or sunlight. Fabrics such as mesh allow you to see outside, but are less visible, balancing comfort, light and privacy.
Can Be Mounted Anywhere
External sun shades can be fitted when building a new house or renovating an old one. The blinds can be incorporated into the building plan and integrated into a specialised area, leaving the anchoring out of view and retaining the building’s aesthetic.
Should you fit them later during construction, the blind profile and slat pack may be hidden under a painted cover to avoid an untidy appearance.
When the building structure does not provide constructed or covered opportunities, external sun shades can be attached to the facade using additional support structures.
Lasts for Years
Good-quality external sun shades are long-lasting and can last a few decades, as they are designed to withstand wind and rain.
Regular maintenance, including routine cleaning and promptly removing mould buildup in outdoor blinds, helps preserve the fabric, coatings, and overall performance of the blinds over time.
Besides keeping your house sheltered from the weather, heat-reducing blinds also extend the life of your windows. They prevent frame fading and preserve the shape of plastic profiles.
Adds Beauty
External sun shades are functional and enhance a home’s architecture. Most architects use them during the design phase to add to modern and historical buildings. They are versatile in design and therefore easily fit in other styles.
These window sun blockers are available in many colours and finishes and can either blend with the facade or provide a stark contrast, giving your home a special appearance.
In addition to functionality, heat-reducing blinds can be a more elegant addition to patios, decks, and balconies, offering an elegant alternative to covering the whole space with heavy curtains or temporary shades.
Can Be Remotely Controlled
You don’t have to check the weather all the time to keep your house comfortable; external sun shades can be programmed to respond to different weather conditions.
The blinds are linked to the sun or wind sensors and thus regulate themselves to maintain optimal interior temperatures.
A sun sensor shuts the blinds when the sun is too hot, preventing overheating, and can be raised in winter to let in additional sunlight. The wind sensors will close the blinds if they detect wind speeds that may cause damage, adjusting them accordingly.
Even more conveniently, the blinds can be connected to a remote control or a Smart Home system to control light and privacy at the touch of a button. You can even program things, like automatically closing the blinds when you leave home.
Feel the Breeze
If ventilation is a concern in your house or outdoor space, external sun shades made of mesh fabric can help you regulate airflow. The breathable mesh allows free airflow in and out, helping maintain a steady flow of fresh air while allowing warm air to escape.
This will reduce the need for excessive use of fans or HVAC systems, making heat-reducing blinds an effective component of your window sun protection plan.
Reduce Weather Exposure
Another important advantage of external sun shades is that they protect from the elements. These heat-reducing blinds are durable, made of mesh or PVC, and can withstand weather, wind, mildew, and sun fading. Some outdoor blinds are even waterproof or water-resistant.
Use professional advice to select the best material that fits the needs and surroundings.
Protect Your Furniture and Outdoor Investments
A frequently underestimated advantage of external sun shades is that they cover the furniture. Scorching sunlight may discolour cushions, bend wood and split leather.
Heat-reducing blinds will provide a shield, extending the life of your outdoor furniture. The indoor furnishings are also benefiting, as the blinds would minimise the intensity of sunlight penetrating through the window.
What Options Are There?
With many years of experience with outdoor shades, I have been asked numerous times about the most suitable outdoor blinds to ensure that homes and outdoor areas remain cool during the hot summer seasons.
The fact is, the variety of outdoor blinds products is quite extensive and designed to meet various requirements. The most popular options, which I would recommend, are as follows:
- Mesh blinds – ideal if you value ventilation. They allow airflow while preventing radiant heat, which is ideal for outdoor patios or alfresco areas. Their only compromise is that they do not provide a complete enclosure, so they are not as effective at blocking strong winds or heavy rain. Many brands like Vistaweave offer this.
- PVC blinds – perfect when you want full control over your surroundings. They provide a complete enclosure, trapping cool air and shielding you from the wind and rain. The disadvantage is that they may be less breathable compared to mesh blinds.
- Fabric blinds – These are quite good at blocking glare and shading. They are available in various colours and textures, so not only do they keep your home safe from heat, but also beautify it. However, fabric blinds do not fully cover the area, so they won’t completely shut out wind and rain.
- Motorised blinds – For maximum convenience and effectiveness, the motorised exterior sun shades will let you control the amount of light and heat in your home at the touch of a button or via the Smart Home system.
Although they are more expensive, they are easily automated and can optimise window sun protection, making them worth the extra cost.
The selection of the appropriate type of heat-reducing blinds is based on your requirements. Professional installation of the right material will ensure your blinds are efficient, durable, and a beautiful addition to your home.
Why Timing Matters for Installing Outdoor Blinds
The best season to install your outdoor shades is in the spring. The light weather makes installation easier, suppliers have not been crushed by summer demand yet, and you can begin enjoying your heat-reducing blinds immediately. Your window sun blockers and exterior shading are already preinstalled by the time the hot weather arrives.
The demand for outdoor blinds peaks once summer hits and, in most cases, leads to long wait times before they are installed.
Create Your Ideal Shading System with Outdoor Shades WA
It is not merely about keeping your house cool before summer, but about getting your home ready so it can be used most conveniently during the best outdoor season of the year.
By working with experts, such as Outdoor Shades WA, you can ensure you choose the right custom external sun shades for your space and that they are professionally installed. Regardless of your preference for motorised systems or track blinds, the right solution can enhance comfort, aesthetics, and performance.
At Outdoor Shades WA, we specialise in custom, high-quality outdoor blinds designed for Perth’s climate. My team and I can help you choose the perfect solution.
Get in touch with us today for a free measure and quote and let us create the ideal shading system for your home.