Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Dec 09, 2013 2:34 pm Hi all, I am currently looking at building and I have a huge window in a void of a double storey house. These windows are in the dining/living area(open plan). The window is similar to the one below. The width of the window is about 2.5 meters and spans from floor to ceiling. The one in the picture has 3 panels across while mine would only be two panels. with a sliding door. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The window faces west. There will be an eave of 1.5 meters just above that window. Below are my concerns: 1) Heat during summer - After some research, I am thinking of an external blinds/awning. It looks like double glazing would not help me much. I also thought about tinting but if I tint these windows, I am afraid that it would look weird if I don't tint the other windows in the same area. Another thing I am unsure about is, with the 1.5 meters eaves and with my neighbours being double storey as well, do I even need to worry about it? Are there any issues with having such a large eave? 2) Privacy concerns - Since our neighbour is also a double storey beside us, I was thinking that they could easily overlook into our house. Initially, I was thinking about tinting but they don't work at night when inside is brighter. Then, I was thinking of installing motorised roller-blinds where I would have a sheer and blackout blind. However, it looks like most blinds would only drop to 2.7 meters. So what I am thinking about doing is either installing 2 roller blinds where 1 of them would be in the middle. Would this look weird? Can it be done? Where will the blinds get mounted to since there are no brickworks in the middle? What other alternatives do I have? Any other suggestions and opinions are welcomed. Thanks!! Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 2Dec 20, 2013 9:39 pm We have big windows so we've gone with double roller blinds,heaps of colors and textures to choose from,double rollers have the sunshade at the front and the block out in front,so the sunshade is on the window side,I had my heart set on wood Venetians but would've been too heavy for full length windows,plus we were going to have to have 3 seperate blinds in the one window. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 3Dec 21, 2013 2:00 pm mwccl I am currently looking at building and I have a huge window in a void of a double storey house. . . So you have not yet confirmed a builder or a plan? You are right to be concerned. If you haven't signed a contract yet I would really think twice about having a two storey west facing window. What is the purpose of it? Does it introduce light into an upstairs living area that has no other window or anything like that? Or is it simply a wow factor architectural feature? If it was facing a different direction and you love it then you might of had a few options. But west facing is the worst, you really want to shade the window from the outside. I can tell you from experience there's a big difference between internal and external window treatments. Do they make roller shutters that big? I reckon that would look too warehousey though. What about a brise soleil? They can look awesome but it'll change the external appearance and might not be what your after. I don't think I'd want the headache of figuring out what to do with a massive west facing window. Our one average size west facing window has been difficult enough to solve. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 4Dec 21, 2013 3:02 pm I agree with Jazzy Jess...West facing is the worst side to have such a large window. Windows on the west side of the house should be avoided wherever possible, or kept to minimum sizes. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 5Dec 21, 2013 7:39 pm I agree. Sounds like a terrible idea when planning a intelligently designed house.... Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 6Dec 21, 2013 7:43 pm Can you mirror the plan? - East would bring in any warmth in winter. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 7Dec 23, 2013 2:13 pm Thank you all for your replies and suggestions. I haven't signed the contract yet and I really like the windows as a feature. I am not sure if I should mirror the plan and have asked the question in another section instead where I have attached the floor plans. Please let me know what your suggestions are. http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=68695 Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 8Dec 23, 2013 3:36 pm mwccl I haven't signed the contract yet and I really like the windows as a feature. Do you have the block yet, or is it the block the builder is offering for this house? I have got to say, I don't know why the builders whose expertise is being paid for don't spend more time explaining the options and pros and cons to people. I reckon the question is not simply do you like the windows but do you like them enough after you've considered all the pros and cons. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 9Jan 04, 2014 10:56 am Cooper05 I agree with Jazzy Jess...West facing is the worst side to have such a large window. Windows on the west side of the house should be avoided wherever possible, or kept to minimum sizes. Depends on the orientation and size of the block really> Sometimes it's unavoidable. But there are ways around the heat. We have a 6 metre wall of full windows West. The downside is heat in summer and heating loss in winter, but we are going to install some external roller blinds. On the inside we have venetians (horizontal). The good thing about venetians is that you can filter the light. The roller blinds are only up or down, like roman blinds. Then we are going to add some big thick curtains to give the interior space some colour and texture. The more light you can let in your house the better, and the good thing is that even on a spring or autumn day when it's early 20's in Melbourne, the open living/kitchen area is lovely to sit in with the sun shining in and warming the place up. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 10Jan 04, 2014 11:38 pm mynameisjonas Cooper05 I agree with Jazzy Jess...West facing is the worst side to have such a large window. Windows on the west side of the house should be avoided wherever possible, or kept to minimum sizes. Depends on the orientation and size of the block really> Sometimes it's unavoidable. Yes, but in this case the 2 story high west facing window is because they like the look of it, not for practical reasons. I understand that houses need windows of the west side, but if possible they should be kept small and only used where necessary. Anyway, they are more than welcome to build a 2 storey west facing window, if they can get it past council...I'm not the one who will be living in an oven because I chose heart over head! Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 11Jan 05, 2014 8:59 am Cooper05 mynameisjonas Cooper05 I agree with Jazzy Jess...West facing is the worst side to have such a large window. Windows on the west side of the house should be avoided wherever possible, or kept to minimum sizes. Depends on the orientation and size of the block really> Sometimes it's unavoidable. Yes, but in this case the 2 story high west facing window is because they like the look of it, not for practical reasons. I understand that houses need windows of the west side, but if possible they should be kept small and only used where necessary. Anyway, they are more than welcome to build a 2 storey west facing window, if they can get it past council...I'm not the one who will be living in an oven because I chose heart over head! Thats my point, even if its a 2 storey window there are ways around it in summer where the heat is at it's worst. shutters on the outside and heavy blockout curtains can also help to reduce the heat, but allow the sun in during the colder months. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 12Jan 05, 2014 9:00 am A floorplan of the proposed house with elevations etc would be helpful to see what the alternatives are too. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 13Jan 05, 2014 4:06 pm Cooper05 . . in this case the 2 story high west facing window is because they like the look of it, not for practical reasons . . I know the desire is based on aesthetic rather than practical reasons but it is sensible to consider all aspects of the choice. There is a difference between I like the look of it, I understand the downside, I know what I can do to compensate for that, I know what costs and compromises are involved, I can live with it and I liked the look of it, no one warned me about the downside, now I'm stuck with it and I don't know what to do, I hate it. Re: Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 14Jan 05, 2014 4:21 pm mynameisjonas Thats my point, even if its a 2 storey window there are ways around it in summer where the heat is at it's worst. shutters on the outside and heavy blockout curtains can also help to reduce the heat, but allow the sun in during the colder months. Two things. The ratio of the eaves, or any other horizontal shade structure, to the height of the window is important. The larger the window the larger the requirements for the window coverings in terms of things like size of the materials and strength of the fittings, that's not to say it's not doable but there are implications for the cost and practicality of doing it. Huge windows - What window treatments should I get? 15Jan 06, 2014 1:24 am I know someone with a window like that lol....15 yrs on it still has no window coverings lol Design by Greater Concept - modified version Evolution Court Build by Premiere Homes My build viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64854 Depends how much direct sun it gets. Is there any shading (eaves or trees)? If the sun hits a window directly it doesn't matter too much if it's double or single… 1 12658 9 24782 Congratulations! Nice to put that to bed before christmas, now you can relax 3 7168 |