This month we decided to try and see if we could apply the EZ Snap exterior window shades on the outside of the French Doors leading from our kitchen eating area out to the deck on the south part of the house.
The picture above shows the starting point. Notice the vertical interior window coverings. They block almost completely the French Door on the left side and it’s beautiful view out to the forest in the back of the house. This also makes the kitchen eating area seem more enclosed than it should.
Every morning we needed to pull the interior shades across both doors to prevent the sun from entering through the glass in the doors.
Would the EZ Snap solar blinds be able to be installed on the exterior of the French Doors? The manufacturer’s web site never mentioned this possibility.
Here is a picture of the exterior part of the French Doors. Notice that the window frame protrudes beyond the outside part of the doors.
The question is not if this product will reduce the temperature of the interior from reduced UV rays and direct sun light while still allowing us to see the outside from within the house. That was sufficiently answered in Part 7 of this series. Rather, the question is whether the EZ Snap hardware would allow the solar blind product to be installed on the outside of the French Doors with this type of frame for the glass insert.
Another unique aspect of the installation was the proximity of the door handles to the window. This distance approximated 3 inches. So, I decided to place the 3M adhesive hardware 1 inch away from the glass insert frame, which would allow for an inch of the mesh beyond the hardware and still leave a full inch of space to the door handle.
The next day (remember if you are using the 3M adhesive hardware to wait 24 hours to allow for maximum adhesion) I applied the rest of the solar blinds and hardware. Return tomorrow to see how it looked and the impact from the inside.
To continue with the next article in this series, simply select this link to Part 12.
4 responses so far ↓
1 beth // May 14, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I am wondering if these could be applied to the exterior of a window and replace the screen to keep out bugs?
thanks
2 Dan // May 14, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Hi Beth,
I would suggest not because window screens should be installed within the inside of the frame of the portion of the window that will open. This is supposed to provide the snugness which is needed to prevent even the smallest of flying or crawling insects from entering the home.
These are installed on the outside of the entire window.
We have left our window screens on within the window frame.
Dan
3 Mopsley // Aug 15, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Thank you very much for the wonderfully detailed advice.
Mopsley
4 Dan // Aug 15, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Hi Mopsley,
You are quite welcome. This product really worked for us last year and continues to work just as well this year.
Kind Regards,
Dan
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