Skylight Blinds

Having bought my mobile home in March partly because of all the available daylight from three skylight in the kitchen, the hot spell this July-August here in northern BC had me recalling wishfully recalling my father's design for blinds to block/reflect light out of the room's interior and cool off the place. This design reduced the temperature in my living space by 3^oC. Quite noticeable.

At first I tried to find a cheap solution online. Most shades or blinds for skylights run in the $100's. Some require assembly on the roof and have to be put up and taken down. I'm ladder-phobic. Recalling dad's design, I would only need a broom handle to slide the blinds over or off the lites. Much better. Now that the weather has cooled significantly (and the forest fires too) I have the blinds drawn back.

Note: I'm borrowing from my window and door sales experience in this 'ible. I call each "window" in my skylight a "lite."

Step 1 Tools & Materials

I coughed up the $20 for new doweling because of the pressing need to reduce the temperature in my trailer, but I did find a used tablecloth in the Salvation Army thrift store for $4.95. Total cost about $30 with enough doweling left over to make a fourth blind. Price will vary with the size of the lites and how much salvage you can scrounge.

Materials (about $30):

• Small diameter doweling per lite (costs about 85¢ per foot for hemlock, sold in 8' lengths)
• Old tablecloth or sheet (white to reflect light) with enough fabric to cover each lite (thread count up to you)
• Small nails or screws (3 per dowel)
• Fabric glue

Tools (few and simple):

• Drill & small drill bit
• Screwdriver or hammer
• Hand saw
• Scissors suitable for cutting cloth
• Measuring tape
• Straight edge (optional)

Comments

[joshiewashie]

This looks like a great idea! I will have to see what i can do to make some of these for my business. I have had a problem for awhile with the skylights just being too bright and have really needed to get something like this done. I really think you need to market these things great job! www.bestskylight.com

[tnt.thomas]

Thanks for the kind words! Unfortunately I am in no place to market these. I used to coach inventors and technologists for a living. BIIIIG undertaking and I'm a f-t administrator, f-t dad, and p-t student, sooooo.... ;^))

Glad you think they're that good. My dad would have been pleased... (his design).

[scents]

I don't even have skylights and I want to make these. I have a friend that does and I think she will be getting some.  Thanks for the great instructable. 

[ChrysN]

Nice design and that's a decent drop in temperature. Glad to hear that they are getting those forest fires under control.

[tnt.thomas]

Thanks VERY much! Pleased as PUNCH to be featured! :) Rain is HAMMERING the skylights at this very moment, also dousing those forest fires. Much needed!