Revisions log for Answer #2258

Nowadays, these sliding/folding blinds are built with wooden slats on the outside. It might look pretty good, I don't know if it's cheaper than exterior blinds. We have exterior blinds everywhere, and it's a distinct difference from roller blinds in the old house when the sun really shines. A very cheap option would be vertical awnings without side rails, but that doesn't seem reliable to me. Perhaps a well-placed awning outside would help, too, especially if you're building on a slope.

But honestly: I wouldn't skimp on shading in a new building, but compromise elsewhere. If you build such a half-price solution now, as climate change intensifies, you'll be putting a lot of money into fixing it in a few years. That's my expectation.