What are the advantages/disadvantages of blinds for skylights?
We are currently considering our Velux GPU hinged-swing skylight retrofit shutters to install. Until recently I was convinced that of course the Velux SSL solar shutters should come. Now our neighbor (who has the same skylights) has unsettled me a bit. Our neighbor has the home and house skylight solar shutters mounted.
He said that the HH blinds are mounted directly on the window and you can thus open the window completely and also swing so the shutter can also clean from the inside. According to Velux support, the HH roller blinds but can no longer swing because the motor would block at HH.
With Velux, the blinds are mounted on the window so the window with extended roller blind can only (according to Velux support) about 20cm opening. But when the blind is up, you can fold the window as usual and also swing.
My question would now be:
Do you possibly have skylight blinds? Did you install them yourself or have them installed?
Why do you have exactly these blinds?
If you do not have skylight blinds but still have dealt with the matter, something you know or your opinion / experience is also welcome.
Answers
We have the Velux outdoor blinds with solar and would not want to miss them in the summer. Great heat protection and complete blackout. But were installed together with the new skylights by roofers. Without the things we would have died under the roof last summer.
It's stupid when they freeze in winter, but we only sleep there, so that's not a big deal.
We replaced 2 Velux wood windows with HH vinyl windows with shutters 3 years ago. Velux opens via a center flap hinge, HH opens completely. Now it is possible to stand at the open window. The shutters work perfectly and reliably. They darken excellent and are thermally in the summer a blessing (We have our bedroom under the roof.) Much better than an interior blackout protection. At the price you can almost act as you want, the HH guys have a mighty span.
In my last apartment I had two skylights, both with Velux shutters (with crank) – in the apartment before that a skylight with Heim & Haus shutters.
Both variants served their purpose. But what often bothered me about the Velux: They often could not be moved even with a little frost. The HH roller shutter went much better – there had to be snow on it that stuck.
We had also considered roller blinds, but in addition to the greens you mentioned, there is also, for me as a NoGo, added "dark or light", or dark and sunscreen or light and no sunscreen.
We now have sunshade markers and interior roller blinds. Is in sum cheaper and, in my opinion, the better option.
Have installed Velux solar shutters on Velux windows myself. Went without any problems. Had previously the solar markers outside and darkening inside. But this is no comparison to roller shutters. I would do it again.
In our case, it was only bedrooms, so it was also okay if the shutter was frozen in the winter and remained closed during the day.
