thermal curtain linings

Filey

Greetings Moneysavers

I am thinking of buying/making some thermal linings to add to my curtains. Does anyone know (or can tell me where to look to find out) the value of 'proper' thermal lining compared with polar fleece or any other type of material? Thermal lining sound more scientific but is it any more efficient than anything else? Or any other advantages?

I like the idea of shutters like they have in some parts of Europe, real ones, not these faux shutters some people decorate their houses with. Older UK houses used to have internal shutters built in which would be nice but out of the question unless you are having a newbuild. They would come in handy too in the future when/if global warming sets in.

Meanwhile, back to the thermal linings.???

rhiwfield

Filey, I cant answer your question directly as I dont know the answer

But having used blackout lining on curtains for 15 (!) double-glazed windows/patio doors I can tell you that in very cold weather they can create a difference of up to 12C between window recess temperature and room temperature. However you can get a convection loop as cold air falls thru the gap at the bottom and warm air enters at the top. This can reduce the temp differential by 50% or more and so negate the benefit of the curtains.

To reduce this loop the free sides of the curtains need to be close to the wall/floor.

We've just about sorted this by 2 methods:

• firstly using a flat draught excluder in bay window recess to seal the gap between curtain base and cill
• secondly to use (adjustable length) curtain rods at base of curtain to hold curtain against the wall. The rods are placed on 3 cup hooks (left, right and centre). We got the rods and hooks from Wilkos so it cost maybe £2 a window

The effect of these simple measures is dramatic, making a very noticeable difference to cutting out draughts and retaining heat.

BTW we got the linings online in a 100 metre roll.

Catbells

Hi I bought some cheap thermal curtain linings and frankly they are pretty ugly. They were the ones you hang behind the curtains and they look like plastic. They block out light and cold but if the windows are drafty the cold will creep in round the sides.

Your second point about the shutters - I am going to get shutters for my new house once the new windows are fitted after Xmas as they are also a security device. I have been looking at Plantation Shutters but the ones you mentioned sound much better. Do you know where they can be bought? Thanks.

Filey

rhiwfield wrote: »

Filey, I cant answer your question directly as I dont know the answer

But having used blackout lining on curtains for 15 (!) double-glazed windows/patio doors I can tell you that in very cold weather they can create a difference of up to 12C between window recess temperature and room temperature.

---

Thanks for your helpful answer and the details about solving the problem. However there won't be any draughts (I hope) as the windows will be double glazed, unless the coldness of the glass creates convection currents. It is just that other than making triple glazing by adding that internal glazing you can get, I thought maybe giving the curtains an additional lining might help.

But thanks for the advice.
PS That is a LOT of windows!

Filey

Catbells wrote: »

Hi I bought some cheap thermal curtain linings and frankly they are pretty ugly.
Your second point about the shutters - I am going to get shutters for my new house once the new windows are fitted after Xmas as they are also a security device. I have been looking at Plantation Shutters but the ones you mentioned sound much better. Do you know where they can be bought? Thanks.

__________________________________________________

Thanks Catbells for your reply. If I go the thermal lining route I'll mind not to get the plasticky kind.

About the shutters, I lived in France for several years so have had some experience with shutters. If I was having a house built I would definitely go for shutters.

Remember that windows that have outside shutters opening back against the walls need to be inward opening windows, not outward opening ones which are customary in the UK. (Unless of course they are on the ground floor and you go round outside at night shutting them.Upstairs windows would be a different matter.)

If you are building a house you need to get this right at the time it is built, not after or it would mean changing all the frames. There is no reason (Building regs type reasons) why you couldn't specify inward opening windows but they are not standard. Also inward opening windows means you can't put plants and ornaments on the inside window sills as they would be knocked off when you opened the windows. I don't know if you can get windows that open both inwards and outwards.

Useful though for cleaning. Window cleaners as we know them in the UK with their ladders and buckets are virtually unknown in France where windows are cleaned by standing in the room with the window opened inwards.And you can rest window boxes and plants on the outside sills if they are the wide type.

When I have my upstairs windows replaced i am going for inward opening ones.

By Plantation Shutters do you mean the slatted ones? They do look nice but most people have them more as decoration, permanently fastened to the walls. The slatted shutters originated in hotter and sunnier climates than ours and if it is insulation and security you are after then the solid ones would be better. You can buy them 'off the peg' in France, but if you are not planning to go over and bring some back then most joiners would make them but might need some guidance about the ironmongery.

I loved my shutters although at first I hadn't much idea about them, but after a while and a little advice I became adept at opening and closing them at the right times, following the sun. Shutter Management 101 !

rhiwfield

Filey wrote: »

rhiwfield wrote: »

Filey, I cant answer your question directly as I dont know the answer

But having used blackout lining on curtains for 15 (!) double-glazed windows/patio doors I can tell you that in very cold weather they can create a difference of up to 12C between window recess temperature and room temperature.

---

Thanks for your helpful answer and the details about solving the problem. However there won't be any draughts (I hope) as the windows will be double glazed, unless the coldness of the glass creates convection currents. It is just that other than making triple glazing by adding that internal glazing you can get, I thought maybe giving the curtains an additional lining might help.

But thanks for the advice.
PS That is a LOT of windows!

Filey, our windows are double glazed as well, and it is the cold glass that chills the air in the recess that starts the convection loop, most noticeable in very cold weather (like we've got now!)

Filey

rhiwfield wrote: »

Filey wrote: »

Filey, our windows are double glazed as well, and it is the cold glass that chills the air in the recess that starts the convection loop, most noticeable in very cold weather (like we've got now!)

Thanks rhiwfield.

As I feared! Fortunately there are only 2 windows and a pair of double doors I am thinking of doing. I can just imagine you with kilometres of black curtain lining stuff wrapping itself round everything, and the miles or thread you must have used.

So now I ask myself will I go for fleece or felt or proper thermal stuff or blackout material.? Decisions, decisions.

paddy's_mum

The thermal curtain linings that I have seen are usually awkward and stiff and definitely spoil the drape of the main curtains fronting them. Thermal linings are not easy to fold so that if you want to tuck the hems/excess fabric into the window recess to help hold in the heat, they make it difficult to get a 'close-to-the-glass' finish. (Don't think I've explained that very well but can't think of a better way to put it!)

You might be just as well off with thermal roller blinds behind generously sized and tightly gathered standard curtains.

Filey

paddy's_mum wrote: »

The thermal curtain linings that I have seen are usually awkward and stiff and definitely spoil the drape of the main curtains fronting them. Thermal linings are not easy to fold so that if you want to tuck the hems/excess fabric into the window recess to help hold in the heat, they make it difficult to get a 'close-to-the-glass' finish. (Don't think I've explained that very well but can't think of a better way to put it!)

____________________________________________________
Thanks paddy's mum.

Definitely don't want thermal linings like that! Will keep blinds in mind. At least I am fortunate in not having radiators under the windows - always a nuisance.

Catbells

Filey wrote: »

__________________________________________________

Thanks Catbells for your reply. If I go the thermal lining route I'll mind not to get the plasticky kind.

About the shutters, I lived in France for several years so have had some experience with shutters. If I was having a house built I would definitely go for shutters.

Remember that windows that have outside shutters opening back against the walls need to be inward opening windows, not outward opening ones which are customary in the UK. (Unless of course they are on the ground floor and you go round outside at night shutting them.Upstairs windows would be a different matter.)

If you are building a house you need to get this right at the time it is built, not after or it would mean changing all the frames. There is no reason (Building regs type reasons) why you couldn't specify inward opening windows but they are not standard. Also inward opening windows means you can't put plants and ornaments on the inside window sills as they would be knocked off when you opened the windows. I don't know if you can get windows that open both inwards and outwards.

Useful though for cleaning. Window cleaners as we know them in the UK with their ladders and buckets are virtually unknown in France where windows are cleaned by standing in the room with the window opened inwards.And you can rest window boxes and plants on the outside sills if they are the wide type.

When I have my upstairs windows replaced i am going for inward opening ones.

By Plantation Shutters do you mean the slatted ones? They do look nice but most people have them more as decoration, permanently fastened to the walls. The slatted shutters originated in hotter and sunnier climates than ours and if it is insulation and security you are after then the solid ones would be better. You can buy them 'off the peg' in France, but if you are not planning to go over and bring some back then most joiners would make them but might need some guidance about the ironmongery.

I loved my shutters although at first I hadn't much idea about them, but after a while and a little advice I became adept at opening and closing them at the right times, following the sun. Shutter Management 101 !

Thanks for the info on shutters. I've got sash windows so external shutters would be difficult to open and close. I was thinking of the internal ones mainly for the look - simple and un-fussy like curtains are, giving a sense of more space and also for security reasons.

sashman

Filey,

Shutters look great and work even better. They were originally fitted outside to protect very thin (and very expensive) glass being damaged in hale storms, internally to provide privacy, warmth and security, and behind sash windows they are lovely.

As for thick curtains, I am in the business of making sash windows, (havent got round to changing mine at home yet) but when my wife wanted curtains, we bought thick thermal ones which work a treat.

If you have the luxury of designing a new home with sash windows, internal shutters, and thick curtains then its will be as warm as toast!

Sashman