Thermal curtains, what would trap more heat?

greensalad

I thought this day would come, but our kitchen has become unbearably cold at around 3 degrees today. The people before us removed the sliding door from the unheated, leaky conservatory into the kitchen and it has no other heating. It's horrible to be in there right now.

We need a solution until we can come up with something more permanent (possibly re-instating sliding door, but ideally knocking down the conservatory and doing a proper extension). So I am thinking of adding thermal curtains, and getting the living room chimney swept so we can light a fire to heat both rooms.

I came across on Dunelm a double curtain track and was wondering if anyone thinks this might achieve more warmth trapped than a single thermal curtain (where the lining is attached to the curtain back?)



My theory is that a normal curtain on the front, and the thermal curtain linings that Dunelm sell on the back would trap more heat than just one curtain with both layers close. Or possibly, a thermal curtain on the front and then a second thermal curtain lining on the back. Even more heat trapped.

This curtain track is about £20 more expensive than a single one, and the lining is £15 each, so for £35 more I would get double layers of curtains. Do you think it's worth the cost to double up?

Emmia

We have unlined ikea eyelet curtains, covering a French door to which this year I've added thermal loose lining curtains on rings - these are both on the same pole, a pretty solid one from Jim Lawrence (which is not cheap, but 1000x better than.the rickety pole that it replaced).

The liners have made a huge difference to the warmth in the room via reducing draughts.

So, you don't need a double pole, but you do need a solid one.

powerspowers

We have a leaky conservatory open to living room. Mid term plan is to replace with an extension. We currently have a thick dunelm lined curtain across the opening and log burner going. It’s currently 22 degrees in here whereas conservatory is very close to the outside temp 

twopenny

I do something similar. 
I'm using my put in place blackout fabric - because that's what I've got to hand. They fit all round the window, then draw curtains with thermal linings also.

The blinds come down in the day in a matter of minutes. Mine are on invisible Velcro so as quick as Scarters.
I've bought some thermal  lining fabric to make blinds for smaller windows..

The one thing to be very careful of is that they fit right to the edge all round, curtains or lining actually draping on the floor or the heated room will draw the cold air through the gaps.

greensalad

twopenny said:

I do something similar. 
I'm using my put in place blackout fabric - because that's what I've got to hand. They fit all round the window, then draw curtains with thermal linings also.

The blinds come down in the day. 

I've bought some thermal  lining fabric to make blinds for smaller windows..

The one thing to be very careful of is that they fit right to the edge all round, curtains or lining actually draping on the floor or the heated room will draw the cold air through the gaps.

I've bought ones about 30cm longer than the space. 

andre_xs

What about a folding door, something like this This example has more space at top and bottom than I thought, but maybe there are other models which run in a rail for better 'sealing' off?

twopenny

Folding door sounds good. But the cold spell may be over by the time you've got and fitted (I hope)

Linings are the most immediate, don't cost much and are easy to put up.

As a needle woman I'm ashamed to say that when pushed I used double sided tape to hem a blind I made intending to do it properly - it's still there and no one knows

Self adhesive velchro also.

I've been looking at roller blinds but there's a gap where the end fittings go.

Roman blinds look like they may be a good bet for fitting flush with windows - I bought all the fittings but still haven't made one. Somehow the patience has all gone.

greensalad

andre_xs said:

What about a folding door, something like this This example has more space at top and bottom than I thought, but maybe there are other models which run in a rail for better 'sealing' off?

That's probably not a bad idea. We currently have folding doors (bifolds) off the kitchen to the living room, and despite how gappy they are (about 1cm between the bifolds and a fair bit top and bottom) it's amazing the heat they do hold in. 

Thanks for the idea. I'm still holding out on a UPVC set coming up online. Curtains are going up today. I ended up not going for the double track just a normal blackout/thermal with an additional thermal layer behind it (from Dunelm). Will report back on the heat. It's currently 0c outside and 3c in my kitchen!