As the mum of five young children, I know how important it is to have access to a safe outdoor space for your children to play. Being cooped up in the house all day isn't good for the kids or the parents, but you also can't let young kids play in a space that's hazardous. When we bought our new family home, there was a lot of work to do in the garden to make it childproof, and we also wanted to make it a fun place for the kids to play. We erected a new fence, fitted a combination lock on the garden gate, had poisonous plants removed, cordoned off the pool and created a play area complete with swings, a slide and outdoor games. I started this blog to share my DIY gardening tips, and I hope you find it interesting and useful.
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Outdoor blinds can be a good choice for areas that are prone to storms as they can protect the windows from damage due to winds and hail, and they may work better at blocking out sun and noise than indoor blinds. Choosing exterior or outdoor blinds can be difficult only because there are so many options available to homeowners, but this also means that you're sure to get the blinds that will work for your home and your needs in particular. Before you buy any exterior blinds, note a few tips to consider and features to look out for.
1. Decide on Degree of Openness
When choosing fabric blinds, you may see a percentage of openness. This refers to the weave of the material. The more open it is, the more sunlight, air and noise will get through the binds. The less open, the tighter the weave and in turn, the more those blinds will block out exterior light and sound. If you're choosing blinds for noise insulation against nearby schools or traffic areas, you want a small percent of openness. If you still want some light and air to get through your blinds even when they're closed, choose a type with a higher percent of openness.
Note too that color alone doesn't necessarily affect this blocking capability. Blinds can be dark in color but if they have a high percent of openness, light will get through those tiny openings in the weave. A lighter color of blind with a small percent of openness may actually block out more light, so keep that in mind when making your choice
2. Consider Hurricane blinds
The durability and design of your blinds will vary, so don't assume that all outdoor blinds are meant to protect your home from storms. For the most protection, you want what are called hurricane blinds. These will be made of a more rugged material and will also have a more rigid frame than other types of exterior blinds. The rigid frame will keep the blinds in place during high winds and storms.
3. Contemplate Cellular Shades for Insulation
For areas where you want to have the most insulation for your home, look for cellular shades. These are also called honeycomb blinds. They have a pocket inside each slat that holds air and makes the blinds thicker; in turn, they offer more insulation for your home. In very cold or very warm climates, cellular shades can keep air conditioning or heat in the home and help deflect hot or cold air from outside, more so than standard exterior blinds.
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