DIY shade-sail window screen

Exterior shade cloth (voile d'ombrage) cut and hemmed to size, hung on hooks over windows/skylights/glazed doors, removable, reusable, far cheaper and structurally simpler than a mounted brise-soleil: sewing skill only, no structural fixing. Field-tested by its author over a full summer with a clearly noted result.

Cost
Low
Upkeep
Occasional
Skill to build
Basic
Lifespan
3-5 years for outdoor UV-exposed shade cloth before it needs replacement; hardware (hooks, hems) lasts longer
Embodied carbon
Low
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
On-demand/controllable
Skill to repair
Basic

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

Inputs

none

Outputs

none

Sources

Tutorials

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.