Blocking light from coming through a ceiling window

[JoeJoe]

Daughter moved to a new student flat. Her room is in an attic conversion.

It only has one window, a skylight-type on the slopped ceiling (sound 30 degrees from horizontal).

It is in a recess around 15cm deep.

Problem is that in order to block the outside light from entering the room it has a roller blind attached to the ceiling, and due to it being very close to horizontal it sags and hardly does its job, and also collects dust. Rubbish is the word to describe it.

I am looking for a reversible solution (i.e. that can be returned to original at the end of the year) that will:

1. Continue to allow the window to open.
2. Allow the light to be blocked from entering the room.
3. As in 2, but not permanently (I.e. act like a curtain/blind and can be opened and closed).

Simplest solution I could think of was to glue some sort of black card/cardboard to the glass itself using something like silicone adhesive or similar on the corners of the glass that can be scraped clean at the end the the year.

Problem is that this will allow the window to open and close, but for as long as the windows is closed no light will enter the room.

Any thoughts of a better solution that will also include 3 above?

(Diagram here if that helps https://tinypic.host/i/whatsapp-image-2022-09-01-at-082945.vypmh)

[Robin]

Can she safely and easily reach the window (including when arriving home late after, ahem, enjoying student life to the full)? If so "student flat" made me think Blu Tack to attach light but rigid covering to the /ceiling/ around the recess. Possibly in 2 or 3 pieces to make it easier to handle and to store during day. Covered with poster of her choice if desired.

[Brian Gaff]

Velcro the black out curtain material to the surround with a small opening for air to come through. Brian

[Davidm]

attached to? If so how about a stiff card or plywood cover, attached to the frame (at the top or botttom) by a hinge(s), then at the other end one or two magnetic catches to hold it in place, both in the closed and open positions. Could use small rare earth magnets. Operation could be just via a wooden pole with a hook in the end.

Or if she can easily reach the window, just magnets top and bottom, or sides, to allow the cover to be put in place at night then easily removed in the day.

[nothanks]

- use double-sided tape to attach two U channel extrusions somewhere suitable, so that a sliding shutter can run in the "U". - use double-sided tape to attach a batten to the lower edge. Attach a couple of bits of webbing (or something stiffer) to the batten so that they can be used to support the roller blind and hook onto the blind roller or its attachments.

If there are existing screws in a convenient area you could use the holes (with longer screws) in place of d/s tape.

[RJH]

I'd ask the landlord to fit something, and if they refuse, get some advice from student services.

If that goes nowhere, fit a blind (£80ish Velux, £40 generic) - they fit with about 6 small screws. Each screw would leave a small hole when removed - check with the landlod it's OK. IMHO it's really not worth faffing about draping bits of material if you have the money to buy a blind.

[Rob Morley]

If it's easy to reach then a bit of hardboard that's a snug fit in the recess widthwise and slightly too long lengthwise - it will wedge in place with a slight upward bow. Fit a handle (could be just a loop of cord) in the middle so you can pop the bow downwards and remove the board.

[Martin Brown]

A support rod or taut string in the middle or at one third and two thirds the way across would be the obvious quick and dirty solution.

The other option would be to obtain some of the black foam mounting board available in sizes up to A0 and make a push fit blackout.

And a wedge to hold it in place. Actually you might have to slum it with white foamboard and a can of matt black spray paint. It weighs next to nothing so isn't a threat if it falls down. eg.

Black seems to be out of stock and a silly price online.

[Andrew]

One other quick point. IS this a velux-style window where the glazing pivots about its midpoint ?. If so, these can be opened so that the glass effectively slopes inwards and if she leaves it like this and is out during the day, and it rains then her room and anything below the window will get wet.

[Tricky Dicky]

I would fix a couple of screw eyes in the bottom bar of the blind and use a couple of “Command” hooks ( the sort that are self-adhesive but can be easily pulled off by pulling a tab out) below the window opening and simply hook the screw eyes on. Alternatively, if the blind does not have a bar along the bottom edge a couple of squares of self-adhesive Velcro tape will do and with care can be peeled off without any damage at the end of the year.

Richard

[TimW]

I have had blinds made for a glass roof which pretty much eliminate radiant heat and all the light except what gets round the edge. They are foil-bubble thermawrap in a sewn pocket of calico held simply in place with sprung rods in a sleeve in the calico. The sort of spring rods you use for shower curtains. Easy to remove and adjust now and then, but not for opening and closing several times a day. TW