Well done! Being a sewing enthusiast, I would use Insulbright, instead of Reflectex which is quilt batting with reflective foil inside 2 layers of batting. I like this material because it would be washable. It is most often used for hot pads! You can still use the metal with magnets, and sew channels to make the panels, but the glue tape is a great option as well. Your shade looks great, works great, and for the non-sewist, a great option! 👍👍
From someone who has been sewing and crafting for 50+ years...this is brilliant! No need to look further for my inspiration. I now know exactly what to do. Thank you so much!
@@edgall3627 nope. It accomplished what he wanted. No ugly aluminum or foil like item looking outside or inside and it easily covers or uncovers the window. Mission accomplished.
When you cover the reflective material, you loose the benefit of reflecting the sun away.. therefore not cutting down on as much heat as you could! But if all you want to do is insulate the window, it works. Great creative invention. 👌
Because Reflectex is really ugly and cheapens the look of your home on wheels. You paid a lot of money for it, so keep it looking its best!@@edgall3627
Thank you for that comment Hannah the RV - I don't have access to work with iron and the webbing and was thinking to try with liquid stitch adhesive - I was looking at Aleene's and Dritz I believe - so now, I'm confident I can do something like this with different materials.
i was very excited to discover this video. Two years ago, I bought a 75-year-old frame house. I have pondered how I could afford some energy-saving window treatments for my home to replace the mini-blinds and vertical blinds.. After much research and brainstorming, I finally have the answer! Thank you very, very much.! I am confident I can make this work for larger and longer house windows. I will be sewing seams instead of fusing and I will use larger magnets and refectives. I might even make the curtains reversible for variety. I hope to get them all done before November. I let you know how it works out.
Very good idea. A past owner left a log of the silver window fold up heat blockers like new in the Dinette seat storage. Will this is something I could use them for. However about 14 years ago I bought 75 feet of 48" double bubble insulation with the silver one side white the other. I cut into widths to fit between the supports under my 24' covered patio about 10' roof. Stapled velcro pieces on he underside then to hold velcro matching tabs on the vinyl. So I had an 8 foot run. White side down to lighten the patio too. Silver side up to reflect heat. Man when you put your hand on roof area with no double bubble and with it's unbelievable cooler. So I also bought these quilted silver thick space like blanket things. Very soft and squishy and does this too. I made window coverings for my tent's fly windows I sewed into my fly so I had 360 view from my tent when inside tent. I made one side of the window with matching tent nylon fabric and other side totally reversible with the silver quilted material facing out. I can't believe myself how great this turned out. I bought more of these blankets on sale and made myself a sweat suit for Fascia Blasting...don't ask. A phase I went through. So I still have like 4 of these blankets about brand new and I also have about 40 feet of the double bubble and it too is not crunch sounding like what you are playing with. You are definitely on to something here though and having sewin over 60 years starting at age 12 my favorite sewing is utilitarian and I'd have no problem sewing your black out curtains into shades with my reflective material that's a space blanket only quilted and soft and easy to sew and handle and doesn't make much if any noise. Also a hint for non sewers the silver like aluminum heat tape works great for seaming this reflective material. I covered our favorite 50 year old cooler including a hinged lid in double bubble doubled so it has the silver facing inside and out and two sets of the double bubble to make four layers. It came out amazing even looked cool as if you could buy something like it which I've never seen one. Anyway used the silver tape 2 maybe 4 inch wide I no longer recall the width without going out to check. It's been over 10 years ago. But I do love my double bubble and love finding uses for it and the softer hand material like space blanket but much stronger and easy to handle than the single layer space blanket. A lot of merit to you and making this video to share your idea. Love it and gets the DIY juices flowing.
When using an iron to heat up those bonding strips there's no need to use steam. The steam wets the material and then when it is exposed it cools quickly because it's wet. Just apply a hot iron works twice as fast.
When we worked in Las Vegas in the summer with 120 degree weather, living in an RV, we learned very quickly about Reflectix. We just cut it to fit the windows & stuffed it in. It made the RV much cooler with both roof top ACs running full blast. Great stuff that Reflectix. Wish I owned stock in the company.
This is exactly what I’m about to do in our RV. Thanks so much for the tutorial! It gives me a lot of good information to work with. My only suggestion would be to use pinking shears instead of scissors to cut your fabric. This goes a long way towards stopping fraying but, if you’re still worried about it, you can use a product called Fray Check, or just a thin strip of hot glue on the edges. I don’t like burning the edges because, with my luck, I’d set fire to the whole place! Thanks again!
Before you do, check out how heat transfer works. There are three ways heat is transmitted, radiation, conduction and convection. For optimal insulation in summer you want to reflect the sunlight out of the window. In winter when the sun does not shine you want low emissivity. This means in both cases you want the reflective foil exposed to the outside. If you cover it with cloth the radiative barrier effect is strongly reduced (only a bit inside the bubble wrap). To get the most ensure an air gap exists between the reflective foil and the next material (window or curtain) of at least half an inch. No need to go over 8/10th of an inch. If the air gap is wider you get more convection in the air gap. If the air gap is smaller you get more conduction via the air. The solution in this video does something but probably less than 50% of what can be achieved with the same materials. You can also get better results by minimizing draft around the curtain. This may also limit condensation against the window when it is really cold outside.
Was wondering about this the whole video Ted, what would you recommend for RV window insulation then if we don’t care what it looks like and just want maximum efficiency?
@@DRader150 In summer a single layer of reflective foil to maximise reflection of sunlight out of the window and minimize radiation into the RV. You can mount this flush to the window. Beauty of that is that during the day you can still see through the foil. Acts like mirror sunglasses. Be mindful that you don't create areas along the window where you get both reflected sunlight and direct sunlight. That can become too hot. Also don't do this at home on high efficiency double glazing with heat reflective coatings. those windows may get too warm. In winter you want the same but with one or more airgaps of 0.5 inch. Since in summer light and heat radiation is often dominant you don't have to worry too much about airflow around the edges. This is if you are ok with getting ambient temperatures inside the RV. If you have AC in your RV an air tight air gab is saving energy. In winter, convection is much more relevant because there is always a difference between inside and outside temperatures. So in addition to the reflective foils you want to ensure there is an airtight air gab, so no (or minimal) draft around the edges. Way to do this is with velcro, magnetic strips like those used in a fridge (guess why), or with nanotape or the like. Some tape that allows endless removal and reapplication. To create the airgaps you can put the foil around he window or use thick bubblewrap with reflective foil on both sides. If your airgap is not airtight in winter you will get condensation against the cold window if you add moister to the air in the RV. Keep an eye on it and if needed allow it to dry daily, allow it to drain or make he airgap airtight. No need to insulate windows much better than the rest of the RV. In summer best a good way to keep heat out creating shadow on your roof. There you want at least a 6 inch gap to allow the wind to blow away warm air that accumulates under whatever creates the shadow. If in summer you want to occasionally keep something at ambient temperatures in the sun buy a piece of pure white Tyvek or another brand of spunbonded polypropylene (not polyethylene). This is super reflective white. You have to wear sunglasses for eye protection.
I love videos that are done in silence, where you can just peacefully watch something being made, 😉 👍 of course your description is totally appreciated then ah, the silent demonstration. Yessss. Beautifully thought out and executed. How has it work to block heat or cold with just the pieces of R. Rather than full sheet? Im sure like a dream..
I appreciate that feedback. Yes. It's been working great. I've made three of them now and have used them all winter with full sun in Arizona. The downside is that we sleep in too long because it's super dark in our bedroom :)
@@RVwithTito Personally, I would have appreciated, not incessant chatter, but a little bit of instruction as you were going to explain what you were doing. That being said, I love the shades.
I love it and with the double darkening material plus the reflectix you have solved your temp problem , AND the convenience of light access. Thanks for sharing this cool idea...yep ! you did it again !!!
You've inspired me! I'm considering a larger version of this for my home windows that have the vertical sliders. The weather comes right through them , but especially noticeable during extreme weather. I think this will work nicely!
Hacksaw blades are designed to cut in one direction, forward. When you apply pressure pulling the blade back-and-forth you're just heating up the blade and dulling it. Just appy light pressure going forward and a lifting action coming back cuts the material faster and cleaner.
This is a great idea. AND, if you want your windows to still match your upholstery, you could probably devise a way that this window covering is behind your decorative curtains, and only visible when needed.
There are flexible strips of magnets, or you could also cut your own out of the magnet sheets that are used for DIY projects all the time. If you've got a sewing machine with a little beef in the engine, you can even sew THROUGH it with a 16 needle! That way you could get a really good seal all the way around van and car windows!
Brian, I love them! I would only add maybe some strips of magnet tape around the windows with steal in the sides of the curtains or Velcro around the perimeter of both to keep them tight against the wall. Great work!
Brilliant Tito, you make me miss my camper even more. Northern Michigan in the old pine logging and hunting area was my Fortress of Solitude spot, just a turn off any fire access path and there you are. Thank you for another possible retirement plan ...
Wow, this is a fabulous idea. I also like the way they are attached to the wall. If only we had a full workshop to make it even easier to create them. I see a winter project in our future. Thanks.
I love this and bookmarked it for when we get our used rv. I won't worry about hating the fabric on the windows because this is a great way to replace them all, and it's an improvement with the reflective material inside.
Wow, this is great! We are going to replace those horrible metal blinds in our little Casita with these! Live in Tucson, AZ so appreciate incorporating the reflective piece in these shades! I even like your tip on the Walmart curtains to use!
Nice job and very functional. I wonder how it would work if you did one continuous piece of reflectix and rolled it up instead of folding it up. You could fab a cord system to roll it up to any height you wanted.
For me, Brian's videos are a lot like watching "5-minute crafts" TH-cam channel. When he does it, it turns out, works, and looks like a professional item, that you may have purchased for a lot of money at a boutique shop. When I do it with the same tools and time, it looks like a kindergarten craft project gone horribly wrong. I'm like, I have the same tools, a good-sized shop, a degree in Industriel Technology, I taught High School shop class, and I feel woefully inadequate when I watch him work. Thanks for the video, Brian! I was just camping in our Class A in the Outer Banks of NC, and my draw curtain over the front and driver's side window is horribly inefficient in keeping the heat out and the cold in. This looks like something I will try across the front, and see how it works.
You're too kind. My goal with projects has always been to try and make it look like it came that way. That often means more thinking, practice and experimentation before building the final product. In the end it's worthwhile. Thanks for the kind words!
Pretty good idea. I took a $7 roller shade and replaced the shade part with faux ultra suede, ironed on a semi stiff white interfacing to the back. From the outside they are white, inside is a caramel color. Can be done without any sewing too. I sew so turned the sides and bottom edges over and top stitched. Won't work for tall windows as the material is too thick for the roller but for most RV kitchen and bedroom windows works fine. Was able to match the bed quilt this way. The store bought shade is only for harvesting the hardware, any thrift store shade will work. Remove the non spring end plug and cut the roller tube to the width you need, replace the end plug.
UNBELIEVABLE! Tito, you are AMAZING! You should patent this! I would never be able to do this! There were a lot of steps but so worth it! Have you ever thought about building Tiny Homes? I’ve been watching Randy Jones who owns Incredible Tiny Homes. He is looking for carpenters. I feel you would be a great addition to his company. I honestly feel you would make a huge impact on this company and/or this Tiny Home Industry. Your knowledge and your work is so amazing to watch! Not to mention how organized and clean your work is as well. Seriously, have you ever thought of building a Tiny Home? Have you ever heard of Randy Jones? I love his YT Channel and his personal story. I would love to know how you feel about this... I would love for you to build me a Tiny Home!!! Thank you so much for sharing your great talents, you are amazing!🙏🏻
Thanks for the kudos. Sure. Building a tiny home is something that would be fun if I had the need. Right now I'd go for a solar powered shed near the RV. At one point, when my son was younger, he said I want to build a tiny home in the yard and live there :) Of course I would have helped. I'll check out Randy Jones. Thx.
Well here is an Idea too...Even if you don't build tiny's under Randy's Franchise of ITH, you could definitely create inventory to sell for those who live in Tiny homes (ie... inventory such as your blinds & other great ideas for home decor!)
This is brilliant. We have an older RV and replacing the window treatments has been a challenge to figure out since we need the reflectix also. I love this and plan on making these!
Yea! Pretty slick. I did a similar thing with those magnetic roof-vent covers, where I removed the bezels, installed super strong magnets around the perimeter of the flashing. That eliminated the need for the adhesive velcro that comes with said product. Now, the magnetic covers simply cling to the bezel and you can still open them halfway, as designed by the mfgr. Bill, Seal Beach CA
This is brilliant. I've been trying to sort out in my head something like this for our trailer but even better I think this is going to work in my living room for those really hot days!!
@@RVwithTito i put some up in our living room for this horrendous heatwave we're in in SoCal and it's really truly been saving us!! I got a huge roll so I could make something for our new trailer as well. Not sure our windows are big enough for this trick, going to see if I can modify!
Thank you for this idea. I sewed mine as I don't have a lot of faith in iron on hemming tape for lasting. This is such a good idea and I love mine. I struggled to find flat stock so we cut 2 inch wide strips of metal roofing flashing and hot glued that to the reflectix. That worked well.
Nice one, I'm doing something similar. Did you consider installing the magnets on your ceiling / cupboard overhang so that you can lift the blind completely above the window and not obstruct ant view out of the window when the blind is opened? That would be important for me as losing the top 20% visibility out of the window would affect a lot of my view in my ford transit camper conversion. Thanks for the share.
A lovely product beautifully produced in a workshop with a lot of wonderful tools. I think a full time nomad in RV or van would have a harder time of it to make this , yet can adapt the general idea. I like it.
Maybe you could add really small magnets on the sides of the blind. Also on the bottom, clicks right on the windows frame. Absolute rock solid light blocking shade. Good job.
There's a fabric that has about 5 layers to it already made with some sort of foil in it. You then add what exterior fabric you want. I do like what you did!
Instead of using a crunchy reflectics you could have used a closed cell foam. It's available in 1/8", or 3/16" or 1/4" and it offers a much greater R value then reflectics. It would help the fold up lines to fit the window better and not sound so crunchy when doing so.
reflectix blocks cut radiative heat loss... Closed foam is just insulation (maybe better for cold applications) and does nothing for reflecting the heat back out the window.
@@151mcxI was thinking something similar in that by placing the reflective material inside the cloth isn’t that defeating the purpose of reflecting the suns rays away from the window thus keeping the inside cooler? Since the curtains are already black out, the reflective isn’t aiding in blocking out the light. But it does make for a nice hanging window treatment.
@@151mcx Wrapping the foil in fabric completely negates the ability of the Reflectix to block radiant heat, unfortunately. Radiant barriers need an air space of at least half an inch to function. The curtain idea will retain the insulation in the Reflectix (the air pockets), but none of the reflective properties are intact.
I was just looking at my windows in my aged rv and wanted them insulated without having silver stuff in all my windows. This is absolutely perfect. Thanks for sharing.
I love your idea, use of French cleats to hang, and utilizing the blackout curtain. Great job. I assume the “vapor barrier” product (white on one side, bubble wrap type material” that I have on hand would work as well as the reflectix. Thanks for sharing your idea.
the answer to your vapor barrier question is "no!" emphatically. yes bubbles trap air, but only reflectix reflects the radiant heat (ps - because of its construction reflectix works to keep heat out and to keep it in, so it is 365-proof. bubble wrap is only good for winter, and far inferior. properly-installed reflectix can give r-values of 20+.)
One of the most professional looking projects I've seen, most people seem to be ok with just throwing up some reflectix up and looking like a crazy person with tinfoil on their windows.
Cool idea! Pun intended ;) You might want to put a disclaimer in somewhere that if you have a dual pane window to never put reflecting material right on your windows. It will create heat in between the panes and could either ruin the airtight seal or blow the window apart. Best to do like you are doing and have the insulated material away from the glass to create an air space for it to circulate better
You have just given me a great idea for my 6 huge windows in the front of my house, in Florida. I sew, so I was confused about what you were doing but the end result is great! Thanks for the ideas!
We have roller shades in the front which work great and we can still see out. I had to teach myself how to use a sewing machine many years ago. I was able to modify a few curtains, but it wasn't pretty. I'm pretty good with an iron though :)
You'll ruin the reflective value of the Mylar coating by putting another material over it, so in this application I would be tempted to use rigid insulation like pink board, instead of filling with Reflectix. Or you could just stuff it with regular bubble wrap or cardboard. Also, if you are concerned with heat loss, you might want to use black material, as black tends to be very effective T retaining heat. While if you want to shed heat, you want the outer surface to be either white or reflective. To me it seems like the best way then is two sides, one white and one black, so you can switch it with he seasons.
Ruining the effect of reflecting heat, is not possible. If that assumption was correct then no form of wall insulation would work. Reflectex was developed as tank insulation (covered) and also works well in wall spaces were you include an air space between insulation layers. Also does not have an R value, but instead, a percentage of reflected heat, dependent on installation direction.
Why use reflectix? It would seem that you'd loose the value of the reflective material when you wrap it in cloth. Why not use thin styrofoam or foamboard instead?
Actually, the reflective layer will still add value. It doesn't let any light penetrate from one side to the other. And it reflects back all the light, including infrared (heat waves). I'm going to use this for my house in a roman shade.
@@PhilPassmore I was thinking of the bubbles in the middle of having the insulation value. The reflectiveness should send back the light frequencies or at least they'll be absorbed by the cloth, before or after being reflected, and then they'll be radiated if they're infrared and if they're not infrared they'll be converted to infrared and radiated. Yes I was having fun with being extra loquacious.
the answer is not really. because the reflectix is reflecting radiant heat. same thing if you install a radiant barrier under a roof. however, much like in the roof the radiant barrier only works if there is an air gap between the roof and house to eliminate conduction. but that is the brilliance of reflectix--the air barrier is in the bubbles, ie, inside the reflectix. having said that, my concern with this installation is that the reflectix has been cut and separated out, reducing its efficiency by a lot.
I live in a sw facing A frame house, glass galore, it gets soooo hot in here! I hang a towel over my dutch door window in the kitchen in the summer months after 300p when the sun hits the window directly.....I would love something I can fold up and then be put away in the winter. Your design is perfect! Thank you!
Marie, why in the world would you live in an a frame glass house that faces the south? I’m sure there is a solution to help with that situation, like putting up 4 x 8 sheets of foam insulation to make the Inside livable.
@@adobemastr I know right? SW facing and it is for the view of Puget Sound. I have floor to ceiling blackout curtains in the living room area to cover the center four rectangle window sections, that helps somewhat, .I had semi transparent film over the triangle part of the windows but they broke down over time, time to get some new film. The heat is the worst between 2:30p and 5:30pm. I cant complain because I have a killer view, my ex (deceased) won the argument over getting this house 26 years ago and I have to say now, im glad I gave in. My bedroom is my office because of covid-19 and I HAVE to figure something out for that room...I die about 300p...I will look into the insulation. thank you!
marie lynne A couple of months ago I insulated the top of my shipping container with 2 inch sold in 4’ x 8’ foam sheets purchased from Home Depot. It made a world of difference. You might be able to buy 4 inch foam or glue two pieces of the 2 inch foam together to get you 4 inches of insulation for those windows. You will lose your view, but you might be able to remove the foam during the winter months and get your view back if you plan everything out correctly when you install them. I think it would be a doable project and save you the agony of living in a blistering hot A-frame house. And relatively inexpensive. Like anything, it would take planning and research and figuring out the best way to do this.
Nice work! I am curious after a year, how well has the fuseable interfacing held up in extreme heat/cold temperature changes on the windows? Sometimes that application loses it's "stick"
me too. stitchwitch holds up well, but hot glue notsomuch. i would have just ran a seam with a sewing machine. why is everyone afraid of sewing? my mom taught me when i was like 8....
I love this! I do sew and started mine by sewing it, but, I like how you attached it at the top and how it has magnets to hold it up, when you want the cover up, so I will be adjusting mine. Thank you!
Mr Tito- Very slick looking shades but I really recommend custom white marine vinyl exterior shades held on with small suction cups. Put grommets through the vinyl for the suction cup attachments (mine have little metal knurls). They let in some light as well and really cut the heat gain - similar to a Adco windshield cover. But they’re not for block out if that’s your issue. Also try the 1/2 inch foam board insulation at Home Depot. Much less heat absorbing than reflectix. But it’s bulky to store, even divided in pieces. I’m using that in our skylights.
rts I agree and like his setup but the idea of reflective is it reflects the heat. And really who cares what the van looks like on a 100+ degree day - whose standing around criticing it 😂
Reflectix installed the way he did helps block more light as well as providing more insulation value at the windows. If you look at it, he has basically installed it similar to what it would be in an attic or wall installation.
I'm going to try to make these. Thanks for sharing. I don't have any scrap steel but I have a lot of old curtain rods. I snapped off the bendy ends and I have steel bars. Cheap cheap! I did price steel at Lowes and geez the price has jumped up. My windows are longer 58 inches wide so I had to use one whole curtain rod and one half pushed them together and adjusted for my length. Hope this helps others with cost and who don't have alot of tools on hand. I have everything cut out and ready to go for tomorrow. Thanks again!🙂
Love this Tito! French cleat is also brilliant. Never saw that iron-on tape, thats my style too. I see someone recommends Aleene’s. I’ll check it out. Keep ‘em coming Tito!
Beautiful covers! Guys you can just use corregated cardboard rather than wood. Its inside so not supoosed to get wet. Alternattively you could use metal adjustible curtain rods! Great template! Thanks for sharing!
Clearly this could be built on a kitchen table. Home Depot has small dimension wood that would only need to be cut to length, which they offer miter saws to do so freely in the wood trim dept. As he clearly mentioned, threaded rod is a substitute, again freely available at Home Depot. If needed, Harbor Freight or Home Depot has a hacksaw starting at $5 BUT HEY, GOOD ON YOU FOR WHINING AND FINDING STRAW MAN EXCUSES NEVER TO BUILD ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE.
This is the type of man that I would like if I had ever been looking for a man. This is the type right here that I really like. So far I've only heard a couple of sentences and I can tell you that this is a humble man like our Saviour.
The reflectix has very little insulating value. It does reflect a lot of heat to help lower the solar gain through windows. That lowers the a/c requirement and makes the indoor space more comfortable. Reflectix needs to be exposed to accomplish this. It becomes ineffective when covered in fabric.
Wow! What a great idea, I will definitely try this in our trailer. I sew, so I can put it together that way instead of fusible tape but, I will follow the rest of your well thought out plan. Thank you for sharing!
Nope. Just tore off the old blinds and valances and needed a improved replacement. I've slept right up against them during cold and hot weather. Seemed to do an excellent job insulating.
I think the whole point of Reflectix is to REFLECT the light and heat. My guess is that it had better heat reflection when you had the fitted pieces. Nice project though.
Heat is transferred by three ways convection conduction and radiation. Reflectix, if it has a reasonably air tight seal, helps with two of the these. radiation and convection. Drafts are convection
Bravo! I made something like this for my old RV, back in 2003. It was easy and I used velcro instead of magnets. But I like the looks of what you made much better than the ones I made. Stay safe!
The reflective surface of the Reflectix is now covered so it is not reflecting the suns heat back out. It is now acting as an insulated curtain. I am going to do this but I am only going put the cloth on the side facing the interior and just roll it up when the heat from the sun is not an issue.
I’m going to do this with our fifth wheel. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do a black out and the have my beautiful sheer curtains over the top. Now I can with this idea. Thank you for sharing❤
Hard to say. It wouldn't make it past the shade. My non-scientific assumption is that light would still come through the window in either case therefore heating it up. I've also found that the window frame is also a large source of heat. I can say we've used the other blinds in the Arizona desert in direct sun and they worked great. There was no heat transfer on the inside. Thanks for the question.
Well done! Being a sewing enthusiast, I would use Insulbright, instead of Reflectex which is quilt batting with reflective foil inside 2 layers of batting. I like this material because it would be washable. It is most often used for hot pads! You can still use the metal with magnets, and sew channels to make the panels, but the glue tape is a great option as well. Your shade looks great, works great, and for the non-sewist, a great option! 👍👍
Thank you for the tip! I've been waiting for some idea of how to make them washable!
From someone who has been sewing and crafting for 50+ years...this is brilliant! No need to look further for my inspiration. I now know exactly what to do. Thank you so much!
Wow, thank you!
Why cover reflection material, defeated the perpose
@@edgall3627 nope. It accomplished what he wanted. No ugly aluminum or foil like item looking outside or inside and it easily covers or uncovers the window. Mission accomplished.
When you cover the reflective material, you loose the benefit of reflecting the sun away.. therefore not cutting down on as much heat as you could!
But if all you want to do is insulate the window, it works.
Great creative invention. 👌
Because Reflectex is really ugly and cheapens the look of your home on wheels. You paid a lot of money for it, so keep it looking its best!@@edgall3627
Nicely conceived and executed. Extra points for low-key, straightforward videos free of clickbait, fake controversy titles.
Your welcome!! 😀
Crafter tip: Aleene's permanent press glue is the BEST fabric glue on the market. Sometimes fusible webbing breaks down over time.
Thanks a bunch for the tip.
Buy USA when possible
Tear mender is good as well
InstaBlaster.
Thank you for that comment Hannah the RV - I don't have access to work with iron and the webbing and was thinking to try with liquid stitch adhesive - I was looking at Aleene's and Dritz I believe - so now, I'm confident I can do something like this with different materials.
I always learn from you, Brian. You had me at "no sewing", lost me at the table saw :-), and got me back with the French Cleat! Thank you!
Man. I'm having a roller coaster of emotions here 😆
Hahaha, ⚒️📏✒️....😆
This was like watching an episode of "This Old House" - RV Style! Love it.
Haha. "This Old RV"
i was very excited to discover this video. Two years ago, I bought a 75-year-old frame house. I have pondered how I could afford some energy-saving window treatments for my home to replace the mini-blinds and vertical blinds.. After much research and brainstorming, I finally have the answer! Thank you very, very much.! I am confident I can make this work for larger and longer house windows. I will be sewing seams instead of fusing and I will use larger magnets and refectives. I might even make the curtains reversible for variety.
I hope to get them all done before November. I let you know how it works out.
Yes! I'd love to see how those turn out.
Very good idea. A past owner left a log of the silver window fold up heat blockers like new in the Dinette seat storage. Will this is something I could use them for. However about 14 years ago I bought 75 feet of 48" double bubble insulation with the silver one side white the other. I cut into widths to fit between the supports under my 24' covered patio about 10' roof. Stapled velcro pieces on he underside then to hold velcro matching tabs on the vinyl. So I had an 8 foot run. White side down to lighten the patio too. Silver side up to reflect heat. Man when you put your hand on roof area with no double bubble and with it's unbelievable cooler. So I also bought these quilted silver thick space like blanket things. Very soft and squishy and does this too. I made window coverings for my tent's fly windows I sewed into my fly so I had 360 view from my tent when inside tent. I made one side of the window with matching tent nylon fabric and other side totally reversible with the silver quilted material facing out. I can't believe myself how great this turned out. I bought more of these blankets on sale and made myself a sweat suit for Fascia Blasting...don't ask. A phase I went through. So I still have like 4 of these blankets about brand new and I also have about 40 feet of the double bubble and it too is not crunch sounding like what you are playing with. You are definitely on to something here though and having sewin over 60 years starting at age 12 my favorite sewing is utilitarian and I'd have no problem sewing your black out curtains into shades with my reflective material that's a space blanket only quilted and soft and easy to sew and handle and doesn't make much if any noise. Also a hint for non sewers the silver like aluminum heat tape works great for seaming this reflective material. I covered our favorite 50 year old cooler including a hinged lid in double bubble doubled so it has the silver facing inside and out and two sets of the double bubble to make four layers. It came out amazing even looked cool as if you could buy something like it which I've never seen one. Anyway used the silver tape 2 maybe 4 inch wide I no longer recall the width without going out to check. It's been over 10 years ago. But I do love my double bubble and love finding uses for it and the softer hand material like space blanket but much stronger and easy to handle than the single layer space blanket. A lot of merit to you and making this video to share your idea. Love it and gets the DIY juices flowing.
When using an iron to heat up those bonding strips there's no need to use steam. The steam wets the material and then when it is exposed it cools quickly because it's wet.
Just apply a hot iron works twice as fast.
Exactly!
When we worked in Las Vegas in the summer with 120 degree weather, living in an RV, we learned very quickly about Reflectix. We just cut it to fit the windows & stuffed it in. It made the RV much cooler with both roof top ACs running full blast. Great stuff that Reflectix. Wish I owned stock in the company.
This is exactly what I’m about to do in our RV. Thanks so much for the tutorial! It gives me a lot of good information to work with. My only suggestion would be to use pinking shears instead of scissors to cut your fabric. This goes a long way towards stopping fraying but, if you’re still worried about it, you can use a product called Fray Check, or just a thin strip of hot glue on the edges. I don’t like burning the edges because, with my luck, I’d set fire to the whole place! Thanks again!
Before you do, check out how heat transfer works. There are three ways heat is transmitted, radiation, conduction and convection. For optimal insulation in summer you want to reflect the sunlight out of the window. In winter when the sun does not shine you want low emissivity. This means in both cases you want the reflective foil exposed to the outside. If you cover it with cloth the radiative barrier effect is strongly reduced (only a bit inside the bubble wrap). To get the most ensure an air gap exists between the reflective foil and the next material (window or curtain) of at least half an inch. No need to go over 8/10th of an inch. If the air gap is wider you get more convection in the air gap. If the air gap is smaller you get more conduction via the air. The solution in this video does something but probably less than 50% of what can be achieved with the same materials. You can also get better results by minimizing draft around the curtain. This may also limit condensation against the window when it is really cold outside.
Was wondering about this the whole video Ted, what would you recommend for RV window insulation then if we don’t care what it looks like and just want maximum efficiency?
@@DRader150 In summer a single layer of reflective foil to maximise reflection of sunlight out of the window and minimize radiation into the RV. You can mount this flush to the window. Beauty of that is that during the day you can still see through the foil. Acts like mirror sunglasses. Be mindful that you don't create areas along the window where you get both reflected sunlight and direct sunlight. That can become too hot. Also don't do this at home on high efficiency double glazing with heat reflective coatings. those windows may get too warm. In winter you want the same but with one or more airgaps of 0.5 inch. Since in summer light and heat radiation is often dominant you don't have to worry too much about airflow around the edges. This is if you are ok with getting ambient temperatures inside the RV. If you have AC in your RV an air tight air gab is saving energy. In winter, convection is much more relevant because there is always a difference between inside and outside temperatures. So in addition to the reflective foils you want to ensure there is an airtight air gab, so no (or minimal) draft around the edges. Way to do this is with velcro, magnetic strips like those used in a fridge (guess why), or with nanotape or the like. Some tape that allows endless removal and reapplication. To create the airgaps you can put the foil around he window or use thick bubblewrap with reflective foil on both sides. If your airgap is not airtight in winter you will get condensation against the cold window if you add moister to the air in the RV. Keep an eye on it and if needed allow it to dry daily, allow it to drain or make he airgap airtight. No need to insulate windows much better than the rest of the RV. In summer best a good way to keep heat out creating shadow on your roof. There you want at least a 6 inch gap to allow the wind to blow away warm air that accumulates under whatever creates the shadow. If in summer you want to occasionally keep something at ambient temperatures in the sun buy a piece of pure white Tyvek or another brand of spunbonded polypropylene (not polyethylene). This is super reflective white. You have to wear sunglasses for eye protection.
@@TheTEDfan dang thanks a lot for the detailed explanation, copied it down and will likely get to work on this tmw then. Appreciate ya!
I love videos that are done in silence, where you can just peacefully watch something being made, 😉 👍 of course your description is totally appreciated then ah, the silent demonstration. Yessss. Beautifully thought out and executed. How has it work to block heat or cold with just the pieces of R. Rather than full sheet? Im sure like a dream..
I appreciate that feedback. Yes. It's been working great. I've made three of them now and have used them all winter with full sun in Arizona. The downside is that we sleep in too long because it's super dark in our bedroom :)
Must be a guy thing. I am used to crafting videos with almost incessant chatter...sometimes nice and helpful, but sometimes makes my teeth grind!
@@RVwithTito Personally, I would have appreciated, not incessant chatter, but a little bit of instruction as you were going to explain what you were doing. That being said, I love the shades.
Even though it's just a blind, once again your work comprises of ingenuous design features and functionality, thanks for another great video!
You bet. Those blinds have worked out great for us. 👍Thanks for the comment!
How ingenious and a “no sew” - neat and attractive !
I love it and with the double darkening material plus the reflectix you have solved your temp problem , AND the convenience of light access. Thanks for sharing this cool idea...yep ! you did it again !!!
You've inspired me! I'm considering a larger version of this for my home windows that have the vertical sliders. The weather comes right through them , but especially noticeable during extreme weather. I think this will work nicely!
Sounds great! I can feel your wheels spinning :) Good luck with the project.
Just brilliant. I was totally hypnotized.. And the added bonus was that you 'talked less'; letting your work do the speaking. THANK YOU!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! Love the feedback. Thanks.
Hacksaw blades are designed to cut in one direction, forward. When you apply pressure pulling the blade back-and-forth you're just heating up the blade and dulling it.
Just appy light pressure going forward and a lifting action coming back cuts the material faster and cleaner.
Thank you very much for your expertise👍 I needed it
I never knew this!
Same with a file. Only cuts in one direction.
This is a great idea. AND, if you want your windows to still match your upholstery, you could probably devise a way that this window covering is behind your decorative curtains, and only visible when needed.
Blackout curtains come in every color imaginable.
Very clever. And it fits snugly up against the window so no light gets in. Fantastic!
Works great. We're lovin them. Of course, we sleep in too much now.
If you added magnets to the bottom, your design would work well for vans that have sloped windows. Thanks for the video!
That would be a great addition to this. Thanks.
I have done this to my minivan..not as fancy or detailed but reflectix inside my black out curtains then held up with magnets all the way around😉👍✌
There are flexible strips of magnets, or you could also cut your own out of the magnet sheets that are used for DIY projects all the time. If you've got a sewing machine with a little beef in the engine, you can even sew THROUGH it with a 16 needle! That way you could get a really good seal all the way around van and car windows!
Brian, I love them! I would only add maybe some strips of magnet tape around the windows with steal in the sides of the curtains or Velcro around the perimeter of both to keep them tight against the wall. Great work!
I'm with Haven On Wheels. You really "nailed it" with this "no sew" shade! I enjoy watching your videos. Thank you Brian! 🤓 👍
Glad you liked it. Cheers! Brian
I love how this also creates an air gap, should be very effective that way.
Brilliant! The first video of yours I have watched. First of many, I'm sure. Thanks for the great idea!
Thanks for watching! Enjoy.
Brilliant Tito, you make me miss my camper even more. Northern Michigan in the old pine logging and hunting area was my Fortress of Solitude spot, just a turn off any fire access path and there you are.
Thank you for another possible retirement plan ...
Hope you get there soon. Cheers Gary.
Wow, this is a fabulous idea. I also like the way they are attached to the wall. If only we had a full workshop to make it even easier to create them. I see a winter project in our future. Thanks.
I love this and bookmarked it for when we get our used rv. I won't worry about hating the fabric on the windows because this is a great way to replace them all, and it's an improvement with the reflective material inside.
This curtain is sheer genius! Very inspiring to make new curtains for my Class C RV. It need not be difficult.
:) Glad you liked it!
Wow, this is great! We are going to replace those horrible metal blinds in our little Casita with these! Live in Tucson, AZ so appreciate incorporating the reflective piece in these shades! I even like your tip on the Walmart curtains to use!
It has certainly worked great for us in Southern AZ. Yes using those curtains saved me a ton.
Nice job and very functional. I wonder how it would work if you did one continuous piece of reflectix and rolled it up instead of folding it up. You could fab a cord system to roll it up to any height you wanted.
ALWAYS, always providing energy and money saving tips.. RV with Tito DIY is THE best !!
For me, Brian's videos are a lot like watching "5-minute crafts" TH-cam channel. When he does it, it turns out, works, and looks like a professional item, that you may have purchased for a lot of money at a boutique shop. When I do it with the same tools and time, it looks like a kindergarten craft project gone horribly wrong. I'm like, I have the same tools, a good-sized shop, a degree in Industriel Technology, I taught High School shop class, and I feel woefully inadequate when I watch him work.
Thanks for the video, Brian! I was just camping in our Class A in the Outer Banks of NC, and my draw curtain over the front and driver's side window is horribly inefficient in keeping the heat out and the cold in. This looks like something I will try across the front, and see how it works.
You're too kind. My goal with projects has always been to try and make it look like it came that way. That often means more thinking, practice and experimentation before building the final product. In the end it's worthwhile. Thanks for the kind words!
Thank you so much for this comment as I am now laughing so much it's difficult to type!! I agree 100%
Pretty good idea. I took a $7 roller shade and replaced the shade part with faux ultra suede, ironed on a semi stiff white interfacing to the back. From the outside they are white, inside is a caramel color. Can be done without any sewing too. I sew so turned the sides and bottom edges over and top stitched. Won't work for tall windows as the material is too thick for the roller but for most RV kitchen and bedroom windows works fine. Was able to match the bed quilt this way. The store bought shade is only for harvesting the hardware, any thrift store shade will work. Remove the non spring end plug and cut the roller tube to the width you need, replace the end plug.
Nice! Thanks for sharing that.
UNBELIEVABLE! Tito, you are AMAZING! You should patent this! I would never be able to do this! There were a lot of steps but so worth it! Have you ever thought about building Tiny Homes? I’ve been watching Randy Jones who owns Incredible Tiny Homes. He is looking for carpenters. I feel you would be a great addition to his company. I honestly feel you would make a huge impact on this company and/or this Tiny Home Industry. Your knowledge and your work is so amazing to watch! Not to mention how organized and clean your work is as well. Seriously, have you ever thought of building a Tiny Home? Have you ever heard of Randy Jones? I love his YT Channel and his personal story. I would love to know how you feel about this... I would love for you to build me a Tiny Home!!! Thank you so much for sharing your great talents, you are amazing!🙏🏻
Thanks for the kudos. Sure. Building a tiny home is something that would be fun if I had the need. Right now I'd go for a solar powered shed near the RV. At one point, when my son was younger, he said I want to build a tiny home in the yard and live there :) Of course I would have helped. I'll check out Randy Jones. Thx.
Well here is an Idea too...Even if you don't build tiny's under Randy's Franchise of ITH, you could definitely create inventory to sell for those who live in Tiny homes (ie... inventory such as your blinds & other great ideas for home decor!)
That is a great idea. Your window treatments look Soo much better than what the rigs come with. They make so much sense. Thank you for sharing.
This is brilliant. We have an older RV and replacing the window treatments has been a challenge to figure out since we need the reflectix also. I love this and plan on making these!
Thanks. Still love them. They're perfect.
Yea! Pretty slick.
I did a similar thing with those magnetic roof-vent covers, where I removed the bezels, installed super strong magnets around the perimeter of the flashing. That eliminated the need for the adhesive velcro that comes with said product. Now, the magnetic covers simply cling to the bezel and you can still open them halfway, as designed by the mfgr.
Bill, Seal Beach CA
This is brilliant. I've been trying to sort out in my head something like this for our trailer but even better I think this is going to work in my living room for those really hot days!!
They've been working pretty well so far keeping most of the heat out.
@@RVwithTito i put some up in our living room for this horrendous heatwave we're in in SoCal and it's really truly been saving us!! I got a huge roll so I could make something for our new trailer as well. Not sure our windows are big enough for this trick, going to see if I can modify!
Thank you for this idea. I sewed mine as I don't have a lot of faith in iron on hemming tape for lasting. This is such a good idea and I love mine. I struggled to find flat stock so we cut 2 inch wide strips of metal roofing flashing and hot glued that to the reflectix. That worked well.
Nice! We found some other insullated material to use as well thats not crinkly. More than one way to do it 👍😀
Great Job, functional, no light in, and saving temp...I like the design as well...
I'm glad you like it. Thanks!
Wasn’t expecting it to turn out that nice it’s a really good idea
Nice one, I'm doing something similar. Did you consider installing the magnets on your ceiling / cupboard overhang so that you can lift the blind completely above the window and not obstruct ant view out of the window when the blind is opened? That would be important for me as losing the top 20% visibility out of the window would affect a lot of my view in my ford transit camper conversion. Thanks for the share.
I could just lift the blind off to have an unobstructed window :)
Another excellent, home grown solution to a real issue that almost everyone deals with in RVs... Great idea Btian!
Thanks Jim.
A lovely product beautifully produced in a workshop with a lot of wonderful tools. I think a full time nomad in RV or van would have a harder time of it to make this , yet can adapt the general idea. I like it.
You could certainly do this easily with very basic tools, and of course and iron.
Maybe you could add really small magnets on the sides of the blind. Also on the bottom, clicks right on the windows frame. Absolute rock solid light blocking shade. Good job.
There's a fabric that has about 5 layers to it already made with some sort of foil in it. You then add what exterior fabric you want.
I do like what you did!
Thanks for the info!
Thats an excellent idea, do it once, do it right and you never have to do it again. Very nice work and attention to detail!
Thank you very much!
This is ingenious!! Thank you so much. I'm going to show my sister who's helping me make mine!!
Go Sis! :)
Best idea I've seen! They look sophisticated, neat and trim!
Thanks so much!
Instead of using a crunchy reflectics you could have used a closed cell foam. It's available in 1/8", or 3/16" or 1/4" and it offers a much greater R value then reflectics. It would help the fold up lines to fit the window better and not sound so crunchy when doing so.
reflectix blocks cut radiative heat loss... Closed foam is just insulation (maybe better for cold applications) and does nothing for reflecting the heat back out the window.
@@151mcxI was thinking something similar in that by placing the reflective material inside the cloth isn’t that defeating the purpose of reflecting the suns rays away from the window thus keeping the inside cooler? Since the curtains are already black out, the reflective isn’t aiding in blocking out the light. But it does make for a nice hanging window treatment.
@@151mcx Wrapping the foil in fabric completely negates the ability of the Reflectix to block radiant heat, unfortunately. Radiant barriers need an air space of at least half an inch to function. The curtain idea will retain the insulation in the Reflectix (the air pockets), but none of the reflective properties are intact.
What a great window covering! Everything you need and nothing that your don't!
Thanks! Yes...Just right. Much better than the old blinds 👍
It would be awesome if we had the tools, knowledge and motivation to make those.
Very nice design!
Bravo!! You took insulating windows to a new level.
Nice insulated shades for the RV. I like the magnetic idea. Great job 👍
Thanks! 👍
I was just looking at my windows in my aged rv and wanted them insulated without having silver stuff in all my windows. This is absolutely perfect. Thanks for sharing.
I love your idea, use of French cleats to hang, and utilizing the blackout curtain. Great job. I assume the “vapor barrier” product (white on one side, bubble wrap type material” that I have on hand would work as well as the reflectix. Thanks for sharing your idea.
the answer to your vapor barrier question is "no!" emphatically. yes bubbles trap air, but only reflectix reflects the radiant heat (ps - because of its construction reflectix works to keep heat out and to keep it in, so it is 365-proof. bubble wrap is only good for winter, and far inferior. properly-installed reflectix can give r-values of 20+.)
I am a newbie, living in my RV and I just found your channel !
I love your videos !
Awesome! Welcome to the channel. Hope you find some useful stuff here.
I love the way you cut out the fat and get to the meat and potatoes! Also, no corny music!
Makes me hungry. Thanks a bunch for that feedback. Much appreciated!
One of the most professional looking projects I've seen, most people seem to be ok with just throwing up some reflectix up and looking like a crazy person with tinfoil on their windows.
Brilliant! Had no problems following what you did.
We gotta get you cloned man! Cheers 🍻
Cloned...that would be interesting :)
RV with Tito DIY could be confusing for your wife.....but as Ikea says “...think of the endless possibilities!”, Lol.
Way to go Tito! Sewing with tape and glue! You have opened my mind to myriad possibilities. Thanks!👍🤠🇺🇸🙏✝️
It's the way to go...for me. Glad you enjoyed it!
Cool idea! Pun intended ;) You might want to put a disclaimer in somewhere that if you have a dual pane window to never put reflecting material right on your windows. It will create heat in between the panes and could either ruin the airtight seal or blow the window apart. Best to do like you are doing and have the insulated material away from the glass to create an air space for it to circulate better
Didn't know that. Thanks for mentioning it.
New...you’re videos have helped me out many times! You’re doing a great job! Keep them coming!!
Wow First I've heard of that, And so many people are using reflective panels that way, eeeek !
@@sophiajoyceferry7150 What makes show you so sure it’s true because one stranger says it?
@@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath Sorry what!
What makes show you so sure it's true.
What the ?
This is a really neat idea, and correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't blocking the reflective serface with fabric reduce its effectiveness?
That’s awesome. Definitely on my list for the bedroom. Great way to control the temperature and sunlight. Thanks for sharing.
You bet!
You have just given me a great idea for my 6 huge windows in the front of my house, in Florida. I sew, so I was confused about what you were doing but the end result is great! Thanks for the ideas!
We have roller shades in the front which work great and we can still see out. I had to teach myself how to use a sewing machine many years ago. I was able to modify a few curtains, but it wasn't pretty. I'm pretty good with an iron though :)
@@RVwithTito haha, yes you are!!
You'll ruin the reflective value of the Mylar coating by putting another material over it, so in this application I would be tempted to use rigid insulation like pink board, instead of filling with Reflectix. Or you could just stuff it with regular bubble wrap or cardboard.
Also, if you are concerned with heat loss, you might want to use black material, as black tends to be very effective T retaining heat. While if you want to shed heat, you want the outer surface to be either white or reflective. To me it seems like the best way then is two sides, one white and one black, so you can switch it with he seasons.
Brilliant! Sadly ignored by the builder and others here.
Ruining the effect of reflecting heat, is not possible. If that assumption was correct then no form of wall insulation would work. Reflectex was developed as tank insulation (covered) and also works well in wall spaces were you include an air space between insulation layers. Also does not have an R value, but instead, a percentage of reflected heat, dependent on installation direction.
Always someone who wants to complicate matters. I prefer his way. You do your way.
Wow really creative! I’m so impressed by people who think about all these details! 😮
Why use reflectix? It would seem that you'd loose the value of the reflective material when you wrap it in cloth. Why not use thin styrofoam or foamboard instead?
Yeah. Other materials would work just as well but would make it more rigid is all.
Actually, the reflective layer will still add value. It doesn't let any light penetrate from one side to the other. And it reflects back all the light, including infrared (heat waves). I'm going to use this for my house in a roman shade.
@@jazztocountry1047 I thought you needed an air gap for any reflective material to have an insulation benefit?
@@PhilPassmore I was thinking of the bubbles in the middle of having the insulation value. The reflectiveness should send back the light frequencies or at least they'll be absorbed by the cloth, before or after being reflected, and then they'll be radiated if they're infrared and if they're not infrared they'll be converted to infrared and radiated. Yes I was having fun with being extra loquacious.
You could sandwich a piece of fluted board between two pieces of relextixs to get the R value.
FINALLY a decent LOOKING reflectix curtain/cover!!! Thank you!!!
You're so welcome. We really love them.
Awesome idea! I like how the Reflectix is out of sight. Does having it inside the curtain affect how much sunlight is reflected back? Just curious.
I was wondering that also
the answer is not really. because the reflectix is reflecting radiant heat. same thing if you install a radiant barrier under a roof. however, much like in the roof the radiant barrier only works if there is an air gap between the roof and house to eliminate conduction. but that is the brilliance of reflectix--the air barrier is in the bubbles, ie, inside the reflectix. having said that, my concern with this installation is that the reflectix has been cut and separated out, reducing its efficiency by a lot.
I live in a sw facing A frame house, glass galore, it gets soooo hot in here! I hang a towel over my dutch door window in the kitchen in the summer months after 300p when the sun hits the window directly.....I would love something I can fold up and then be put away in the winter. Your design is perfect! Thank you!
Oh wow! I hope it works. Good luck.
Marie, why in the world would you live in an a frame glass house that faces the south? I’m sure there is a solution to help with that situation, like putting up 4 x 8 sheets of foam insulation to make the Inside livable.
@@adobemastr I know right? SW facing and it is for the view of Puget Sound. I have floor to ceiling blackout curtains in the living room area to cover the center four rectangle window sections, that helps somewhat, .I had semi transparent film over the triangle part of the windows but they broke down over time, time to get some new film. The heat is the worst between 2:30p and 5:30pm. I cant complain because I have a killer view, my ex (deceased) won the argument over getting this house 26 years ago and I have to say now, im glad I gave in.
My bedroom is my office because of covid-19 and I HAVE to figure something out for that room...I die about 300p...I will look into the insulation. thank you!
marie lynne A couple of months ago I insulated the top of my shipping container with 2 inch sold in 4’ x 8’ foam sheets purchased from Home Depot. It made a world of difference. You might be able to buy 4 inch foam or glue two pieces of the 2 inch foam together to get you 4 inches of insulation for those windows. You will lose your view, but you might be able to remove the foam during the winter months and get your view back if you plan everything out correctly when you install them. I think it would be a doable project and save you the agony of living in a blistering hot A-frame house. And relatively inexpensive. Like anything, it would take planning and research and figuring out the best way to do this.
Nice work! I am curious after a year, how well has the fuseable interfacing held up in extreme heat/cold temperature changes on the windows? Sometimes that application loses it's "stick"
me too. stitchwitch holds up well, but hot glue notsomuch. i would have just ran a seam with a sewing machine. why is everyone afraid of sewing? my mom taught me when i was like 8....
I love this! I do sew and started mine by sewing it, but, I like how you attached it at the top and how it has magnets to hold it up, when you want the cover up, so I will be adjusting mine. Thank you!
Tk you so much - I was just going to go to Amazon & buy some reflectixs and ur vid came up on my feed! Great tks again!
You’re welcome 😊
Mr Tito- Very slick looking shades but I really recommend custom white marine vinyl exterior shades held on with small suction cups. Put grommets through the vinyl for the suction cup attachments (mine have little metal knurls). They let in some light as well and really cut the heat gain - similar to a Adco windshield cover. But they’re not for block out if that’s your issue. Also try the 1/2 inch foam board insulation at Home Depot. Much less heat absorbing than reflectix. But it’s bulky to store, even divided in pieces. I’m using that in our skylights.
Thanks for the suggestions.
You mean you don't like the rv looking like a mobile, desert shanti with reflectex as the primary focal point?
😃
rts I agree and like his setup but the idea of reflective is it reflects the heat. And really who cares what the van looks like on a 100+ degree day - whose standing around criticing it 😂
i prefer the shanty look, personally. more shanty = more shandy.
And there ya have it! The answer for insulated window treatments even I can make. Thanks Tito!
You're welcome!
The greatest value in reflectix is the silver paper that reflects radiated heat. Cover that up with cloth and you might as well use bubble wrap.
Exactly my point.
And needs to be outside, before the sun rays hit the glass windows 🤨
Reflectix installed the way he did helps block more light as well as providing more insulation value at the windows. If you look at it, he has basically installed it similar to what it would be in an attic or wall installation.
@@KarenFuchsbichler ehst
@@Tonyrd3000 I agree. It is used as insulation in this case.
I'm going to try to make these. Thanks for sharing. I don't have any scrap steel but I have a lot of old curtain rods. I snapped off the bendy ends and I have steel bars. Cheap cheap! I did price steel at Lowes and geez the price has jumped up. My windows are longer 58 inches wide so I had to use one whole curtain rod and one half pushed them together and adjusted for my length. Hope this helps others with cost and who don't have alot of tools on hand. I have everything cut out and ready to go for tomorrow. Thanks again!🙂
Good luck!
Thats pretty nice, thinking about a lot of magnetic stuff for my build
Magnets are great especially for window coverings.
RV with Tito DIY I see that. I am doing a van build so it’s a bit different from yours but I appreciate your videos they give me ideas and goals.
+ a couple of those button magnets on wall , at bottom ( attached with some sort of command tape ) to hold curtain down when in transport.
Love this Tito! French cleat is also brilliant. Never saw that iron-on tape, thats my style too. I see someone recommends Aleene’s. I’ll check it out. Keep ‘em coming Tito!
That is really cool, love it ! Great job !
Hey thanks!
What a concept! Thank you! The french cleat is new to me - bonus - and the rest is so adaptable for any DIYer.
Take it and run with it. 👍
Nice job, I also wish you would have explained a lil more, even tho you showed us exactly how you did it.
An inventor cannot give away all his intellectual property. 😍
Beautiful covers! Guys you can just use corregated cardboard rather than wood. Its inside so not supoosed to get wet. Alternattively you could use metal adjustible curtain rods! Great template! Thanks for sharing!
No sewing! Great! Now, all I need to do is build a shop, buy a table saw, and find a bucket of scrap steel. OK! I’m on it.
Yep, my thoughts. But fun to watch:-)
Lol yr funny, I know what you mean though, Yeah a tad too many tools and fiddling around involved for sure.
Clearly this could be built on a kitchen table.
Home Depot has small dimension wood that would only need to be cut to length, which they offer miter saws to do so freely in the wood trim dept.
As he clearly mentioned, threaded rod is a substitute, again freely available at Home Depot. If needed, Harbor Freight or Home Depot has a hacksaw starting at $5
BUT HEY, GOOD ON YOU FOR WHINING AND FINDING STRAW MAN EXCUSES NEVER TO BUILD ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE.
I am here watching saying the same thing lol 😆
@@NaomiEvolved - That you don't need all that to build this???
This is the type of man that I would like if I had ever been looking for a man. This is the type right here that I really like. So far I've only heard a couple of sentences and I can tell you that this is a humble man like our Saviour.
😂
The reflectix has very little insulating value. It does reflect a lot of heat to help lower the solar gain through windows. That lowers the a/c requirement and makes the indoor space more comfortable.
Reflectix needs to be exposed to accomplish this. It becomes ineffective when covered in fabric.
Lays it out. Thanks.
Yeah that is what I was thinking. Where is the air gap and how would you wash those curtains.
Patricia Peters Have you ever washed the shades that come with your rv ? 🙃
G Keller I have black out curtains and do need washing. Any cloth is going to get dirty.
Jeff Butts , Go check out the properties of Reflectix on their website. It does not need to be exposed to light. It is also a radiant barrier.
Wow! What a great idea, I will definitely try this in our trailer. I sew, so I can put it together that way instead of fusible tape but, I will follow the rest of your well thought out plan. Thank you for sharing!
You're welcome. Make it your own. We like being able to get rid of the valance and sides for more open space.
Clever! Did you use your thermal gun before and after to see how effective they are at blocking heat from getting in?
Nope. Just tore off the old blinds and valances and needed a improved replacement. I've slept right up against them during cold and hot weather. Seemed to do an excellent job insulating.
@@RVwithTito well, either way, innovative, as usual!
wow, just wow, i've been trying to come up with a way to blackout 2 windows on my older camper and this helps 100%
thank you
Sweet! Give it a go.
I think the whole point of Reflectix is to REFLECT the light and heat. My guess is that it had better heat reflection when you had the fitted pieces. Nice project though.
I don't understand you...
Heat is transferred by three ways convection conduction and radiation. Reflectix, if it has a reasonably air tight seal, helps with two of the these. radiation and convection. Drafts are convection
Bravo! I made something like this for my old RV, back in 2003. It was easy and I used velcro instead of magnets. But I like the looks of what you made much better than the ones I made. Stay safe!
I wanted to see how it looked from the outside looking in.
Would. Have been nice to see what the whole room looked like also
The reflective surface of the Reflectix is now covered so it is not reflecting the suns heat back out. It is now acting as an insulated curtain. I am going to do this but I am only going put the cloth on the side facing the interior and just roll it up when the heat from the sun is not an issue.
Sure. Modify the setup any way you see fit. It should work. The window will probably still get hot since the reflectix is on the inside.
No sewing. Great.
Then I see there's ironing involved.
Oh dear.
Seriously, great job.
Use self adhesive velcro instead!
My worry is measuring! I cannot ever seem to get measurements correct!
ROFL... this comment made my day (I teach sewing)...lol
I’m going to do this with our fifth wheel. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do a black out and the have my beautiful sheer curtains over the top. Now I can with this idea. Thank you for sharing❤
Looks great! One question, do you lose any of the heat rejecting capabilities by covering the reflective material with cloth?
Hard to say. It wouldn't make it past the shade. My non-scientific assumption is that light would still come through the window in either case therefore heating it up. I've also found that the window frame is also a large source of heat. I can say we've used the other blinds in the Arizona desert in direct sun and they worked great. There was no heat transfer on the inside. Thanks for the question.
RV with Tito DIY that is good news...this is a much nicer solution!
so smart, never thought to use blackout curtains for these. Thank you!!
The only downside is that we always sleep in :)