trellis thing for excluding cats?

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trellis thing for excluding cats?
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wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 16 6:57 pm Post subject:
Nope. It's just not done here. I've no idea why. It's not like we don't have insects. My caravan has window screens and a screen door. I think they are brilliant, and my next house is having both. But most Brits have never come across them.

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 16 8:55 pm Post subject:

My guess would be that
a) The summers are shorter and often cooler
b) Most windows open outwards.
c) British house building is conservative and always does things the same way

I've fancied shutters on a house - for winter warmth apart from anything else - but would have to re-do every window to open inwards. ANd then we couldn't have house plants on the window sill.

We could make a frame - as in we have the skills - just not the time. To expand a little - its not for us, its for someone who doesn't like cats and has no DIY skills.

We have wall to wall cats - well, four cats - seems like wall to wall, and up the wall.

@ Slim - so that is a cat hanging on a screen door? Do they climb up there? Or jump? or is that a whoopsie and it is stuck?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 16 10:12 pm Post subject:
I'm going to have inside shutters when I get round to it. They come up on fleabay quite often, but I have very oddly sized windows.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6614
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 16 10:48 pm Post subject:

That photo isn't mine, though I could recreate it this summer with my big fat orange tabby

Mutton wrote:

@ Slim - so that is a cat hanging on a screen door? Do they climb up there?

Yes

Mutton wrote:

Or jump?

Yes

Mutton wrote:

or is that a whoopsie and it is stuck?

Yes

Some cats climb up screens because they want to let you know that they'd like to be on the other side of it, and some just like to hang out and look at what's going on outside. Sometimes their claws get a little stuck. It's less cute when the cats get larger and start ripping through nylon screens. I added hardware cloth to the inside of my neighbor's screen door because their cat was ripping through the nylon screen.

I think most American windows are double hung so you just slide the window up and it makes sense to have a screen in place.

Shutters are pretty much exclusively ornamental here. Can someone elaborate how they help with energy savings? Is it any more than good curtains would?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 12:16 am Post subject:
No idea, I just like them. Would you really need to change the windows? Would you ever want the windows open and the shutters shut?

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6614
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 12:28 am Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

No idea, I just like them.

Would you really need to change the windows? Would you ever want the windows open and the shutters shut?

But can you open the windows to open the shutters if they're already shut?

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 3:05 am Post subject:
Our thermopane windows crank to open outwards. We also have screens - they fit the windows on the inside. And if a cat wants out, why then it will get out https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3524111/The-ultimate-cat-burglar-Crafty-feline-figures-ingenious-way-squeeze-seemingly-impenetrable-locked-door-Bangkok.html

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 9:39 am Post subject:

Great link JL - by the way "thermopane window" is that what I'd call double glazing?

As to external shutters - you need to have inward opening casement windows or sash windows to be able to fasten/unfasten the shutters from inside the house, rather than outside. If no internal access to the fastening on the shutters then you'd be trapped in the house if it caught fire when the shutters are closed across the window.

I grew up in a house with single glazed sash windows and internal wooden shutters that fitted closely over the window. Far more effective than curtains.

I could put internal shutters on our windows in our modern house - but then I couldn't have houseplants on the window sills. So I fancy, one day, having thick external shutters that close over the windows, properly fitted with no draughts round the edges, so that they will increase the insulation. Won't ever happen in reality unless I suddenly have lots of money to pay a carpenter to do them. Probably would need a frame around the window too, for the "close fitting draught free" bit. Not enough time in the year, other things have priority (like the animals, planting more trees, finishing the raspberry bed etc etc) but it would be nice. Though would need to swap to sash windows of some sort, so I can open the shutters from inside the house AND still have houseplants on the window sill.
Still dreaming.....

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 2:09 pm Post subject:

Mutton, what I call "thermopane" has two panes of glass with a very narrow gap between, framed as a single unit.

Mr Jam Lord likes the crank-out style of window very much as they seal tight. I dislike them as cleaning the outside of the windows on the upper story is awkward to say the least.

Small air gap insulates better than a wider one. For windows on the colder side of the house I have simple fleece curtains - one piece just a little wider than the window that are pulled close at night, using a tension rod that fits between sides of window frame. Decorative curtains in addition on rods outside the window frame.

The nice thing with fleece is that it doesn't need to be hemmed, just cut to size with scissors. I used white and off white but fleece is available in many colors. Clip-on curtain rings make it easy peasy.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 4:52 pm Post subject:
Back to trellis... Do you have anything like this that could fit in the gap?

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 7:46 pm Post subject:
I think your idea of a gap-filling screen with partially open door will be difficult - how do you keep the solid door from moving and becoming more open. Here's a pop-fit, dowel and screen version: https://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Screen-Door/?ALLSTEPS

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 8:09 pm Post subject:
Is it worth looking at motor home or caravan screen doors? They've had them for ages, so there might be different models and sizes to suit. I'm guessing this is too big? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Xpanda-Trellis-Security-expanding-lattice/dp/B01BQ7OB9G?ie=UTF8&keywords=Lattice%20security%20door&qid=1460750915&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 8:27 pm Post subject:
Looks like a cat could saunter right through

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 16 10:41 pm Post subject:
I imagine so, too. But I'm guessing that's the sort of thing you want with smaller holes?

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 16 3:00 pm Post subject:

Jam Lady wrote:

I think your idea of a gap-filling screen with partially open door will be difficult - how do you keep the solid door from moving and becoming more open.

Here's a pop-fit, dowel and screen version: https://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Screen-Door/?ALLSTEPS

Sliding patio doors are heavy and don't tend to move on their own.

@ww - um - sort of. That is fixed to the door frame and was really looking for something that you'd stand inside the patio door frame when you slide the door open. So open the door a set amount, stand "thing" in the gap, pull door a fraction more closed to wedge it. Same principle as the window ones for dogs.

But I think this does all say there is nothing commercial. Thanks folks

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