Semi transparent roller blinds are pretty effective. Plain ones are relatively cheap but do think about colour as it will put a slight cast on. I have two windows with them on, more to combat glare than heat in my case. One a sort of beige and one a light yellow which don't, to my eyes, make much difference for normal activities but I have clear windows on the other walls. Probably not good if you have to match paint colours tho'. Free from the "too good to bin" shop.

What insulation do you have in your roof! Its counter intuitive but insulation in the roof and ceiling, if you have one, makes a difference in this sort of situation. Most especially if its a simple metal roof.

Clive.

Not knowing what is outside the shed may make this suggestion redundant but what about some sort of pergola outside the window. Think slatted roof supported on legs. If you are intelligent with the angle of the slats you can create shade when the sun is at it's highest and hottest and still allow prenty of light into the workshop without spoiling the view.

Failing that you could just block the windows up and use the wall space.

I'll swap you mine- N Scotland. Well somebody had to be first.

Michael – My shop sounds much like yours. The floor to roof glass windows are on south side of the building. On the inside of the building this expanse of glass is masked with several layers of decorators dust sheets which cut down on the glare. During hot weather both south facing doors are opened, and the two narrow vent windows on the back wall are also opened which makes for a nice through draught. I spent some valuable beer tokens on aluminium chain screens for the two open doors, this cuts down on direct sunlight and keeps the critters at bay. All of this means that the shop remains reasonably comfortable except for when it is extreme scorchio and if it gets THAT hot I tend not to want to do much at all other than raise a cool glass to my parched lips – cheers old chap.

Rik

If possible, insulate the roof and walls. My shop has a black rubber roof, over 12mm ply, 50mm Glassfibre and 12mm ply. (Walls ditto, but 19mm external cladding, no windows). Keeps reasonably warm in winter, (needs minimal heating) and reasonably cool in summer Location: East Anglia, UK.

Howard

Hi Michael, before investing in air con, insulate the roof really well, and the walls also if you can, makes it better in wintertime too as less heating is required to maintain a comfortable temp. Are the windows opening type or sealed shut? If sealed shut then add an inner DIY layer of film or perspex to create a double glazed effect – you might be able to do that on opening windows too. Years ago I used like a film taped all round some large bay windows and then shrunk tight with a hair dryer, cut the heat loos and cold areas adjacent to the windows dramatically. You could also use blinds and that greenhouse shading you 'paint' on the outside of greenhouse glass in summer on the windows outside, although eventually rain washes it off, if you didn't want the view. A roof mounted slow moving long bladed fan would not cost much to run and would stir the air (think motorised punkah fans from India!), or get a more normal room fan.

All this is to try and keeping your running costs down as well as having a more even temperature in your shed winter and summer. Air con can be expensive, noisy and intrusive in space to install and run, you need to cure the causes not the symptoms!

Chris

Woops! Double post

Edited By DMB on 21/04/2016 09:17:11

I use a pair of 60cm pedestal stand fans. One in the doorway blowing cool air into the workshop and the other blowing directly on to me wherever I am working.

Aircon is going to be expensive to run if you have no insulation in the shed.

just move to Wigan – no such troubles!

Of course for a quick fix you could use the white stuff you paint on greenhouses in the summer. Be a good test to see how much of the problem is the windows although the almost certainly are the main culprit.

regards Martin