Yes, fun new toy to help me get the insulation right. We have a number of projects going on currently in the family and so it should help with all of them. My walls are cold and it is not 'a risk' for condensation, it is a current problem. There are many places in my house where water flows down the walls but this is hopefully what my renovation will sort out. Steamy tea, you have been watching 'Titanic' a bit too much!

I came across this sort of comment several times on the web:

having used blackout lining on curtains for 15 (!) double-glazed windows/patio doors I can tell you that in very cold weather they can create a difference of up to 12C between window recess temperature and room temperature. However you can get a convection loop as cold air falls thru the gap at the bottom and warm air enters at the top. This can reduce the temp differential by 50% or more and so negate the benefit of the curtains.

I could use magnetic strips on the right and lefthand sides to stick the curtain to the wall, but how do I best eliminate the gap at the top and bottom?

I am just in the process of making wooden shutters for my windows. Even in their unfinished state they have made quite a difference. In Switzerland most properties have some sort of shutter. It always impressed me what a difference have the metal slatted shutter used to make. I suppose this was because they created a barrier between the cold wind and the window.

it is a shame that shutters are no longer so popular here in the UK.

Jonti

If you search for "thermal curtains" on ebay there are lots available including, ready mades, linings and material.

I would like to fit heavy curtains in my house as it has single glazed windows (listed building, can't replace, quite decorative), but in every room the radiator is under the window, so if I have full length curtains the heat will all go to the window and not the room. The radiators are all being replaced anyway, any thoughts about asking to have them hung with a gap behind so that the curtain can be drawn behind, or am I just being silly?

Posted By: raffertyrat................I would like to fit heavy curtains in my house as it has single glazed windows (listed building, can't replace, quite decorative), but in every room the radiator is under the window, so if I have full length curtains the heat will all go to the window and not the room. The radiators are all being replaced anyway, any thoughts about asking to have them hung with a gap behind so that the curtain can be drawn behind, or am I just being silly?

Put radiator shelves over the rads extending out beyond the rad and then have shorter curtains just resting on the shelf.

Posted By: skyewright<......................If you have cats, you'll always know where to find them

Yes, and don't ever inadvertantly run your fingers along the shelf edge.

Poor old Smudge (RIP) used to lie on the double rad, with her front paws tucked under the central metal strap across top. Warm as toast.
AAaaah.!

She would frequently vomit into rad and then we would have to squirt water down fins to clean rad before it baked on and rendered GCH smelly or useless.
Aaaargh!

Got two dogs now.

Coming to the post late but I agree from personal experience that curtains can make a huge difference, whether or not this is all down to physics or some element of psychology I am not sure. For the the first three years we lived in our home we had no curtains in the living room and during winter it always felt cold. Certainly sitting under a raised bay window (sorry can't remember the technical word) was so uncomfortable that you would move, even though the room temperature was around 20. For the last two years we've fitted heavy curtains with blackout lining. The room feels much warmer and we can sit under the raised bay.

I do wonder how much is due to the length of the curtain, we tend to go for full length curtains rather than those that fall just under the window cill. Does the curtain not only impact the raidated heat but also impact convection currents? Would the choice of wall as the main material also help with mould control as it is hygroscopic?

Of course closing a curtain with the radiator behind it would have negative impact but I'm sure no-one on here would do such a thing. In addition curtains have a part to play in the summer to stop overheating. We close ours and open the window which for most nights makes the room more bearable when we have a particuliarly hot period.

Paul

I too have only just seen this. If its any use to anyone you can get a thermal lining for curtains, its also good for blacking out. Its cream but made of rubber I think, though looks like an ordinary curtain lining. You can then have light weight curtains with equal value in keeping light out and heat in of a heavy curtain.

Buy it at John Lewis (sign!)