Good points about the exterior shades, hadn't really thought about those. A couple things from my own experience:
- Installed interior shades first, thinking they'd be easier and cheaper. They do help with glare, but honestly, when the sun hits hard in the afternoon, it still heats up the room quite a bit. Plus, they're practically useless when the windows get hot—it's like a mini greenhouse in there. Not fun.
- Switched to exterior solar shades last summer (after much procrastination and a few too many afternoons squinting at my laptop). Huge improvement. Can still see the mountains, just without feeling like I'm staring directly into the sun. And yeah, totally agree on the wind thing—had some pretty strong gusts last fall and they held up great.
- One minor downside is cleaning them. Spiderwebs seem to love mine for some reason...maybe I just have particularly friendly spiders? 😂 But seriously, it's not a big deal—just something to keep in mind if you're squeamish about bugs.
Another random tip: if you go this route, consider motorized ones with a remote or app control. It's surprisingly handy when you're comfy on the couch and suddenly blinded by sunlight reflecting off snow-covered peaks...beats getting up every 15 minutes to adjust.
Anyway, good luck taming that mountain glare—been there, done that, got the squinty eyes to prove it.
Interesting points, but have you considered window films instead? Had mine professionally installed a few years back—less hassle than shades, no spiderweb issues, and surprisingly effective at cutting heat. Might be worth exploring before committing to exterior shades.
Good call on window films, hadn't thought much about those. My neighbor got some installed last summer and swears by them. Only thing is, they seem kinda permanent... do they affect visibility at night? That's my main hesitation.
Yeah, window films can be a real lifesaver, especially up here with the intense mountain sun. I've had them for about three years now, and visibility at night isn't much of an issue—at least not with the lighter tints. If you go super dark, then yeah, you'll notice a difference, but something moderate usually works fine.
One thing to keep in mind though: installation matters. You mentioned permanence, and you're right—once they're on, they're not exactly easy to remove or adjust. I'd suggest starting with just one or two windows that get the worst glare first, see how you like it, and then decide if you want to expand. Also, check out some of the newer ceramic films; they're pricier but offer great heat reduction without compromising visibility too much.
Just my two cents from dealing with this glare headache for years...
Totally agree about ceramic films—I put some on our west-facing windows last summer, and it made a huge difference. Pricey, yeah, but worth it. Curious though, anyone notice if they fade or discolor over time? Mine still look good, but it's only been a year...
I've had ceramic film on my south-facing windows for about four years now, and honestly, haven't noticed any discoloration or fading yet. Granted, mine aren't directly west-facing, but they still get hammered by sun most afternoons. My neighbor did mention some slight haziness after about six years, but he thinks it might've been from the cleaning products he used. I'd say just stick to mild soap and water, and you should be good for quite a while...
Good to hear yours held up well after four years. Mine's been going strong for about five now, facing west—no fading yet either. Agree on mild soap; harsh cleaners definitely speed up haziness. Seems like you're doing everything right...should be fine for a good while.
"Agree on mild soap; harsh cleaners definitely speed up haziness."
Mild soap's usually fine, but honestly, even gentle cleaners can leave residue over time. Have you tried just distilled water and a microfiber cloth? I've found that combo leaves fewer streaks and seems to slow down haziness better. Also curious—does anyone else notice glare getting worse seasonally? Mine seems extra intense in late fall...maybe angle of the sun or something.
Distilled water and microfiber definitely helps, but have you considered polarized lenses? Made a huge difference for me. And yeah, late fall glare seems worse—probably sun angle shifting lower...
Polarized lenses are good, definitely cut down the glare, but honestly they don't always solve the whole problem—especially if you're dealing with reflections from snow or wet surfaces. I've worked plenty of jobs up in the mountains, and late fall glare is a special kind of beast. It's like the sun just sits right at the worst possible angle, bouncing off every reflective surface it can find.
One thing I've noticed that helps is adjusting the visor in my truck—sounds obvious, but hear me out. A buddy of mine showed me how to add a small extension flap to the visor. Just a thin piece of cardboard or plastic tucked into the edge. It looks kinda goofy, sure, but it actually blocks that extra inch or two of glare that regular visors can't. Saved me from squinting headaches more than once, especially on those winding mountain roads where glare hits you from unexpected angles.
Another trick I've used is applying a matte dashboard cover or even a dark towel temporarily. The glare bouncing off shiny dashboards or interior surfaces can be surprisingly brutal. It seems minor, but cutting down on interior reflections can make a noticeable difference.
Polarized lenses are great, no argument there—but they're just one piece of the puzzle. Sometimes tackling glare takes a couple of different approaches, especially when you're dealing with those tricky seasonal sun angles.