So, I live on a small barge with three windows

[tavalon]

that are making it too hot in my loft. They are angled and on the roof of the barge. I was looking for something to cover them when the gardening bug hit and I found these library ladders that have planters on them. I could put three of them, each covering a window. Window issue solved but also a green start to the roof. Pretty cool huh? I'm going to put the Craigslist listing here, hopefully you can see the pictures. My problem windows are angled just like that. It seems like Kismet.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/grd/3712847132.html

[Warpy]

1. Would they be topside, outside the windows?

They might work in that case. I'm afraid nothing you tried inside the barge would work--once the heat gets through the glass, it stays there. The trick is keeping it from getting in.

Put into place topside, they'd be nice to look at from the back, especially if you planted for color as well as planting things like lettuce and radishes.

[tavalon]

2. Yes, that is my plan

I want to make the roof a living roof but need it to be container based. The windows are about a 45 degree angle. I don't want to have any indoor plants. I kill indoor plants and yet, I'm a master gardener. Not able to reconcile that, but whatever. I think it will be both a fix to the windows and a start to my plan.

[MADem]

3. Does the dog come with?

Do you want light to come through the windows or can you give that up?

If the place is getting too hot, maybe you could fashion some sort of rolling blind or even "clip up" shield that you could pull across or put up over the window, made out of that same stuff that they make those car windshield heat deflectors out of (the silver and or gold insulated stuff--that will keep a LOT of heat out).

[tavalon]

4. I want zero light and even less heat.

I am a nightshifter and those windows used to have blinds but they've just rotted away through the years. I had already come up with some ideas like you mentioned when I found this. I can't use the silver or gold because sea planes go over all the time and blinding pilots is totally uncool. Frowned upon, in fact. LOL

[MADem]

5. How big are the windows? If they aren't too big, go on and buy one of those silver/gold thingies,

(you can often buy 'em on sale as "loss leaders" for a buck or two at hardware stores), get the biggest ones you can find for huge trucks, then cut the things to fit the windows--if they are small windows you will get two out of one bigass truck windshield cover.

But wait--those sea planes? What about 'em? Stick the silvery slices, cut to fit, in a pillowcase of your choosing--perhaps a design that matches your decor. Then "tailor" it to fit by either sewing it up to fit or tape it with Ye Olde Duct Tape on the side no one will see, and jam 'em up in the window opening, affixed however you can manage (hooks, perhaps, or shove the thing flush up against the window and tap in some fine finish nails to hold it in place, but you can still bend it and remove it?). You will still get the insulation effect and the pilots won't get blinded.

EDIT: If you need something bigger than a pillowcase, splurge and buy a sheet with a cool design on it, or some remnant fabric. Fashion your silver to fit the window, and wrap the whole mess in fabric, tape it up with your high quality duct tape (on the hidden side), and Bob's Yer Uncle--a few finish nails to hold the thing up there, or maybe a few velcro strips here and there, or maybe both, and you're in business!

I use one of those in a summer cottage where the sun came in a good sized (large truck windshield sized, pretty much) window MERCILESSLY and heated the attic to an unreasonable degree. Since we used the attic for sleeping, it could get shitty up there even with the windows open, fans a blowing, and a crossbreeze established.

I didn't even get fancy--just clipped the thing up in the "too damn sunny" window with a clothespin behind the existing curtains, closed the curtains so the uglyass thing was not visible, and that alone lowered the attic temp by an astounding twenty degrees.

In the winter, that same window helps to warm the place nicely, so the uglyass silver (which is now in summer sandwiched between curtains and a curtain liner) comes off and the curtain opened in the daytime to let the sunshine in!

[tavalon]

6. I had a similar idea and may well put that behind the planters but

because I want to start a container garden on the roof (which can hold lots of weight), this is just a magnificent bootstrap. I'd like to just make them myself but there's a part of me that says, this is exactly what I want, and this person creates these things, I should support him or her. They will fit perfectly and add, rather than subtract from the beauty of the dock.

Edited to add: with all the things happening in my life right now, I suspect I wouldn't get to it and a growing season would come and go.

[MADem]

7. Make time and do both!

Or, do the insulation thing and buy the planters even if you don't use them this season~!

Nothing like "house comfort" I say...to me, optimal temperature and lighting are what makes life worth living--and they sure as hell are key to decent sleep!

Oh--and if you DO make time and do both, please post pictures!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. I've been using landscaping mesh on my skylight the last few seasons and it works great.

I have a flat roof with deck access to the roof so access is easy.

I double it over and bungee it around the base of the skylight.

I had to argue with my partner - he wanted to buy a $400 dollar shade that would, IMO, act like a radiator on the inside of the window and radiate heat in the house. The landscape fabric stops the light and heat outside - and costs $9 bucks.

The fabric lets through very little light. But what light it does let through is in a honeycomb pattern.

In winter, the cover comes off and heat comes in on sunny days.

[MADem]

11. What a swell idea--and great for those who want a little artsy light to go with their

reduction-o-heat! And what an easy yet reversible (but certainly secure) install! I'll bet it looks really good from inside, too~! That might be the ticket for anyone wanting to put plants on top of the windows too--the planters would help hold down the landscaping cloth and the cloth would prevent the planters from scratching or scuffing the windows.

You learn something new every day here at DU!

[tavalon]

12. Yeah, I like this one.

[MADem]

13. I think it's your solution--and if it doesn't work out, well, you're out the cost of

a few bungees you can re-use elsewhere, and I'll bet you could find a way to repurpose that landscape cloth, too!

I'm keeping that idea in my future files--it sounds like a real winner!

[tavalon]

15. I'm not done with the roof deck garden idea but this in no way will impact that

and could help in the meanwhile.

[MADem]

16. The garden cloth would be great UNDER those planters--prevent any scratching of the windows, while

also cutting down on your heat and light.

I think you can do both and it will work a treat!

Post a pic or two when you get it all set up, if you like the results!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. I think this is what I used:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202043542?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051&N=5yc1vZbx4q&R=202043542#.UV5nlWoo674

It's some sort of plastic but feels like thin fabric. The roll feels like a bolt of fabric.

[tavalon]

17. You and I are sharing the Martha Stewart award today

I made the insulated pillowcases and got all the supplies at Goodwill for $4.49, I kid you not! So, you get the prize for the idea and I get the prize for being so damn thrifty.

I'm still lusting after those planters and have a huge burn for a patio container garden but for tomorrow, at least, I can sleep in a cooler loft.

[MADem]

18. Hee hee!!! How grand--Martha would be proud of us, I'm sure!

The planters are really good looking--does the person who make them do 'em as a regular thing? Perhaps you can go "visit" the planters, with your trusty measuring tape, and measure them to be sure they'll fit nicely over the windows...and maybe you can strike a bargain with the planter-maker and get a discount for buying three...?

Sleep well!!!

[LiberalEsto]

8. I've seen "temporary" pleated window shades in stores

like Lowes and Hope Depot

[siligut]

9. This is an incredibly cool idea

Wonderfully creative and functional.

[RILib]

19. nonfunctional link.

[mortenstorgaard]

20. Great idea!

What a great idea wonderfull!