A cool (ha-ha) idea would be to embed blinds/shutters in the deck and have a mechanism that allows them to roll up to the right height to block the sun - without obstructing the view above? I was wondering if it was just an idle "crazy" thought of yours or whether you had looked into such devices.
I talked with my architect yesterday and he was basically bemoaning that such devices didn't exist (he actually suggested it was a green business opportunity just waiting to be exploited). I googled around afterwards, and I found some rather ugly ones in the Carolinas http://www.alucraftshutters.com/products/pullup.htm
It looks like some Australian companies might have this kind of products: HelioScreen and Issey. I emailed them but they haven't responded back yet.
Thinking that it could not be right that only one company in the world is producing such things I went on and wasted a couple hours finding only some very industrial models - among others LawrenceDoors - which by the way costs in the order of $15K for an 18' long shutter plus - the LawrenceDoors tech warned me - likely a lot of cost to design a way to make it look good in a residential setting.
A problem of search phrases: One problem is of course to choose the right search phrases, Here are some useful ones:
exterior blind/exterior shade/shutter/grille
rolling/bottom-up/pull-up/inverse operation
Another problem is what I want to accomplish
I'll give it a try:
1. Reduce radiation of heat in->out
winter: from sunset till sunrise; raise to full height
summer: not really needed
2. Reduce radiation of heat out->in
winter: no real need
summer: from noon till sunset; raise gradually to full height
3. Reduce direct sun/glare
winter: from mid-morning till sunset; upper half
summer: no real need except, perhaps, for late PM; the overhang takes care of this
Hmmm.
There is a strong need for some device that will stop outward radiation at night. Low-E and gass filled dual pane will do some of the job, but they may not be sufficient. The traditional remedy is of course curtains, but (1) I don't really like most curtains because they clutter the view and (2) I am not the diligent kind of person who draws the curtains before heading out to work.
The exterior screens would be most useful if they allow a pretty good view out through the covering part. A device with thin, wide horizontal slats might be ideal.
