Tempering the Sun’s Rays: It’s Easy — and Inexpensive — to Build Removable Homemade Sunscreens for Any Window

Diffusing harsh sun rays — and the resultant heat — that penetrate through windows can be a never-ending battle, depending on the position of the RV when parked on a campsite.

Sure, you can lower the window coverings, but that blocks any view to the outside and can darken the interior. Making your own sunshades, using over-the-counter materials, is an easy way to control glare and lower interior temperatures, while protecting the interior woodwork and upholstery.

The first step is to identify the windows that need to be covered. We seem to be assigned RV sites much too often that have west-facing attitude so the front window in the patio slideout is blasted with sunshine every afternoon. This window is only 22 x 28 inches, but it allows the sun to heat up the dinette counter and table area, contributing to wood fading and making it difficult to work at the table during the afternoon.

Magnets are glued to the window frame with super glue gel, which will cure very quickly. Some glues, like the Gorilla brand, will swell up during the curing process and dislodge the magnet. The number of magnets will be dependent on the size of the window and fabric; here only two were used on the top corners.

While commercial sunshades are available, and we have one that covers the picture window adjacent to the dinette made by Magne Shade (magneshade.com), we found that making one out of common sunshade material available at all home improvement stores or Amazon is an easy project with big returns. This fabric comes in a few colors, but we elected to use black, which works nicely. Also, you’ll get quite a bit of fabric in the package, so covering multiple windows is practical. Figure on around $40 for the sunscreen fabric.

Cut the fabric a little larger than the window frame to insure good coverage. To attach the fabric, we used 1/4-inch in diameter by 1/8-inch-thick neodymium magnets, available at home improvement stores or online. If you go online, you’ll be inundated by the variety of product on the market; these magnets are also considered craft magnets and are really cheap, but strong. The magnets are simply attached to the window frame in each corner with super glue; a second set of matching magnets will be used to hold the fabric in place. We elected to use magnets only at the top corners for the smaller windows, which proved to be suitable in all but high winds; four or more magnets will be needed for larger windows.

Sunscreen fabric is available in a few colors, but black was chosen for this fifth wheel. While the fabric will reduce heat and glare substantially, it does not impede the view to the outside, except during the night or on dark/overcast days.

Once the glue is allowed to cure, the cut fabric is held in place while another loose magnet is placed near the one on the window frame. When you get close enough, the loose magnet will “jump” in place. The magnets do not need to be attached to the fabric. Make sure the sunscreen fabric and magnets are removed from the window(s) before retracting the slide and getting on the road. The fabric can be rolled up and stored in a compartment, while the magnets should kept in a safe place while on the road. Use caution when working with magnets around sensitive medical devices.

Black-out fabric, attached in the same fashion, can be substituted if you happen to be camped next to someone who loves bright lights and forgets to turn them off at bedtime.

Strong winds, depending on direction, can release the fabric, so it’s best to remove any coverings to prevent loss of the material and/or magnets. If you forget, the fabric may disappear, but the good news: You’ll likely have enough material on hand to cut a new one, which takes only a couple of minutes.