Hi original poster! I know it’s 7 years since you asked this but would love to know what you did. We are not in a similar position with a similar looking house at the back but even steeper. I know that a full extension and lowering the internal floors would be ideal but we can’t afford that and need a 5-7 year fix. Please let us know what you decided and why ☺️

Good idea to think options - deflection or reduction. Trying to deflect the wind is tricky, the roller idea sounds fine but I agree with the other comment - it's a sail and our experience is not positive. Plus you'll get eddies or capture the wind when in the wrong direction. Why not complement your bamboos with screening from the same material. Or reeds. You can cut it easily (rolled up if you want to reduce height) or wire snips for length. Very cheap and you can paint it to suit. This will do well on the absorption and you can always double layer it on the prevailing wind face. To break up wind flow further in height terms - I'd go for palm in a barrel. Leaves are designed to to give in the wind but there are enough to break up the flow. Scaffold net will give you greater than 80% absorption so effectively it's a screen with disadvantages above. It will flap noisily unless you tie it in multiple places. Your cube an be held down firmly with hessian sandbags, inside and attached with elastic cord. Good luck! Iain

Hello, i hope someone can help me. I live in an apartment building where all the units have a balcony glass balustrade. Recently I noticed this in one of the glasses - the stainless steel piece at the bottom is kind of slipping off the glass. Hopefully this is clear in the picture. Apologies i couldn’t take a better picture against the backdrop outside with all the trees and other buildings. The building manager recommended a glass contractor that they used to look at it and I am quoting what was provided to me: -silicone that is binding the glass to the stainless steel frame is wearing off. -will try to avoid dismantling the glass to prevent breaking it -install support around the glass. -remove existing silicone on all 4 sides and put new silicone leave it to dry totally for a couple of days before removing the support. -2 trips to complete the work Anyone know if this is recommended work sounds right? i am wondering how does he (the contractor) ensure all the old silicone is removed and the glass won’t drop before he put on new sLi one. I tried to ask the glass contractor but he assured me it’s been done this way many times with no problem. i hope to find out if anyone out there can give me some more ideas: 1. how can such glass problem can be fixed? 2. who is the right person to do such repair job? 3. What is the average price and time needed for such repair? A ballpark figure? according to my building managemen, no other units encountered the same issue as mine. . Thank you and i would appreciate any help and advice.

I love Minnie's dark wall suggestion. It definitely recedes and places the focus elsewhere. I don't think you can have too many plants out there either. More is more will give the impression of a much larger space. Just wondering, have you got room for some kind of waterproof box/storage that looks good but you can quickly out cushions, throws etc in if it rains and you don't want to bring them all into the living space?