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On 8/7/2012 6:04 AM, wrote:

A wood lattice type material is often used to cover
the bottoms of raised decks. It sure would be a lot
cheaper and I think look better than louvers.
How much it impacts the AC would depend on
how the AC is oriented, which way the air blows,
how much open area there is, etc. And then there
is the issue of what code says about all this.....
If you're going to pull permits, I'd start by asking
the code officials as what they say is going to mean
a lot more than what any of us think.

Also, with townhouse type arrangements there is
typically a homeowner's association which has
control over outside issues like this. Have you
checked with them? I would think it would look like
hell if each owner did anything they wanted instead
of having a uniform look.

Id looks like hell now. So we need to come up with something that isn't
terrible ugly. While cost is a consideration, the way it is now is
devaluing the units so if anyone tries to sell they'd lose far more in
reduced value than spending even $1000 per deck to solve the problem.
This is Silicon Valley, where a townhouse that should sell for $80,000
sells for $350,000. I should have sold at the peak when they were
selling for $100K more!

Wood lattice would work as long as it provided sufficient air flow. I
think the louvers might restrict it less, but the lattice could replace
the entire 30" x 30" panel.

The HOA is essentially me and one other person. I haven't lived in this
place for 18 years and if I had been there I wouldn't have let all this
happen. We can essentially push through anything we want. We may just
pay for it out of reserves since it affects everyone. Even those without
A/C would benefit from their units being ready to add it.

Meanwhile, I suggest that my tenants get a portable A/C unit for the 2
weeks a year or so when A/C is really needed. I already told them that
if they had me put in A/C that the rent would increase slightly.