Expert conservatory blinds advice on what to look out for, the difference between conservatory blinds and signs of bad workmanship in fitted conservatory blinds.

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Conservatory Blinds Advice

Expert conservatory blinds advice on the differences between retailers and various blinds in conservatories.

The biggest differences are often due to the lack of suitability in a specific conservatory and how the blinds appear when they are installed. Even the cheapest blinds can potentially be acceptable if chosen with care and fitted professionally - the problem is that most blinds are sold by people that either don't know, or don't care whether they are suitable.

You would be surprised at the lack of experience most so-called "specialists" have, despite their outrageous claims.

To illustrate some of the differences between blinds, click on the images below to see photographs of blinds that we have encountered compared to our own purpose-designed conservatory blinds.

The differences between shaped roof blinds

The differences between obtuse roof blinds

The differences between infill roof blinds

Shaped pleated roof blinds

Shaped Roof Blinds are difficult to measure, manufacture and fit without a great deal of experience and choosing the most suitable blinds in the first place.

Top images show how shaped conservatory blinds should look. Bottom images are of shaped roof blinds that we have been asked to replace.

Correctly sized shaped blinds hold their shape

Fabric Control Cording holds the blinds in shape

Fabric lays flat when the blinds are retracted

… unlike oversized roof blinds with sagging edges

… unlike these roof blinds with tapering gaps

… unlike these blinds where the fabric fans-up

Pleated blinds that are too big have gaps

Badly fitting pleated blinds with uneven gap

Cheap pleated blinds without Fabric Control Cording

Obtuse shaped roof blinds

Obtuse Shaped Blinds: unlike most other obtuse blinds (which are nearly always made in two parts with a fixed area at the base) ours are much neater

Top images show how obtuse conservatory blinds should look. Bottom images are of other obtuse roof blinds that we have encountered.

Different angled blinds that fit the conservatory

Obtuse roof blinds that hold their shape

Fabric lays flat when the blinds are retracted

… unlike these with sagging edges and fixed infills

… unlike these sagging blinds with tapering gaps

… unlike these blinds with large fixed areas

Permanent fixed area at the bottom of obtuse blinds

Infill roof blinds

Infill Blinds avoid large gaps, but are sometimes used unnecessarily where a retailer is unable to make a shaped blind fit properly.

Top images show how infill blinds should look. Bottom images are of missing/poor infill blinds that we have been asked to replace.

Neat fitting infill blinds around a roof boss

Single shaped blind which follows the valley

Small infill blinds around a chamfered moulding

… unlike these roof blinds with huge gaps

… unlike this crudely shaped infill blind

… unlike these misaligned blinds with big gaps

The differences between recessed window blinds

Recessed pleated blinds

Recessed Window Blinds only fit neatly using purpose-designed conservatory blinds: other blinds have gaps if fitted at an angle or with '‘packers'

Top images show how recessed blinds should look. Bottom images are of recess-fitted blinds that we have been asked to replace.

Neat fitting recess-fitted door blinds

Neatly recessed window blinds with no gaps

Neatly recessed top fanlight window blind

… thick puckered fabric with big clips and gaps

… too narrow, incorrect fabric and large holes

… gaps caused by wedge packers and 'feet'

These window blinds should not have been recess-fitted

Ver poorly measured and made pleated blind

This blind range is not suitable for recess-fitting

Pinoleum blinds

Pinoleum Blinds are difficult to manufacture properly and so there are very few retailers who actually make their own pinoleum.

Top images show how pinoleum blinds should look. Bottom images are of pinoleum blinds that we have been asked to replace.

Neat, braided edges, concealed fixings & cordlock

Individual blinds fit perfectly & easy to operate

Individual blinds with separate vent blind

…loose weave, cut edges and exposed hardware

…poorly made oversized blinds with big gaps

…poor layout and a large gap for vent opener

Cheap poorly made and fitted woven wood blinds

Poorly measured, made and fitted pinoleum roof blinds

Badly sold, measured, made and fitted pinoleum blinds

Poor quality workmanship

Poor Quality Workmanship exists in every industry. We do not claim to be perfect, but we would not be happy with the workmanship shown below.

These are not the worst examples that we have seen (or photographed) but they represent what can happen - so please beware.

Blinds not fitted properly so screws are being pulled out of the conservatory

Blind only fitted one one side and twisting

Screws coming away from the conservatory

Blind only fitted on one side causing it to twist

Blinds fitted too high creating gaps underneath

Poorly fitted, misaligned and falling down

Infill with crude hole instead of separate blinds

Sagging blind on its side part-covers the glass

Blind fitted too high and rail bent to fit under box gutter

Crudely made infill fabric with poorly cut hole

Sagging roof blind on its side with large gaps

Click here to compare the different types of blinds available in the UK and see how we judge their suitability in a conservatory.

These images have not been 'staged' or 'doctored' to look worse than they really are and they are from real conservatories where, in some cases, the blinds had been fitted quite recently.

The difference between blinds can be obvious when looking at actual blinds and real-life installation photos, but if you are only shown fabric samples, "marketing" photographs or just comparing prices, then it is hard to make an informed decision.

Contact us for genuine expert conservatory blinds advice and to see the widest choice of blinds in the UK

Avoid problems with conservatory blinds and conservatory blind fitting by getting the best conservatory blinds advice from genuine experts on what to look out for.