Installing blinds for a conservatory can be a lot more complex then many think. This is especially the case when a conservatory consists of different shaped roof glazing and sometimes side windows. Here at The Specialist Blinds Co. Limited we provide our customers with bespoke, made-to-measure blinds for almost any shaped glazing in the home. As a result, we are often asked how do you fit blinds in a conservatory?
Measuring the blinds
One of the most important stages of purchasing and installing blinds is the survey. This is where a member of our installation visits your home prior to the installation; to gather exact measurements for the blinds. Although, the sales team take rough measurements at the quotation stage; the installation team ensure measurements are correct to the mm. This ensures, the finished product is perfect.
Although this may seem easier in most UPVC roofs. If there are shapes involved, it starts to get particularly difficult. This is because the angles will vary. (just half a degree difference will mean a blind won’t fit). If you want to perfectly align the flat tops at the apex of shaped blinds. Then there is literally no tolerance for any error at all.
Timber conservatories present different challenges, because they are often not square and have twisting rafters, so blinds that have not been measured properly simply will not fit at all, so would need to be altered or re-made. Therefore, it is very important a member of our skilled installation team complete the survey.
Installing the blinds
Installing the blinds is also a complex process. This is because there is many different elements to consider:
- Knowing exactly where to drill without causing damage to your conservatory; knowing exactly what drill bits; depth of drilling and the type of fixings are best for that conservatory. There are hundreds of different conservatories and bead shapes, so would you be confident not to cause a leak, break the glass, hit a steel ring beam, or drill in the wrong place?
- Another problem is that you often cannot get a fixing where you need to, because there is nothing structural to drill and screw to – what do you do then? We have solutions to all of these problems because we have developed unique blinds, clips and mounting profiles, as well as having specialist fixings just for conservatories.
- You also have to bear in mind that blinds are not two-dimensional; they have a thickness that projects them into the conservatory slightly, so would you know what reduction to make when measuring neighboring blinds? There are often also tie-bars, roof mouldings, box gutters or other obstructions that need to be considered. How would you overcome these without large gaps or it looking like it has been bodged?
Of course, this is without even considering the complexities of all the motorisation options for your electric conservatory blinds.
About Our Installers
It takes a year of training and experience to become a professional conservatory blinds installer and meet our standards, so we really do expect to find someone wanting a long-term career. Most people don’t realise how complicated it can be to measure and fit specialist conservatory blinds – in fact, just recently a customer, called us wanting to fit his own roof blinds, saying that “surely it’s just a case of drilling a few holes?”
We invest a great deal of time and money training our Installation Team: in fact the first 6-8 weeks of training are spent on site with another experienced installer just learning the basics. The next 3 months are spent installing conservatory blinds in simpler shaped conservatories, with on-going training at our factory or on-site with other installers, followed by many more months learning their trade in complex conservatories and orangeries. No two conservatories are alike, particularly when considering conservatory roof blinds, so training in many conservatory styles is vital.
Most of our team have been with the company for 10+ years (and some 20+ years). If you’d like independent expert advice arrange a free quotation today!
A DEEPER LOOK
Inspiration & Advice
Our team love a challenge. Whether you’re looking for complex apex windows or a smaller conservatory, we’re here to offer advice. Take a look at some of our recent articles:
