| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | They are typically held into place in the window by |
| Finding a blind or curtain for a normal window is easy | | | | either wooden lists (side pieces) or by nailed in pegs |
| — there are many, many stores out there | | | | clips which secure the blind in typically 3 static positions. |
| waiting to help you fulfil your order. | | | | Venetian Blinds |
| But if you have roof windows or skylights, it is much | | | | Good venetian blinds in roof windows are hard to |
| harder to work out what type of blind to order and | | | | come by, as they have to either run within a track or |
| how to find what you are looking for at the right price. | | | | on a wire to function properly. Go for aluminium slats |
| To start with, how do I find out what make my roof | | | | and definitely not plastic, for the roof window is |
| window is, and how do I calculate the size? | | | | typically subject to a lot more heat. |
| Consider these issues: | | | | You should also be able to position the blind in any |
| A roof window or skylight blind will not hang like | | | | position and still manipulate the angle of the slat. Avoid |
| a blind on a vertical window. This means that the blind | | | | a venetian blind which has a hanging down pole to |
| has to be constrained either by siderails, wires, or by | | | | adjust the slat angle — they just look stupid! |
| tension | | | | Awning Blinds |
| A normal vertical window is placed on the inside | | | | Awning blinds are very different, in that they sit outside |
| of the window and is generally placed over the outer | | | | the window and stop the heat/light/rain before it hits |
| dimensions of the window frame. Normal windows | | | | the window. |
| open outwards and are usually hinged at the side or at | | | | Generally available in a dark black mesh, they reduce |
| the top (or are sliding sash windows) so they hardly | | | | the amount of heat hitting the window far more than |
| ever interfere with the screening products behind them. | | | | any other blind, and are especially good where intense |
| Most roof window / skylights are pivoted in the middle, | | | | sunlight will overheat your attic room. Intense daylight |
| so you cannot use the same criteria. The blinds for | | | | can also discolour your carpet or flooring, so these are |
| these windows have to sit inside the opening sash to | | | | well worth considering in addition to any plans you may |
| allow them to be opened at will. | | | | have for your blinds. |
| Many of the options open to you in terms of curtain | | | | Where can I get my blinds from? |
| fabrics will not be open to you with roof windows / | | | | Well firstly you should consider that the purchase |
| skylights, because it is a niche market and is not worth | | | | process for blinds for roof windows and skylights is |
| the bigger producers’ time in producing for them. | | | | unlike the process for buying vertical blinds, in that in |
| What type of blinds are available for roof windows | | | | general it is unnecessary to buy blinds and cut them to |
| and skylights? | | | | size or to have them made specially. This means they |
| There are typically 5 types of blind available for roof | | | | are an ideal internet purchase! |
| windows on the market today. | | | | If you go to the local blind store and don’t have |
| Blackout blinds | | | | the make, size and type of your roof window you |
| As the title suggests, these blinds will shut out 100% of | | | | almost certainly will have to come home and find it, so |
| the daylight, some of the noise (i.e. traffic, rain) and | | | | be prepared!! |
| some of the heat. They are typically made to fit a | | | | Here is a quick link to a good reference for how to |
| specific window and come in a cartridge format, with | | | | find your window type and size — There you |
| aluminium side rails. You should be able to move the | | | | can also see some easy installation guides which also |
| blackout blind into any position and it stay there on a | | | | apply to the leading brand manufacturers windows. |
| decent blind. | | | | How much should I pay? |
| TIP! Don’t buy a blind with plastic side rails, the | | | | Well I guess the old adage how long is a piece of |
| (higher) heat that comes through a roof window will | | | | string? applies, but you should know that the major |
| surely buckle it and discolour it. | | | | manufacturers charge top dollar, but they discount to |
| These are by far the biggest selling roof window blinds | | | | resellers so you have to hunt around for the one giving |
| in the marketplace. | | | | the most discount (often on Ebay). |
| Pleated Blinds (also called Plissé Blinds) | | | | There are a few smaller manufacturers making blinds |
| Pleated blinds are fabric blinds that are formed into | | | | for the leading brands, but make sure you pick one |
| folded (concertina style) pleats and which run on a | | | | with a well featured website with security that you can |
| string or wire. Because they work on the same | | | | definitely trust. |
| principle as they do in vertical windows, these are | | | | In terms of colours, you will get most choice from the |
| commonly made for roof windows by small producers | | | | brand leading window manufacturer, but it appears that |
| quite cheaply. But beware, because their flimsy | | | | even with a wide range of choices, most of us prefer |
| construction and typically low quality cloths tend to lead | | | | to have dark blue, beige or white blinds (I know I do
) |
| to short lifetimes. | | | | so they are the ones you will get the cheapest. |
| Roller Blinds | | | | Recommended site links - low cost but good quality |
| Roller blinds are definitely the cheapest of all the blinds | | | | supplier - supplier to the trade - the market leading |
| for roof windows and skylights. Made very simply | | | | brand |
| around a spring loaded barrel, these blinds rely on the | | | | Questions? |
| tension of the barrel to stay tight inside the window. | | | | |