- Date: 04/23/2015 Comments: Rating: 26
When it comes to covering windows, blinds are the undisputed leader. They can be found in classrooms, offices, various educational and medical institutions. If the question arises of how to assemble vertical blinds, then it should immediately be noted that this matter is not very difficult.
For rooms with low ceilings, the most suitable option is undoubtedly vertical blinds. The fact is that they visually expand the space and increase the height of the ceilings in the best way. In addition, vertical blinds have a number of advantages:
Vertical blinds can be mounted in several ways and have manual or automatic control.
- You can make them according to individual orders, which the client wishes to see on his windows. Despite the fact that there is a certain set of original combinations, you can always add variety in the form of an interesting shape, texture and color scheme. There is no need for careful and frequent maintenance, installation can be easily and quickly carried out in the desired position, the space will be beautifully decorated, daylight dissipates well. This option is a great combination of beauty and comfort, as well as style, which is important. There are distinctive features, namely an excellent opportunity to easily transmit light (and the light is diffused and soft, which creates a unique and cozy atmosphere).
Most often, such blinds are installed on large windows; they can also be installed along the wall, on a window opening, without any problems. If you want to create a beautiful and original interior, then the fabric part can be decorated with special tulle. Thus, you can get a complete imitation of curtains that are combined with drapes.
General view and arrangement of vertical blinds.
In order to assemble the blinds yourself, you will need the following tools:
- Hammer. Drill. Screwdriver. Knife. Screwdrivers. Tape measure. Fasteners.
Speaking about the advantages of vertical blinds, we should note not only their unique design qualities, but also their functionality, as well as ease of use. It is the fact that you can assemble them yourself at home that makes them so popular.
Before assembling the blinds, you need to carefully read the instructions, and you need to pay special attention to the exact length of the slats; the fastening is not taken into account.
You need to take a tape measure and measure the height of the blinds, and this is the size that is marked on the wall. Now it's time to make marks along the width.
It would be good if the cornice extends 5-10 cm beyond the window boundaries. It is very important to clearly ensure that the cornice is positioned horizontally. It is recommended to use a building level.
Options for installing blinds: 1A - ceiling mounting; 1B - to the wall.
A bracket is taken, the upper part of the tool is placed against the wall and a mark is made.
Using a drill, a hole is drilled in the wall, dowels must be inserted into it, after which the dowel jacket is installed. A bracket is attached and secured with self-tapping screws. Then you need to attach the cornice to the brackets, it needs to be inserted until you hear a characteristic click.
The lamella holders are rotated so that the hole faces the window. It is imperative to make sure that the slats are not at an angle. If this is not done, then it may be that they simply become skewed and will not be assembled into an accordion.
Now the lamellas are inserted into the lamella holders and attached to the runners. If vertical blinds are decorated with a pattern, then they must be attached in the same sequence in which they were in the roll. It is necessary to install special weights at the bottom of the lamella (they are made in the form of plates), after which a chain is attached to them.
Scheme for sliding the slats of vertical blinds.
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Many people find it difficult to operate slats (meaning gathering them into an accordion and covering the entire window). In fact, there is nothing difficult about effectively controlling the handle; the chain is needed to turn the blinds, and it is also used to regulate the flow of light.
If the operation of the blinds is disrupted for some reason (the main signs of problems are unusual noise, insufficient strength of the holders, and so on), then the easiest way is to contact the service center or the store where the equipment was purchased.
Before assembling the slats or, conversely, moving them apart, you must make sure that they are facing the window edge-on.
It is not necessary to move the slats to the side if the blinds are tightly closed. Thus, it becomes clear that the blinds can be assembled without much difficulty. And everything will look no worse than curtains.
Blinds have won respect for their simplicity and convenience. They are durable and can remain on windows for a long time without causing irritation to residents.
Blinds are a practical and convenient option for window decoration.
The variety of designs and color solutions on the product market is simply enormous. But the price is not always affordable for the buyer.
And sometimes you just want to see things around you that you created with your own hands. In both cases, the solution is this: make the blinds yourself. Moreover, it can turn out beautiful, unusual and inexpensive.
Where to begin?
Scheme for attaching blinds to a window.
It will be easier to make vertical blinds, so we will focus on describing their technology. We select the roll of paper so that it is 2 cm narrower than the width of the window opening.
We measure 3 cm from the bottom cut and bend the sheet. You have to fold a length of paper equal to the height of the window with an accordion. Place the accordion under a press for 2-3 hours.
Now you need to find the middle of the folded paper.
You need to make through punctures in both directions from the middle at a distance of 3 cm. An awl is quite suitable for this purpose. At the top of the vertical blinds you need to place a wooden strip with symmetrical holes. The paper is attached to this strip with tape or simply glued.
How to assemble the structure?
Scheme of vertical blinds with an inclined system.
Vertical blinds are already ready, you just need to assemble them and place them correctly on the window.
First, glue the bottom of the folded paper in the center with tape. The thread is threaded through the hole from bottom to top, then turned around and threaded in the opposite direction. One end of the thread is equipped with a bead.
A movable clamp must be placed at the second end. Usually a clothes clip is used, but it will not look very nice. It is better to have complete symmetry, so it is recommended to drape these parts equally.
Here you can use various patterns for draping small parts (bells will look very beautiful and will hide the clips). In order to prevent the thread from quickly wearing out when rubbing against a wooden slats, it is recommended to place a roller in the central part of the slats.
Now the vertical blinds should be placed on the window. Gravity will cause the paper to fall.
This will be the extreme position for the stationary bead. The movable clamp is located at the same height. We tie knots under the marked parts and cut off the ends of the thread.
How to test mobility
Options for assembling blinds.
Next, we check the mobility of the vertical blinds. If fishing line was used as a thread, then the mobility will be ideal: pull the thread down, and the vertical blinds smoothly slide up. We fixed the clamp and obtained the required position.
The bottom edges of vertical blinds will sag. To eliminate this small flaw, you can equip the lower part of the blinds with a thin plate of any material, gluing it with double-sided tape. For lovers of more sophisticated interior elements, it is recommended to use your imagination.
It will look very attractive if you bring both lower edges together and fasten them with glue or the same tape. The result will resemble a heart. Why not an option for lovers?
Where can you use homemade blinds and how to repair them?
Installation of vertical blinds.
It is clear that DIY blinds are made for use for a short period of time. This is usually done before repairs begin. This way you can regulate the amount of light entering the apartment and save finishing materials from fading.
Homemade blinds are suitable not only during renovations. They can be considered as an excellent alternative to factory products in country houses, garages and utility rooms. Homemade vertical blinds are used seasonally: in the summer they prevent light from entering the apartment, which helps to escape the heat.
Repairing homemade vertical blinds is also easy. It consists of replacing the paper (you will have to make a new accordion). When assembling a new product, the same procedure is followed.
Movement diagram of vertical blinds.
Do-it-yourself blinds do not have to be made from paper.
Home craftsmen advise using regular starched fabric for this. This makes sense: the material is thinner, and an accordion can be easily made using an iron. The fabric can be easily removed and washed, which makes vertical blinds more durable.
You can experiment with the lower part, giving the product completeness at your discretion. But when using fabric for vertical blinds, you need to make the lower part of the product a little heavier.
Typically, for this purpose, the bottom edge of the fabric is folded in half and stitched at a distance of about 5 mm from the bend. Subsequently, a metal (aluminum) wire is inserted into this hole. It will weigh down the blinds and keep their bottom edge horizontal.
Repair for fabric blinds is only needed if the thread that regulates the height has damaged the canvas itself.
This can be avoided if the edges of the holes are sealed with tape or treated with metal rivets with holes. You can sew the holes with regular thread. The edges of the holes will be stronger, which will make handmade vertical blinds even more durable.
Repair of factory-made vertical blinds can be done according to the same rules as described for homemade ones. But replacing a certain part of such blinds will be visible even to the naked eye. It will not be possible to hide a defect, since it is very difficult to choose a material of a certain color scheme.
But there is no need to do this: it is enough to replace several elements at once during the repair. It will turn out very beautiful and elegant. It will look as if blinds and curtains were specially combined.
Vertical blinds are excellent light protection for a room; they are simple, reliable and almost universal, suitable for designing not only straight, but also complex-shaped openings. Below we offer detailed instructions on how to install vertical blinds with your own hands.
Features and Benefits
These blinds are common and have many good features. With their help, you can visually expand the space of the room and increase the height of the ceilings, and this is very convenient for small rooms. They also have the great advantage that they can be placed on openings of absolutely any shape - oblique, arched, curved or round. The cornice can be not only straight.
You will be surprised by the variety of shapes, shades, colors and textures of vertical blinds. In addition, they can be made to order according to your individual preferences.
They are very easy to maintain and do not require careful care. They are quick and easy to assemble and disassemble. They will be wonderful decorative elements of your interior, transmitting scattering rays and preventing the penetration of too bright light. They are also easy to operate, they are mobile, simple and practical.
Where to mount
Vertical blinds are not difficult to hang yourself, but it is important to decide where to attach them; there are only two basic installation options:
- on the ceiling or on the upper horizontal slope of the opening, that is, the cornice is installed on a surface perpendicular to the plane of the window; on the wall - the fastening is done on the upper or side walls of the window, here it is necessary to select the correct brackets so that there is sufficient removal of the canvas from the vertical plane and the lamellas do not cling against the wall.
What does the modern market offer us?
Just a couple of decades ago, blinds were the exclusive prerogative of formal offices and administrative buildings. That is why many of our compatriots to this day do not dare to buy such unique window curtains.
Although modern types of designs are so diverse that many designers are slowly abandoning traditional curtains and working more with original blind models.
An example of a unique modern blind design.
Common blinds models
- The patriarchs of this trend are, of course, considered to be designs with horizontal slats. They are simple and easy to use. Since most of them are made of plastic, metal or wood, the painful question for many housewives is how to wash all this joy, and it is solved simply. Such blinds can be external (mounted on the edge of the window opening or on the ceiling), internal (mounted on the frame or next to it) and even inter-frame on classic wooden windows; these are installed between two parts of the window sash; Vertical fabric slats can already be called a new trend in design. The range includes models specifically designed for residential spaces and even luxury classic and contemporary styles. Vertically oriented slats are somewhat reminiscent of ordinary curtains, so they easily fit into almost any interior. A big plus for housewives is that there is no need to decide how to remove the blinds from the window in order to wash the window or wash the slats themselves. The entire structure easily slides to the side. And to wash it, just remove each lamella from its hook and put it in the wash;
Vertical fabric slats.
- The so-called pleated blinds can hardly be called boring; they look very homely. As is easy to understand from the name, the fabric here is made of pleated fabric. A weighting bar is installed at the bottom of such a canvas, and all this beauty is raised with the help of a cord, gathering in folds under the arch. They are mounted in any convenient way. Interestingly, electric drives and other automatic things are not installed on serial pleated models;
- Roll structures are deservedly considered one of the simplest. Unless you deliberately tear the fabric, the elementary mechanism of such curtains is unlikely to ever break. In factory-made products, the fabric is usually wound on the upper shaft; homemade roller blinds, as a rule, involve the assembly of the fabric on the lower shaft. There are models here, both outdoor ones for windows and terraces, and exclusively indoor ones;
Roll mechanism.
- Cassette designs, although they stand out as a separate line, are essentially the same roller blinds that were “stuffed” into a separate box and a spring or electric mechanism was built into it. The boxes themselves, as a rule, are made of iron, and the canvas can be either fabric or light-proof polymer (an option for cinemas and other similar premises).
What are blinds made of?
The range of materials used for the manufacture of such structures is now quite wide, ranging from traditional plastic to homemade blinds made from wallpaper.
Vertical design according to the size of the window opening.
- Thin sheet aluminum is certainly a strong and very durable material . But such structures are most often used in administrative buildings and large areas. If we talk about residential premises, then aluminum blinds are only suitable for metal windows of loggias and balconies;
- Wooden, bamboo and other natural slats, on the contrary, are “registered” exclusively in residential premises . It is believed that wooden blinds are best suited for wooden windows, but in pursuit of environmentally friendly materials, people install such structures everywhere. And honestly, they look great. The only negative is the high price;
Not so long ago, products made from so-called Faux wood appeared on the market. They are positioned as natural wood, bonded with a polymer base. Simply put, wood processing waste is “rolled” in plastic. So they have nothing to do with environmental friendliness, this is purely an advertising ploy. I, like many experts, believe that there is no point in overpaying for the name; it is better to take ordinary plastic laminated to look like wood.
Vertical curtain in a classic interior.
- The range of fabric blinds is perhaps the widest and most variegated . Indeed, in addition to ordinary fabrics, there are also various polymer fabrics. And the latest hit was a model woven from fiberglass. Most modern canvases are impregnated with water and dirt-repellent compounds. In this case, the question of how to wash the blinds without removing them from the windows can be solved simply: just take a damp sponge and wipe it tightly; at most, you can add a couple of drops of detergent;
- The notorious plastic, although considered a rather “worn out” topic, nevertheless, it does not give up its positions . Manufacturers do not sit still and constantly bring very decent models to the market. At the moment, plastic occupies at least a quarter of the market, and none of the materials described above can boast of such a result.
Plastic blinds have 2 undeniable advantages. This is, firstly, a relatively affordable price, and secondly, it is very hardy and easy to care for.
Basic installation rules
When installing vertical blinds with your own hands, it is important to correctly calculate the location of the brackets. The guide must be installed at such a distance from the plane of the plastic window or wall that the slats hang strictly vertically, without creases, and the protrusions do not interfere with the movement of the curtain.
The indentation is calculated in each case individually, and depends on the design features of the window and blinds. It is necessary to take into account the width of the lamella and add half of this size + 10-20 mm for the gap. Let's look at examples of calculations.
Where to hang it?
If vertical blinds are installed on the ceiling, you can make any indentation.
There are limitations for wall mounting as the standard bracket is up to 150mm long. In both cases, in order to save usable space, the curtain is hung as close as possible to the plastic window. Here you should pay attention to the protrusion of the window sill; we calculate the distance as follows:
- draw a visual line from the edge of the window sill to the ceiling, you can extend the tape measure for clarity or use a long stick, mark a point; add half the width of the lamella and +10 mm to the mark away from the wall/ceiling interface.
Example: lamella width 128 mm, window sill projection along the ceiling 70 mm. We calculate: 128:2 +10 + 70 = 244 mm – the minimum distance from the ceiling/wall interface.
How to properly fix brackets on the wall
If the blinds are mounted in the opening of a plastic window, then the protrusion of the window sill is not taken into account, therefore, the distance to the cornice is: 128: 2 + 10 = 74 mm.
The length of the lamellas must also be taken into account. If the blinds are to the floor, then a gap of 10-30 mm should be left at the bottom for free movement of the canvas. If the canvas reaches the window sill, then the minimum allowable gap is 5 mm.
For wall mounting of blinds, it is recommended to install the cornice 50-100 mm above the upper horizontal slope.
Ceiling mounting is optimal if you need to visually increase the height of the room
Installation instructions
Before installing vertical blinds with your own hands, carefully read the manufacturer's instructions. The cornice assembly must be carried out in strict accordance with the attached diagram. For more details on how to assemble vertical blinds, see the video below.
For installation you will need:
- tape measure; level; pencil; drill; self-tapping dowel No. 6 or 8; screwdriver.
Follow the instructions above to make the markings.
If wall mounting requires a large indentation, use brackets with offset
Draw a line between the marks. Since the geometry of the premises is far from ideal, in order to get an even gap from below it is important:
- blinds to the window sill - the line along the marks must be strictly parallel to the window sill; the canvas to the floor - the line along the marks must be strictly parallel to the floor.
Attach the cornice to the line, mark the installation locations of the brackets. Measure the distance to the center of the window; the holders should be located at the same distance from the central axis.
Drill holes with a drill, remove dust, insert the plastic part of the dowel, it should be flush with the surface.
Attach the bracket and screw it with self-tapping screws. Check the installation geometry with a level. If the brackets are secured straight, attach the slider guide.
The video presents a detailed master class on how to fix the brackets on the wall with your own hands, correctly fix the guide and hang the slats.
Assembly of the canvas:
- install the eyelet holder in the upper pocket of the lamella; hang the strip on the slider and measure the required length of the lamella + 50-70 mm per hem, depending on the size of the weights; remove the strip, cut to size, hem; do an intermediate fitting, if the result is satisfactory, then use this template to fit the remaining lamellas; rotate the runners perpendicular to the glazing plane, hang the strips; insert weights; thread the connecting chain.
Vertical photoblinds should be adjusted in height from the edge from which less damage is caused to the integrity of the image
Installing blinds in 1 hour - step-by-step instructions for all types of curtains
If you have bought or ordered vertical or horizontal blinds, then we suggest that you install them yourself, because you can cope with this task even without experience, the main thing is to have the desire, 1 hour of free time and several tools.
Attention! Installing blinds does not require special skills, but keep in mind that any damage that occurs during independent work will exclude the possibility of warranty repairs or exchange/return of curtains.
Depending on the type of curtains, your preferences and conditions, blinds are installed:
- In the window opening;
- On the wall;
- To the ceiling;
- On the window itself.
We have compiled 3 step-by-step instructions and a selection of useful videos with which you can mount horizontal and vertical blinds of any type in any way.
To install horizontal blinds on a wall or to the ceiling, as well as to install vertical blinds above a window, you need to prepare:
- Electric drill with concrete drill 6-8 mm;
- Self-tapping screws and dowels 6-8 mm;
- Tape measure or ruler and level;
- Pencil;
- Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver;
- If it is necessary to shorten and cut curtains to width: a hacksaw, scissors, threads, needles.
Installation on non-standard openings
Vertical blinds can be installed on sloping and non-standard openings; they are also actively used in zoning space.
To create a curved opening, bendable guides are used to hang the slats; to fix them to the surface, it is necessary to install holders every 200-600 mm, depending on the shape of the bends and the weight of the blinds.
When installing vertical blinds with your own hands on a sloping opening, it is important that the slats move when the canvas is opened from the high side to the low. Installation is carried out as follows:
- we assemble the blinds and hang the slats; we put them in place, we mark along which line to cut the strips; we remove the slats from the runners and adjust them to size; we return the strips to the runners; we put the assembled blinds over the opening; we mark the place for the bottom bracket; we make a hole, insert a plastic element dowels, fasten the lower bracket; hook the guide to the canvas and, moving it up/down, adjust the position of the upper bracket so that the lower edge of the curtain is strictly parallel to the window sill or floor.
It is better to cut vertical slats to size on sloping openings after the blinds are installed
And be sure to watch the video review of vertical blinds in the interior.
After choosing a model, color and size, installing vertical blinds with proper skill takes no more than 1 hour. All operations described in the instructions supplied with the product can be performed independently by 1 person without special training or skills. When implementing this activity, it is important to take into account the features of the product and correctly install all structural parts.
Reasons for choice
This choice can be explained by the properties and characteristics of the product. More details:
- easy installation;
- simplicity of the opening system;
- varying the closing area at the request of the consumer;
- rotation of the panels allows you to keep the window closed with gaps for air and natural light;
- usual method of caring for the product;
- cleaning is required as it gets dirty, but much less often than other types of curtains require;
- visually increase the area of the room.
Vertical blinds are made both to individual orders and to standard sizes for windows of ordinary apartments. A combination of lamellas of different colors and patterns is considered original. It is possible to combine plastic or multi-textured strips with tulle.
Individual product designs can be installed by the contractor or the company’s service department for receiving orders. In this case, the location and method of installation will be determined in advance during measurements. Specialists will perform installation work efficiently, explain and show the rules of use.
If you decide to install it yourself, you need to perform a number of actions:
- study the instructions, you can watch a video course on assembly and installation;
- prepare the necessary tools and fasteners;
- check everything provided by the store or company where the product was purchased.
The instructions describe in detail the assembly and its sequence and steps. In addition, the diagrams show what is connected to what. The diagram describes how the holes are prepared and at what depth it is best to make them. The instructions describe different installation options.
Preparation
Before installing blinds, you need to prepare a minimum of tools:
- construction pencil; level (the longer, the better); tape measure; hammer drill; screwdriver (screwdriver).
Dowels Ø 6.8 mm will be required if they are not included in the kit along with the vertical blind brackets.
To imagine step by step how to hang it, in what order the parts and tools will be needed, you need to open the package of the blinds, visually lay out all the parts, check the contents with the passport, and determine the need for additional materials (according to the chosen mounting method).
Tools required for work
- roulette;
- building level;
- electric or hand drill;
- screwdriver
Parts for mounting to the ceiling:
- dowel;
- screw;
- latch;
- self-tapping screw;
- roulette;
- screwdriver
- fasteners;
- hammer.
Wall Mounting Parts
The same as for the ceiling, additionally: wall bracket, nut.
Accommodation options
The advantage of vertical blinds is that they can be hung on openings of various shapes: oblique, arched, round, curved. The cornice along which the slats move may not be straight. However, the basic installation principles are the same:
Determining the location of the entire curtain. A load-bearing cornice (a guide with a mechanism for controlling hanging strips) can be installed on the wall above the window, on the ceiling, in the opening itself according to the size of the frame.
The decision is made at the stage of choosing the model and dimensions of the curtain. Selecting the placement height. Mounting on horizontal surfaces does not imply such a question - the ceiling and the upper boundary of the window niche are already given. The answer is important when vertical blinds are mounted on a wall using brackets.
They are placed 0.1 - 0.15 m above the opening. The control size is the distance to the floor (0.1 - 0.3 m), to the window sill the gap is reduced to 0.5 cm to block the light passing through the glass. A design solution may include a curtain that will cover only 2/3 of the window.
Then this parameter is selected individually. Distance to the wall. The standard bracket size is within 150 mm. The slats must have free movement in a position perpendicular to the cornice (open position).
Therefore, the longitudinal axis of the supporting guide is located at a distance from the middle of the freely hanging curtain strip to the wallpaper or window frame profile, equal to ½ the width of the lamella + 1.5 cm. Offset relative to the center of the opening. In most models, using a tape measure it is enough to find the middle of the cornice and window, align them and mark the holes for drilling for dowels. The brackets, in this case, are placed at a distance of 5 - 6 cm from the edges.
They are mounted on bending mounting guides every 0.2 - 0.6 m. It is important to immediately determine on which side it is more convenient to place the mechanism control releases. Perhaps the peculiarities of the room’s furnishings will force you to shift the markings a little.
If the curtain has a rectangular shape, before drilling holes, carefully check with a level that the marked points of the horizontal axis coincide.
Electrically driven roller shutter suspension is mounted asymmetrically. The description shows installation dimensions on the engine side (right or left).
What are blinds made of?
The design of the blinds consists of:
- cornice for fastening the canvas;
- runners, thanks to which the strips of blinds move;
- the lamellas themselves (strips of fabric);
- chains or cords that ensure the assembly of blinds.
What are blinds made of?
For windows of non-standard shape, you need to use lamellas of a special length, which will best provide light protection to the room.
If your window has two sashes, then when installing the blinds, pay attention to the location of the blind lifting mechanism (right, left).
What are blinds made of?
Three ways to install blinds:
- onlay;
- for each window sash separately;
- directly into the window opening.
A factory set of blinds usually includes all materials for their installation: screws and self-tapping screws, as well as other parts.
Vertical fabric blinds
The choice of installation option is related to the design features of the window: installing blinds on standard double-hung windows is a little easier than on inclined roof windows. One of the most difficult is the installation of blinds on PVC windows, since working with plastic compared to, say, wood, has a number of specific features. The installation of cornices on plastic windows must be carried out as carefully as possible and it is better to do this in the warm season (at temperatures above +5 degrees Celsius).
Design of horizontal blinds
Installation of blinds on a window sash can be done using self-tapping screws, brackets, or by drilling holes in the frame. This is the most durable and reliable.
Important! The tightness of the profile does not suffer when the blind cornice is attached to it using drilling. If it becomes necessary to remove the cornice and holes remain in the frame, they can be filled with white silicone sealant.
If you don't want to drill holes, use brackets that attach to the frame without drilling.
Important! In most cases, blinds can be attached to screws that are already in the window profile. This installation method is no less reliable than drilling holes. You can learn about the possibility of such a simple installation from the blinds’ instructions.
Blinds