Questions tagged [blinds]
The blinds tag has no usage guidance.
123
questions
14
votes
10
answers
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How to fit a screw into a drilled big hole on wall?
I am fitting a window blind on a wall.
The wall is made of plaster board as far as I have known.
I have drilled a hole on wall bigger than the screw size.
The drilled hole on the wall has a diameter ...
- 253
6
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How can I make a bedroom with lots of windows darker?
I'm moving into a gorgeous new house with one wrinkle: my bedroom has two full walls of windows, plus skylights. Most of the day, this is great, but at night, I really want it dark where I sleep.
I ...
- 3,522
6
votes
1
answer
2k
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In vertical blinds, what is the part called that attaches a slat to the rail?
A few days ago, our dog clipped our vertical blinds, taking one slat down. I was going to re-attach the single fallen slat to the mounting clip that's connected to the rail, but a small gear inside ...
- 321
5
votes
1
answer
24k
views
How do you replace missing vertical blind slats?
I need some advice about vertical vinyl blinds for a screen door. Right now I'm missing 4 or 5 of the blinds. Should I buy replacements slats or a new set? When you buy them, will you they be cut to ...
- 377
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Replace the Cord in Vertical Blinds
My cord in my vertical blinds is fraying and I am afraid it is going to break at any moment. Has anyone restrung their blinds? Where is the best place to get replacement cord and what do I need to ...
- 2,514
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What is this nut called and can it be removed and reused/replaced?
Can anyone tell me what this nut is called and how to remove it in a way I can return the mechanism to normal working order? Also, what kind of special tools will I need?
The first photo is of the ...
- 1,056
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How can I inexpensively sand the ends of wooden blinds?
I need to sand down some wooden blinds because they are about a millimeter too wide for the old window frames they are going into.
I'm trying to figure out a cheap and easy way to sand down about 6 ...
- 142
3
votes
4
answers
865
views
How do you invisibly connect polymer ball chains?
This is a section of the ball chain from my roller blind. It seems to be a length of braided polymer cord with little thermoplastic spheres moulded around it.
It's one continuous loop and I cannot ...
- 669
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can I paint a window roller blind with spray paint to reflect sunlight?
I have an IKEA window roller blind similar to this one. The material is 100% plastic.
It is however dark blue, so it absorbs a lot of sunlight and so it warms up the apartment.
I was thinking of ...
- 133
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why do my blinds keep popping out of their mounting clips?
I have some blinds in a bedroom that fall down EVERY TIME I tug on the cord (these were here when I moved in).
There are 3 clip-in metal pieces drilled into the wall, that the blinds "snap" ...
- 131
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How can I set up a timer for my motorized blinds?
My room has a window with motorized shades, which can be brought up or down using a switch that's in the same enclosure as the light switches in the room.
I want to set it up so I could program the ...
- 829
3
votes
1
answer
20k
views
Can I use shorter screws to mount my blinds?
I've bought a pair of blinds that came with 1 1/4 inch screws; I'm unable to drill deep enough into the frame to fit the screws, the screws are sticking about 1/8 of a inch out . I end up hitting ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
140
views
Motor for DIY Remote controlled shades
I'm currently undertaking a project to build remote controlled shades from scratch. I currently have every piece figured out except I don't know know much about the motors involved in something like ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
232
views
Is there any easy way to open/close bay window blinds at the same time?
We have a bay window with normal wooden venetian blinds. The bay window has 5 individual blinds like this (http://www.mainfineintl.com/documents/FauxWood1.jpg) which use a twisting rod to open and ...
- 221
2
votes
11
answers
43k
views
How do I uninstall a velux blackout blind?
(A Velux blind is a brand of skylight/roof-window in the UK that's apparently quite popular).
We have a couple of velux windows with blinds attached. We'd like to swap them for the black-out blind ...
- 247
2
votes
1
answer
609
views
Removing Excess Blind Material
I have blinds on my new windows and the blinds are too long for the window opening. My guess is this is done to make them universal. How do you remove the excess and reattach the bottom?
- 3,295
2
votes
1
answer
127
views
Is there a name for open-top curtains?
I've walked around my neighborhood, and seen curtains that leave around the top 1/4 of the window open, which I really like. It seems to provide the same amount of privacy, but also let in a good ...
- 145
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How can I prevent the light leaks on the side of blackout motorized blinds
I bought motorized blackout blinds from Ikea. After installing it I still see lights coming out of the side of the blinds. What can I do it completely block the light from entering in? Please see the ...
- 145
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
flange/u-channel for black-out blinds?
This is a question about a specific solution for a problem that's been asked before.
The best solution is u-channels that the blinds' hem bar can travel up and down within. This solution can be seen ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Is installing blinds a DIY Project?
My wife and I have been in our home for a little less than a year, and the paper blinds are starting to get tired to look at. The prices on blinds.com look appealing, but I'm hoping there are no ...
- 1,074
2
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Can I hang two inch blinds with only one inch of available window sill overhang?
I just had new windows installed in the house and they look great! It's definitely time now to put up some decent looking blinds.
I love the look of the two-inch blinds (nothing fancy - most stuff at ...
- 314
2
votes
1
answer
90
views
Calculating the effectiveness of sunlight reduction solutions
Our new place has a few large windows facing west - this makes for a baking-hot house in the afternoons.
Curtains have been put up, but they are hot to the touch, and the rooms do feel hot (dark ...
- 263
2
votes
1
answer
903
views
Broken plastic gadget on blind
The plastic gadget that contols the string for opening/closing and lifting/lowering of the blinds broke. In not sure, but it may need new string too. Is that something I can easily fix myself? I ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
257
views
how to drill through two different materials
I installed blinds in my kitchen.
I put the screws into the wall. The wall was plaster and inside it was a thin metal sheet.
The screws were 1/8 inches. So I drilled two holes of 1/8 inches through ...
- 495
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How can I make my room darker at night?
I live in a place where we do not have completely dark nights in the summer.
This is how my room looks like (picture from the web, just example - Sliding doors with vertical blinds).
I'm looking for ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
534
views
Hiding inside mount cellular blinds in shallow window
I've got some inside mount cellular shades that are about 2" thick. My current windows are very shallow as they are newer windows installed in an older home. All told to the drywall there's only ...
- 21
1
vote
4
answers
2k
views
How to heatproof an eastward sliding glass door
I have an eastward facing sliding glass door in my bedroom. During the morning, the beating California sun cooks the room, raising it to 80-90 degrees F (26-32 Celsius) by 9 AM. While the blinds don't ...
- 163
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
What is/are the proper method and tools for drilling into masonry?
Related to this question, The blinds project has gone pretty smooth up until this point. It seems that some walls have plaster or masonry behind them. Probably not a big deal, but I've snapped a ...
- 1,074
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
How to rehang vertical blinds on a damaged bay ceiling?
My vertical blind has lost two of its four brackets. It was fixed to the ceiling of my bay window and the plugs and screws have pulled away. Is it possible to fill and replug in the same place and ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Is it possible to motorize the raising and lowering of cordless blinds?
Backgroud
We are in the market for some cordless blinds to cover multiple windows in our home. I would love to eventually have motorized blinds (tilt AND raise / lower) that can integrate with Home ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
171
views
How to sand plaster corner using oscillating tool?
I'm fitting a blackout blind and the width of the opening of the window recess at the top narrows over at the the final 4 cm or so (1.6") by a maximum of perhaps 2.5 mm (1/10 th of an inch). The ...
- 149
1
vote
2
answers
67
views
What type of blinds are these? [closed]
We are living in a rentl property and there are some blinds in the windows that I would like to replace for the time we are here. They are roman blinds that have a bar along the top and are just ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
What glue to hold wooden batten to ceiling for window blind
Today I attempted to put up a window blind, fixing it to the ceiling (there is no option to drill into the window frame)
My metal/pipe detector has 'pinged' where I want to drill the holes into the ...
- 447
1
vote
2
answers
261
views
Can installers inside mount thick insulating cellular shades over our uneven, decorative trim?
We have a 1924 craftsman home with 8 original double hung windows still intact:
We want to preserve them, but they're crap when it comes to insulation so we're going to purchase double cell cellular ...
- 65
1
vote
1
answer
118
views
Why do blinds have two different close options?
This hopefully works on this site. It certainly should be DIY, though a rather paltry task.
Why do blinds have two close options? There are two different angles that they can be closed and this seems ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
how to find out if wall is plaster, wood or drywall?
I want to install blinds in my kitchen.
However, I can't figure out if the wall is wood or plaster.
I need to know this before starting to drill because the holding mechanism for the blinds, it can'...
- 495
1
vote
2
answers
241
views
How do I remove this roller blinder for cleaning?
In Ireland we have this Luxaflex roller blinder:
It seems that should be possible to remove the blind for cleaning without having to remove the screws from the wall. How can I do it?
- 141
1
vote
1
answer
711
views
Which way to Rotate Vertical Blinds during the Cold Winter?
Which way do you rotate vertical blinds during the winter? I wanted to keep the place warmer, and keep cold air out. Should the Curved edges of the vane
Curved edges be turned towards you, facing ...
- 388
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
Using strong magnets for hanging window blinds
I have a wide window a touch less than 6' across and I want to install a blind with 2" deep horizontals. The blind that was within my price range comes with five support brackets, which can either ...
- 115
1
vote
1
answer
105
views
Persian blinds: why the headrail is open at the top
Why is the headrail (A) U-shaped without a top cover?
I would say it will accumulate dirt over time through this open top.
Is it always this way with Persian blinds and if so what is the reason ...
- 175
1
vote
1
answer
350
views
Name of Part That Connects Blinds Wand With Blinds Roller and How to Replace It?
I have blinds where the part connecting the blinds roller and the blinds wand is broken. The part looks like:
What's the name of this part? How do I go about fixing / replacing it?
- 123
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Cordless blinds won't raise completely
I have one vinyl cordless blind that won't raise all the way.
To raise, you lift the bottom rail and the blinds go up. About 3-4" from the headrail the blinds stop going up, every once in a ...
- 3,051
1
vote
1
answer
219
views
How can I mount inside-mount blinds which are too wide?
I bought some blinds that were made to size and my measurement seems to be off by 1/8". The blinds themselves fit - albeit just barely - but with the mounting hardware they are too wide by about ...
- 183
1
vote
1
answer
31
views
Valence Clips for Blinds
We have some windows with 20+ year old blinds, and the valence clips have broken on several of them. The clip mechanism looks a little funky with 3 parts involved: the valence itself (3" across),...
- 111
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Proper way to hang valance over kitchen window between cabinets
What’s the proper was to hang a valance at the top of this window in the kitchen between cabinets? Will have horizontal blinds it covers. Tile backsplash runs up to the top of the cabinets. Window ...
- 21
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
How do I fix a counterweighted accordion blind that is stuck?
We have accordion style blinds.
These are assisted...meaning that we can raise and lower the blinds just by lifting or pulling down. No need to pull any strings directly.
Now the assist mechanism ...
- 5,030
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
How do I fix the twist mechanism on a blind?
As you can see from the image below the twisting mechanism which holds the longer stick to adjust the angle of the blind as broken.
Any ideas on how this can be fixed, either by fitting a new ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
2-3kg blinds into drywall/plasterboard
I want to mount my 120cm long blinds into the face of the wall above my 110(ish) cm PVC window recess, but I don't feel like standard plugs would be sufficient. There are three brackets, each held ...
- 13
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
How can I prevent light from coming in around the edges of black out blinds?
My experience is that black out blinds always let a little bit of light in round the sides. What do other people recommend as a solution to this?
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
169
views
Blinds vs Curtains [closed]
I have a bunch of uncovered windows. For The large ones I am thinking curtains. To take care of everything at once I though just use curtains for all of them. Though practically most curtains are only ...
- 241