How to install Wooden Blinds?

[smr]

Hi,

I'm useless at DIY and need to install blinds for my Windows. There's a 2 inch Wooden Batten above each Window, do I install the blinds onto them, or if not how is the best way of doing it and how do I measure for the right size etc.

Appreciate any help

 

[simo182]

All the vertical or Venetian blinds I’ve ever had have been installed actually within the alcove if that makes sense. When you do made to measure blinds they ask the space they are going in, from my experience.

so you would just measure from one side to the other and top to bottom.

 

[Toxile]

As posted you can fit inside the alcove or outside on the wooden batten, the choice is yours. My experience is that fitting inside is the best look and easiest to do. If you go inside you will need to measure 3 points on the width (top, middle and bottom) and choose your smallest measurement. Measuring the drop is just one measurement as the blind company always add a little to the drop measurement anyway.
I've always used Blinds2Go where i have fitted blinds, quite cheap and pretty decent quality.

 

[thezappa]

And for added excitement you might have a steel lintel over the window. That’ll be fun drilling though (won’t be that bad just something to bare in mind).

 

[Toxile]

And for added excitement you might have a steel lintel over the window. That’ll be fun drilling though (won’t be that bad just something to bare in mind).

If he has steel lintels more than likely there's a 20mm gap or so between the plasterboard and lintel so more than enough room to fix in plasterboard fixings

 

[thezappa]

Not sure I agree with that. I’ve seen plenty of lintels that have had plasterboard dabbed straight on to them.

 

[Russinating]

Meh, either way, HSS drill bit and don't ask questions .

 

[Semple]

Or just drill into the side rather than the top.

You could fit them over the window, but most people fit them recess.

You've got two options for buying blinds:
- Buy a set of custom made based on your measurements - but will be a little more expensive
- Buy a pre-made width set of blinds, and then cut down to your required size - a bit of DIY involved, but the blinds will be cheaper

 

[HungryHippos]

My blind brackets are generally drilled in left/right in the reveal/alcove rather than to the top.

Need to remember to allow room for the window handles on the drop through, so don't mount directly next to the window. Give a bit of a gap so that the blind can naturally be lowered without the handle being in the way.

 

[Vanilla]

Many of the online blind sites (blinds2go for example) will give you instructions on how to measure. I've done it with many windows and it's been perfect every time.

I usually get someone from Taskrabbit to install for me as, like you, I suck at anything DIY and they've done it many times.

 

[pp111]

You can attach them to the batten that is there, and have then wider than the opening, or you can ( more commonly ) pace a new batton inside the opening and have them slightly smaller than the opening.
The difficulty with the latter is that the lintel can be difficult to attach a wooden batten to. Most modern lintels are hollow metal so can be both difficult to drill ( without the drill skipping about like a lunatic ) and also difficult to screw in to securely. If the lintel is concrete then you need a pretty beefy drill to get in to it and if you hit a reinforcing bar you have no hope.

 

[200sols]

Why would you use a batten on the lintel.. Just screw the brackets directly to the lintel using self tappers.

 

[IvanDobskey]

Blinds go in the recess, just measure and cut them down. Easy job.

The batten over the window is for a curtain pole.

 

[Duke]

My blind brackets are generally drilled in left/right in the reveal/alcove rather than to the top.

Need to remember to allow room for the window handles on the drop through, so don't mount directly next to the window. Give a bit of a gap so that the blind can naturally be lowered without the handle being in the way.

Yes same here in terms of fitting. I had to move the ones which were left here away from the window a bit for that reason. Also it allows a bit of ventilation around them.

 

[pp111]

Why would you use a batten on the lintel.. Just screw the brackets directly to the lintel using self tappers.

Batten is easier to get the holes for the blind in the right place and easier in future if you change the blind. Personal choice I suppose, but I always fit battens to lintels, it's a little extra work but it makes life easier later on.