Roller blinds gained popularity when double-glazed windows appeared. A simple design consisting of a dense material fixed to the shaft. A simple control system allows you to quickly open and close the window. Due to its high aesthetic qualities, ease of use and ease of maintenance, this version of blinds is in constant demand. To determine the dimensions, you will need a measuring meter and a pen with a notepad to record the result.
Mini roller blinds
This type of curtain is popular due to its affordable price and ease of installation. The material is wound onto an open shaft, and uniform stretching of the canvas in the horizontal plane is ensured by a weighting agent located along the entire length of the lower edge.
Peculiarities
Roller blinds easily regulate the lighting in your home. They can completely darken a room or gently diffuse light. Main advantages of the products:
- protection from the sun, noise and prying eyes;
- compact design – space saving;
- simplicity and ease of control;
- great design possibilities;
- durability - do not wear out over time and do not lose their aesthetic appearance;
- do not attract dust, do not fade in the sun;
- fabrics and mechanisms do not contain harmful substances;
- reasonable price - depends on the size of the window, fabric and system.
Cassette roller blinds
The fabric is hidden in a closed box, which protects it from sunlight. If its color is chosen in accordance with the texture of the frame, it will be absolutely invisible. Depending on the type, roller blinds for plastic windows can completely cover the entire opening or be attached to each segment separately.
Which blinds provide better sun protection?
Fabric selection
Fabrics for roller blinds can be divided into four groups according to material density:
- The first group is light translucent fabrics. They do not provide significant darkening, but play more of a decorative function. These fabrics should be used when it is necessary to achieve a slight darkening effect and use the product only as an element of window decoration. Translucent fabrics are produced mainly with patterns.
- The second group is dense fabrics that provide significant darkness in the room. They can be either patterned or plain. They should be used in moderate sun. They have both a decorative and sun protection function.
- The third group is very dense fabrics. The products are best used in very strong sun, for example, if you have a south-facing window or a large window. In addition to their sun protection function, they are also used as a decorative window design element. These fabrics come in patterned and plain colors.
- The fourth group is blackout fabrics, or complete blackout. They come with a pattern and plain ones. When a roller blind made of this fabric is lowered, even in the middle of the day when the sun is shining, your room will be completely dark.
How to take measurements for wall and ceiling installation
Before purchasing such curtains, the horizontal indicator is determined and 10 cm is added to it. It is recommended to measure the length after choosing the installation variation. First, the height of the opening itself is measured. If the box is mounted above the window, then 10 cm is added to the resulting result. This is where it should be screwed. For ceiling mounting, measure the distance from the ceiling to the window sill. The standard length of similar products available in stores is 180 cm.
Window measurement
In order for roller blinds to have an aesthetic appearance and high practicality, you need to understand how to measure correctly. Roller blinds are divided into several types, and each has its own characteristics of taking measurements.
Classic version
To correctly measure curtains that will subsequently be used for plastic windows, you first need to find out exactly where the roller blinds will be mounted. They can be attached to the window frame itself or on the window opening.
What measurements need to be taken:
- Curtain width – “B”. Minimum width – 50 cm, maximum – 300 cm.
- Height – “H”. The minimum curtain height is 50 cm, the maximum is 300 cm.
- The length of roller blinds is marked “L”. The minimum length is 27 cm and ad infinitum.
Each type of roller blind has its own acceptable dimensions. They directly depend on the type of material from which they are made. The control length cannot be less than 2/3 of the finished product.
Fastening directly to the window opening:
- “H” depends on the length of the protruding parts of the window sill. If the window sill is flush, then the dimensions are at your discretion.
- If installation is carried out on a wall, boundaries must be respected. The distance between the roller blind and the ceiling must be at least 7 cm; it must be carefully measured.
Cassette
Uni-1 cassette roller blinds are measured as follows:
- “B” is measured along the width of the glass unit, along the vertical of the window. The measurement is taken very accurately.
- “H” measurements are carried out in the same way as “B”, only horizontally. Which side the control will be located on is determined individually - at the request of the customer.
- Level “H” depends on calculations and is 2/3 of the length of the product.
Uni 2 must be measured very carefully. The location of the fittings on the plastic window is of great importance when taking measurements:
- “B” is equal to the width of the glass unit + 6.8 cm. We must not forget that the width of the product is 2 cm less, that is, a minimum of 25 cm and a maximum of 120 cm.
- “H” is equal to the distance between the top of the upper plug and the bottom of the lower plug of the guidance system. The minimum is 20 cm and the maximum is 150 cm.
Determining the size of roller blinds according to the Mini type:
- The mount is installed on the window frame. To do this, measurements are taken “B” (directly of the double-glazed window itself), then you need to add the width of the glazing bead, it is approximately 0.4 cm. The remaining dimensions are calculated in the same way. Then you should choose a convenient side to control the curtain mechanism. The approximate length of the lace is 2/3 of “H”.
- In the event that a metal-plastic window is opened for ventilation, fixing chips for curtains are attached to its lower part. The clamps are needed so that during ventilation the roller blinds or blinds do not sweep away everything on the windowsill.
Related article: Horizontal adjustment of plastic windows
How to take measurements when installing blinds in a window opening
The difficulty with this screwing method lies in the frequent discrepancy between the span in different areas of the window. A similar problem can occur with height.
What are roller blinds for? Advantages over other types of sun protection products
Width measurement is taken at the top. 1 cm is subtracted from the total. Then the height from the window sill to the top edge of the window is measured, 1 cm is subtracted from the data obtained. If the geometry is slightly broken, the stock is enough for the purchased product to fit inside.
Types of fastening
We've decided on the fabrics. Now you need to figure out how the roller blind should be attached. If you already have regular curtains or tulle hanging, then the best option for attaching the roller blind is to the sash or to the window frame. If there are several sashes - two, three or more, as, for example, on a balcony, it is better to install the curtain on each sashe separately. It will be more convenient.
If you don’t have regular curtains or tulle at all, or you plan to remove them, then the option of mounting a roller blind on the wall (like a regular cornice) or mounting it to the ceiling will suit you.
Although the first option of mounting on the sash or window frame can also be considered. For example, in the kitchen, instead of regular tulle, because it constantly gets dirty, you can use a closed system of roller blinds. The shaft with the fabric is covered with an aluminum box matching the color of the window, and aluminum guides also matching the color of the window are placed along the edges. They serve to secure the fabric.
Due to the fact that a product with a closed system is attached directly to the window, it is completely removed from the main sources of pollution, such as the stove and sink. That is why the product will last a long time even without additional cleaning.
Placing roller blinds on the window frame
The disadvantage of screwing blinds in one of the most common ways is the lack of access to the window and restrictions on opening and closing it. There are mini-cassette blinds that are mounted directly on each section. The canvas is rolled up and stored in a box located on top of the frame of the opening element. Manufacturers offer another modification of such curtains - UNI 2. This type differs in that the guides are installed on both sides of the glass.
How to measure a roller blind when attaching it to a sash? It is important to know two values - horizontal and vertical size. The width corresponds to the distance between the glazing beads framing the glass. To determine the vertical value, the entire sash is measured.
How to care for roller blinds?
Roller curtains installed in fragments most often have to be ordered from a specialized organization. In addition to the dimensions, it is important to decide on which side the closing mechanism should be located and choose the material.
Roman blinds are a modern solution for owners of double-glazed windows. First you need to determine the location of their placement and measure it. And also decide on accessories and fabric. If all the steps are completed correctly, then the chosen option will please you for a long time.
Main types
The products do not require special care, but it is advisable to treat them with care. By appearance, curtains are divided into open and closed types.
Open type products
They consist of fabric and a shaft. The open shaft is usually attached to the top of the window (sash) using brackets. The types of fastening depend on the size and area of the window; brackets of larger and smaller sizes are used.
Small brackets (mini system) are usually installed on the window sash, large ones - on the frame or window opening. The fabric is wound onto the shaft. Open type roller blinds are controlled using a chain mechanism. A decorative strip is installed at the bottom of the fabric, thanks to which the fabric does not sag and is evenly wound.
To fix the product (especially when opening a window), magnetic fixation can be used. With magnetic fixation, an open-type product is fixed using magnets and metal plates (in several places). Fixation on a fishing line occurs along the entire height of the curtain, so it is more practical and effective than magnetic fixation.
Closed type products
Closed roller blinds consist of fabric and a shaft, but the shaft is placed in a plastic or aluminum box, and guide strips are placed along the edges of the fabric, which perform the function of fixing the fabric. Closed-type products are very suitable when you do not plan to use tulle and curtains - for example, when decorating a balcony or loggia. Thanks to the refinement of the aluminum frame, the effect of completing the window design is achieved.
Guides for closed-type products eliminate the possibility of light penetration between the glass and the fabric, so you can achieve complete darkness of the room. Closed-type products can have flat and U-shaped guides.
To add even more sophistication, closed-type products can be equipped with decorative chains of different colors.
Measurement Rules
To select and buy suitable roller blinds, you need to measure the window correctly. To do this, you need to find out the following parameters:
- Width. For correct measurement, indicate the width from the joint of the bead to the frame on one side, and the joint of the bead to the frame on the other side - this will be the width of the fabric. In roller blinds with an open type mechanism, the overall width of the roller blind will be 38 mm larger than the width of the fabric due to the upper side mounting fasteners. The roller blind measured in this way completely covers the double-glazed window and the window bead, which ensures maximum overlap of the opening.
- Height. To correctly measure a fabric roller shutter, indicate the size from the joint of the bead to the frame at the bottom to the joint of the bead to the frame at the top. The size of the roller shutter mechanism is added to the height of the fabric and is about 70mm (36mm roller shutter +34mm bottom space).
Related article: Standard window height from the floor
It is worth paying attention to the depth of the roller blind mechanism, which is approximately 36 mm. It is necessary to take into account the distance from the edge of the roller shutter mechanism to the slope. The opening angle of the window depends on this distance.
Window measurement
For accurate measurements, the following recommendations must be taken into account:
Using a tape measure, we measure the glass in width and length (along the sash). The data obtained will help determine the design that is suitable for the window. It is also necessary to measure the depth of the bead. With a depth of 1.5 centimeters, the “Uni” curtain is suitable. For sizes less than 1.5 centimeters (and inclusive), you should opt for the “Profil” or “Mini” system designs.
The overall width is the width of the curtain. Therefore, the size of the tube on which the rolled fabric is attached will be the necessary parameter in measuring the width of the curtains.
