As soon as roller blinds appeared on the market, they seriously competed with metal and plastic blinds. The popularity of the new product is explained by its ease of use, compactness and original design of the products.
They are suitable for decorating the interior of any room: living room, children's room, bedroom, kitchen. But the main advantage is its exceptional compatibility with plastic windows. They are mounted directly on the frame, harmonize perfectly with the smooth surface of the transom, and if necessary, they can be installed without violating the integrity of the metal profile.
What types of roller blinds are there for plastic windows?
There are two varieties: open and closed, that is, cassette. The principle of the opening mechanism is the same for both types of products, but each of them has its own characteristics. Let's consider them separately.
Open roller blinds
This type of curtain consists of a plastic or metal shaft attached to the top crossbar of the frame, on which the fabric is wound.
Opening and closing is done using a simple mechanism - by pulling a chain (a rope with plastic balls attached at a certain interval), the shaft is set in motion, and the curtain fabric is either wound onto it and raised, or untwisted and lowered. To prevent the fabric from sagging on a window opened in ventilation mode, magnetic pads are attached to the bottom of the transom. With their help, a weighting agent (metal strip) mounted into the lower edge of the curtain is fixed.
Cassette roller blinds
The type of cassette, or closed roller blinds, are improved models of open-type products.
The shaft is located in a box, or cassette, and covers the canvas collected in a roll. Cassette blinds have an advantage over open ones in that dust does not collect on the fabric when the curtain is in the closed position. Thanks to this, they are easier to care for and can be washed less often. In addition, this type of curtain is equipped with side guides that hold the fabric and prevent it from deviating to the side when the window is opened for ventilation. Cassette roller blinds can be used on all types of plastic windows: tilting, rotating and tilt-and-turn.
Dimensions
The appearance of light filters is due to the popularity of plastic windows, because with their installation there was no need to hide window openings behind the usual curtains. Therefore, the dimensions of the products are mainly adapted to the standard sizes of modern double-glazed windows. However, it is also possible to resort to making them to order according to individual parameters.
The table shows the standard sizes of ready-made roller blinds for plastic windows in centimeters.
Width | Length |
34 | 170 |
43 | 170 |
48 | 170 |
52 | 170 |
57 | 170 |
62 | 170 |
68 | 170 |
73 | 170 |
81 | 170 |
95 | 170 |
115 | 170 |
68 | 215 |
Attention! The exception is the “Lux” models. A shaft with a diameter of up to 70 mm can withstand heavy, large blades. Therefore, such products can reach sizes of 3.5 m * 4.5 m!
Advantages
The biggest plus is compactness. They cover only the glass, leaving the window opening completely open, so they are ideal for small spaces: kitchen, small bedroom, children's room. They are especially often used to decorate the kitchen, when the work surface of the tables, stove or sink is located in close proximity to the window, since ordinary curtains quickly get dirty and there is a danger of the fabric catching fire.
The next advantage is that the curtains are hung on each sash and do not interfere with the opening of the frame. The window can be opened even with the curtain down. It is also not necessary to lower the fabric all the way to the windowsill - by unrolling the roll only partially, you can limit the access to sunlight. This is convenient, for example, when you need to get rid of glare on the monitor.
Recommendations for choosing fastenings
- You need to choose a location for attaching roller blinds based on the dimensions of the room, curtains, and window openings. If the opening is small, it is better to mount the product on the ceiling or wall at the top of the window.
- If the plastic double-glazed windows are new, you should not injure them with self-tapping screws. Once dismantled, the holes are difficult to hide from them. In this case, you should give preference to mini roller blinds. They can be secured without drilling - using double-sided tape.
The choice of fastening is primarily determined by the size and weight of the roller blind
- In some cases, tape and spring brackets cannot be used. We are talking about installing large curtains that have a considerable weight. Such a mount simply won’t hold up. It is better to use self-tapping screws.
Flaws
There are three disadvantages of roller blinds:
- Unreliable design. Indeed, roller blinds require careful handling; sudden movements should not be made when opening and closing. If there are doubts that these conditions will be met, it is better to buy products from reliable manufacturers;
- There is a gap between the edge of the open-type curtain fabric and the glass, into which sunlight penetrates. It must be remembered that they are used as an additional darkening option. The problem is solved by combining roller and regular curtains made of thick fabric. Also, you can buy cassette curtains rather than open curtains;
- The laconicism of roller blinds can cause difficulty when creating an interior in a style that requires some pomp. The problem can be solved by using additional curtains made of tulle, organza or other material suitable for the design of the room. They will give the window opening a more presentable look.
How to take measurements
You can measure the window yourself, but for open and cassette models they are performed differently. For closed roller blinds, measurements are made depending on the configuration of the glazing beads. If they are straight on a plastic window, only the glass should be measured: the width is equal to the distance between the side beads, and the height is between the upper and lower beads. If the glazing beads have a beveled edge, the distance is taken taking into account their width, that is, the width of the glass + 2 widths of the glazing bead. The height of the curtain is measured in the same way - the height of the glass + 2 widths of the glazing bead. Measurements should be taken with an accuracy of 1 mm.
Since open curtains do not require such precision, taking measurements for them is much easier. First, the width of the glass is measured and 30 mm is added to the result. Then the height of the glass is measured and added 120 mm. Additional millimeters can be increased depending on the size of the plastic window, but it is important that the additions are made equally on all sashes.
If something is not clear, watch this visual video:
How to attach roller blinds to plastic windows
There are three ways to attach open roller blinds to a plastic window. The easiest way is to glue them with double-sided tape. First, the upper part of the transom is wiped with a degreaser, after which the tape is heated with hot air from a regular hairdryer, the protective film is removed, and pressed tightly to the frame above the glass. To avoid mistakes and glue the curtain correctly, it is recommended to first draw a horizontal line along the bead. This fastening method is only suitable for curtains made of lightweight fabric. It is not recommended to use Moment type glue, which can damage the plastic surface.
The most reliable fastening with self-tapping screws. The brackets are pressed against the frame above the glazing beads and screwed into the mounting holes with self-tapping screws. Next, latches with gears are put on the shaft with the wound fabric and, when assembled, they are inserted into the brackets. You need to lightly press the tube-shaft until it clicks, which is a signal that the gears are in their proper place. By installing decorative plugs on the brackets, the mechanism is checked in action.
Necessary tools and materials for work
To install roller blinds, you should stock up on: a level, a screwdriver, a screwdriver, a pencil, self-tapping screws, and double-sided tape. If the mounting will be done on the wall, then you need to prepare a drill.
The photo shows the work with a screwdriver. A fragment of mounting the holder to the wall is captured. The equipment is positioned strictly parallel to the floor, in order to avoid crooked screwing in of the self-tapping screw.
How to install cassette types of roller blinds
It is not difficult to handle the installation of cassette types; the main thing is to control the accuracy of the measurements and prevent distortions.
- The cassette is applied to the top of the frame as close to the glazing bead as possible and the horizontal level is checked;
- Make notes with a pencil through the mounting holes;
- The product is secured with self-tapping screws, making sure that they exactly coincide with the previously made marks;
- Put on decorative covers and check the mechanism in action;
- The protective coating is removed from the underside of the vertical guide, its upper end is inserted under the cover and glued along the glazing bead;
- In the same way, glue the guide strip on the opposite side;
- Using a chain, lower the curtain fabric to the bottom bead, and install a limiter on the chain;
- Install a control chain lock that will hold it when the frame is tilted into ventilation mode.
You can install cassette curtains without drilling by using double-sided polyurethane foam tape, which securely holds products made of plastic and aluminum. But you need to know that this method of fastening has its drawbacks - over time, the plastic in places of contact with the tape may change color. If after a few years, for some reason, the curtains are removed, traces of their presence will forever remain at the place where the guides and brackets are attached.
Important! The chain should be located on the side of the canopies (slopes). In this location it will not interfere with opening the window.
Installation procedure
1.1.
Unpack the blinds by carefully cutting the packaging sleeve. Be careful with cutting objects that may damage the product. Unwind the chain of command. 1.2. If the product has a side fixation, then before installation it is necessary to tie a knot at one end of the fishing line. Thread the end of the fishing line with the knot into the upper (or lower) rectangular hole of the bracket. After installation, the assembly should be clamped between the bracket plane and the frame (tape platform or throw-on bracket). Perform this operation with another fishing line. Note: To install the line in a fully closed state, a minimum of 2.5 cm of height must be provided under the bottom bar of the finished product to install the bottom bracket.
How to care
The way to care for roller blinds depends on the situation and the fabric from which they are made. Typically, the product's operating instructions indicate products that can be used to clean the canvas. If a stain appears, remove it with an eraser. During routine cleaning, non-aggressive detergents are recommended that do not contain acidic or alkaline components that can change the color of the fabric.
It is easier to care for cassette types, since they are in the box most of the day, and no dust gets on them - just wipe the guide strips and the case itself with a damp cloth, and vacuum the canvas.
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Pipe selection
The main rule: the larger the product, the larger the shaft diameter should be. We offer pipes of various diameters to manufacturers. All our shafts are made of high-quality aluminum and have a special groove for fixing the fabric.
Shaft diameter, mm | Curtain area, sq. m |
17, 18, 19 | up to 3.7 |
25 | 3,7 |
32 | 5,5 |
40 | up to 8 |
50 | more than 8 (large sizes) |