Blinds Buying Guide
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Sterlingbuild - Buying Guides
- 23 Feb 2018
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- Reading time: 9 minutes
Blinds Buying Guide
Complementing your pitched or flat roof window with a blind is the perfect way of controlling the amount of sunlight that enters your home.
Along with this primary function, the right type of blind can complete the look of any room as a prominent part of the decor and help keep it at a comfortable temperature.
Our guide will take your through the wide range of blinds that are
available and explain how their unique benefits can make for the perfect match to your roof windows and rooflights.
Where can I find my window code?
All
roof windows
have a type sign (or data plate) that carries a code that tells us when the window was manufactured as well as the size of your window. The way to locate your code is very similar across all roof window brands but here we explain how to locate each one individually.
How to locate your VELUX code
If you have a
centre pivot
window, you can locate your
VELUX
type sign by opening the window from the top by using the ventilation bar and bringing the sash to eye-level. You’ll now be looking at the top edge of the sash. The data plate will be on the right-hand side of the top edge; if you have a window manufactured after January 2014, it will be on the left-hand side.
If you have a
top hung
roof window, you can locate your type sign in a similar way to the centre-pivot. Open the handle at the bottom of the window but do not push the sash. Open the window to centre-pivot mode and then follow the instructions above to locate your type side.
How to locate your FAKRO code
If you have a
centre pivot
window, you can locate your
FAKRO
type sign by opening the window from the bottom and using the handle, push open the sash until the top of the sash is eye-level. You’ll now be looking at the top edge of the sash. The data plate will be on the right-hand side of the top edge.
If you have a
top hung
roof window, you can locate your type sign in a similar way to the centre-pivot. Open the handle at the bottom of the window but do not push the sash. Open the window to centre-pivot mode and then follow the instructions above to locate your type side.
How to locate your RoofLITE code
If you have a
centre pivot
window, you can locate your
RoofLITE
type sign by opening the window from the bottom and using the handle, push open the sash until the top of the sash is eye-level. You’ll now be looking at the top edge of the sash. The data plate will be on the left or right-hand side of the top edge.
If you have a
means of escape
roof window, you can locate your type sign in a similar way to the centre-pivot. Open the handle at the bottom of the window and push open the sash until the top of the sash is eye-level. You’ll now be looking at the top edge of the sash. The data plate will be on the left or right-hand side of the top edge.
What are the different types of blind?
We have a wide variety of blinds available. From blackout blinds designed to
prevent all light from entering the room
to energy saving blinds that are
great for trapping heat.
Blackout blinds
Blackout blinds are seen as the ideal choice for bedrooms due to their ability to completely shut out all light and ensure a peaceful snooze.
Whether it’s a hot summer’s day and you want to keep the heat outside the room or
a miserably cold winter’s eve and you’d prefer to keep the heat inside, the reflective design of blackout blinds can achieve either effect.
To delight the children and add a bit of character to their room, we have a selection of VELUX Disney and Star Wars blinds that feature an array of popular characters from TV and film, including Frozen blinds and Winnie the Pooh blinds.
Blackout blinds are also available from
FAKRO,
ECO+
and
RoofLITE.
Roller blinds
A cross between having a blackout blind and no blind at all, roller blinds offer a good level of privacy while still allowing natural daylight to flood the room, thus making them an obvious solution for loft bedrooms and bathrooms, but practical for living rooms and kitchen areas too.
The light coming through the window is softened by the design of the roller blind, meaning you can get the best of both worlds by enjoying the day’s sun and your privacy at the same time.
Roller blinds are available for
the VELUX Group,
FAKRO
and
RoofLITE.
Venetian blinds
Venetian blinds are made with aluminium horizontal slats that tilt open to allow complete control of light and privacy. Like roller blinds, they are perfectly suitable for all rooms but are ideal for kitchen extensions and bathrooms.
The structure of a Venetian blind makes them easy to keep spic and span as cleaning is a straightforward wipe clean job.
Venetian blinds are available for
the VELUX Group
and
FAKRO.
Pleated blinds
Pleated blinds are perfect for installation in living and dining rooms thanks to their capability to be positioned anywhere on the window. The design of the blind softens the incoming daylight and allows you to have total control over how much enters the room.
We have over 5,000 pleated blinds available for VELUX
and FAKRO roof windows in a mixture of different sizes and colours.
Pleated blinds come in two main types: manually operated
blackout pleated
and light dimming/ standard pleated- available in electric and solar.
For flat roof windows, the VELUX Group and ECO+ have a selection of blinds
in pleated styles. ECO+ offers blackout pleated
blinds for complete darkness, whatever time of day, and pleated translucent blinds for manipulation of the climate.
Roman blinds
Roman blinds are made using soft rolls of fabric which create a waterfall effect when pulled up and then straighten out as a flat piece of fabric when closed. Roman blinds are a great choice if it is a light and warm ambience you are trying to bring to your room.
The blinds’ fabric can be easily removed for cleaning, or, if you are looking for replacement cloth, a variety of different coloured fabrics can be purchased separately from the blind. Stylish and modern colours include white origami, infinite sand and structured cappuccino.
Roman blinds are becoming more and more popular every year as a stylish yet minimalistic window covering. Roman blinds are available exclusively to VELUX roof windows in patterned and solid designs.
Energy saving blinds
Similar in purpose to blackout blinds, energy saving blinds are manufactured to both deflect sunlight away from the room and keep heat trapped in it when down. Available exclusively for VELUX roof windows, this practical design is what gives energy saving blinds their name as less money needs to be spent on heating.
Another feature that energy saving blinds share with blackout blinds is their ability to bring complete darkness to your room, making them ideal
for early-afternoon naps.
Along with blackout pleated design, energy saving blinds come in light dimming
style for greater control over the daylight.For flat roof VELUX windows, energy saving pleated blinds, available in electric and solar, can provide your flat glass rooflight or flat glass domed rooflight with an effective screen against the sun.
Insect screens
Keep the sun in and flies out by installing a special insect screen that allows you to enjoy the healthy benefits of having your window open without the worry of insects invading your home.
Insect screens, or fly screens as they are also known, offer a minimum amount of shading. The transparent fabric conveniently stows away into an aluminium top casing when not in use for a tidy finish.
A solid option for kitchen and dining room roof windows, especially in the summer months when mosquitos and flies love to turn up to the party uninvited.
Manually operated insect screens are available for VELUX and FAKRO roof windows.
What external blinds are available?
Keep light out, improve thermal efficiency and deliver a sleek look to your roof with external blinds.
Awning blinds
Awning blinds go outside of
roof windows, acting as the first line of defence in stopping strong sun rays hitting the window pane.
As well as protecting the glass, the external fitting reduces excess heat from entering the home, making awning blinds a smart choice if you want to keep your room cool and comfortable.
Awning blinds can be fitted
in a matter of minutes and are available in all operating styles from the VELUX Group and FAKRO.RoofLITE have a manual
option for their pitched roof windows.
The VELUX Group and FAKRO also produce awning blinds for flat roof windows.
Roller shutters
Like awning blinds, Roller shutters are built to prevent your room from overheating and for a complete
blackout- day and night.
On top of its two primary functions, roller shutters also bring extra protection from the cold weather and outside noise, including the sound of rainfall and hail.
VELUX roller shutters, available in manual, electric and solar operating styles, can be combined with VELUX blackout blinds and blackout energy savings blinds.
FAKRO also offers roller shutters in all three methods of operation.
Extras for your blinds
Opening accessories and tools allow you to open roof windows that are out
of reach.
Control rod
Blinds do not have to be restricted to eye-level roof window installations as a control rod enables you to fit your VELUX or FAKRO blind of choice as high up as you like.
Workable
by simply hooking
the rod onto the bottom of the
blind and opening with ease. Control rod lengths begin at 1m.
Blind adaptor
Available for VELUX blinds only, a blind adaptor is a small but effective add-on that attaches to the bottom of the blind and acts as a connection between blind and rod.
This inexpensive piece of kit is perfect for blinds fitted on hard-to-reach windows. Only one adaptor is needed per blind.
Electric/solar operation
If you own a manually-operated FAKRO roof window and blind but want to change it to electric without having to fork out on a
new window, there is an option for you.
and remote control is a simple and cost-effective way of making the change.
