Eliminate Light Gaps on Window Blackout Roller Shades // Tiny Apartment Build Ep.7

In this episode I permanently fix the annoying light gaps on the window with a minimal looking solution. It's fairly easy and cheap to make if you grab some pieces of moisture resistant material and a handful of tools. Now you can actually enjoy the darkness!
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Cristiana Felgueiras
Apartado 43
Batalha - Porto
4031 - 401 Porto
Portugal

[@kristiandawe85]

This is so cool, not only is it functional, it looks slick too, sorta like a house from the future.

[@GetHandsDirty]

Thank you! I actually haven't found anything like this in the internet but since this is such a basic idea, I suppose somebody else made it already :p

[@stelartaco]

​ Get Hands Dirty it's called "persiana" in Spain, everyone here has persianas in their houses, there are so many models some like yours but we usually use plastic models: mx.habcdn.com/photos/project/medium/persiana-europea-rolada-motorizada-incluida-en-sistema-inteligente_5110.jpg Yours is called "persianas de oscuridad total". i.pinimg.com/originals/e3/8f/58/e38f58024dd252845c3d4d8ac3d8310b.jpg ;)

[@ramaporiver803]

Someone needs complete darkness.....

[@lethiapage4767]

You are a very talented person! An alternative for those of us who aren't is to dress the window as if its much larger. Shades can be hung completely outside the window to cover the entire hole. Or shade pairs or trios of windows as if they were one...fabrics, etc to conceal as necessary. As a bonus the huge roller can double as a screen for a projector TV...this of course all depends on your aesthetic and placement of the windows. If its just a small side window you can't really plan the whole room around it like a feature.

[@Tim_Gravy]

@@GetHandsDirty No, trust me there still is not any videos on DYI tracks for blackout, there are a few companies that sell premade tracks with felt brushes. However none of those systems look as clean as this. Thanks keep up the good work. Subbed

[@Lyiad]

You have such a calm but sure way to not only show but explain in detail all your ideas, methods and tricks to work around problems. Thank you for giving us this wonderful content!

[@EmmaVB82]

This is next level blackout blind installation - I couldn’t even conceptualise such a thing, so I’m super impressed! Thinking back to my old flat where they’d cut the blind down too narrow, and it was almost more light gap than blind... 🤦🏻‍♀️ Now I’m in a brand new flat with no window coverings at all, so I’m seeking out options and being glad it’s winter! 😌

[@SDM17RG]

That sunset with those birds flying in the background. How beautiful 😍

[@matthew35673m]

Very neat job! For the last little bit of light coming in along the bottom, you could make e.g. a 5-10mm thin rubber flap. As it lowers, it will conform to the surface and seal the gap. You should be able to get a thin piece of light gray or white rubber and attach it to the rear of the lower bar.

[@mannyd9328]

Love the clean look and how much attention to detail you have given this project. That was awesome 👍🏼

[@williamfoster4268]

I love the attention to detail. Every time I go somewhere new I check out the craftsmanship of the building and silently judge.

[@leooel4500]

as someone who installed automated shades for a living i can tell you the install was done correctly. i cant tell what brand these are but the brand i use recommends a 1/4" gap above the sill. also the material doesn't extend to the edges because the roll is wider than the fabric. there needs to be room for the parts to attach and for the programming buttons to set limits. your job was beautiful but if i arrived to service that shade i would not be allowed to remove any of the materiel necessary to service or remove the shade due to insurance liability. once again, great job. looks incredible, but i wanted to put this out there in case anyone else is considering this. a shade this size would run about $1200-1500 from the brand i install depending on the fabric. so if it fails you would definitely want it repaired. just presenting some facts to consider.

[@russellsmith8609]

Hi. Like so many of the youtubers that I follow, I was just wondering last night if you had been forced to stop by the youtube algorithm. But surprise, here you are today, what a happy present. I am always impressed by how brave you are, taking on a job that could become filled with unlucky pitfalls. It was apparent as you continued that you had thought about each part and had a plan. I hope your landlord never looks inside your apartment because it looks so modern and quite well finished that they will want to raise the rent. Congratulations on another project well done.

[@kmaezz]

Omg I did a ghetto version of this year's ago haha mine isnt automatic tho. just got some 1 inch foam, painted it and wedged it in. Thn put a groove in it and slid the curtains In 🤣 This definitely is a more permanent fix haha awesome

[@CheffBryan]

I'm in an apartment and need a temporary version for when I go to third shift, so thank you for the idea!

[@kmaezz]

@@CheffBryan that's why I did this lol renting! On the small window I just cut the foam out to the size and drilled two holes in it and put a rope through and knot it in the back so I had a handle to pull it out :)

[@EnterpriseKnight]

5:41 to be fair, that wood looked amazing there. Still, I would love to have something like this where I live.

[@creativemillwork6408]

You're detailed, skillful and rigorous!! I can't wait for your next project!! I'm a fan. 😁😁

[@Argosh]

I always hated these blinds. Your solution is genius and well executed!

[@rud]

I hate light gaps. Specially in the summer when the sun gets up at 4am and I get up at 7. ...and awake at 10. How did KZbin know?

[@ffudon]

My friend is a night-worker and you've no idea how happy she is because of this video. We start tomorrow morning! Great content, new sub 👍

[@BaconbuttywithCheese]

The line of light at the bottom of the "after" sets off my OCD! Beautiful sunset. Very nice project.

[@alberttyong]

You could add a bit of material to the bottom with a recess that holds the bottom of the blind, and that should fully block out the light.

[@denizberlin9441]

I just Love seeing you creating something.

[@nixxipixxi94]

Thank you for solving one of my order peeves. I can't wait to try this when I get my own house!

[@pc8430]

this looks great. obviously, there are simpler ways of doing this, but this is a super clean and modern way to address the problem of light gaps. please keep us updated on how well the blinds keep sliding up and down in the kerfs.

[@chrisreed113]

Wow I am so impressed with this, not just your idea, but how beautifully you finished everything. Excellent job.

[@chriswills9530]

Mate, that's a really neat solution. Not at all the way I would have done it, which is why I love your channel.

[@tapisseriegenerale5674]

Nice work

[@solidgoldleopold]

I really enjoyed this video; not only because of it's relaxed yet professional quality of the video itself, but also the quality of the work you did, along with your detailed explanation every step of the way. You've got a sub from me for sure! 😊

[@beaversareinsane726]

I am such a light sleeper that if any light comes through, I am likely not getting any more sleep. It doesnt even have to be sunlight, the street lights are enough to keep me awake. I have blackout blinds with thick velvet curtains also lined with blackout material....so I feel this person's pain, and it seems to have solved her problem. Your home is your castle, make it exactly how you want it and do what makes you happy!!! 🤠

[@AlexSiu]

I found most of the professional don't care about their own home. my dad runs a renovation and decoration company, the company starts from my great-grandfather. All the work they did for clients are great. but our home looks like shit.....a uncle who works with my dad is a professional tile worker, doing good jobs on his work, but the tile bathroom floor in his home is not level, not even even at some corners......have no idea why

[@jaweethzainulabdeen3208]

Alex Siu it’s kinda fact across the globe. There is saying in Sri Lanka i.e; “The doctor’s wife is always sick and lacking treatment”. 😊

[@tibotibo6]

In France we have the saying " les cordonniers sont les plus mal chaussés" wich can be translated by " the shoemakers wear the worst shoes"!

[@gmrao202]

You need to pay

[@yamsen]

Jaweeth ZainulAbdeen here’s another one: “The shoe maker’s kids have no shoes”

[@wileecoyoti]

I'm a former car mechanic, and my car has a million little things wrong with it. I think it's about using up that energy and part of your brain during the work hours?

[@NaughtyKlaus]

I like this approach, where the blinds are installed above the ceiling of the window. On my windows, the blinds are installed strictly on the ceiling, but there's also not a lot of space between the windows and the open room so it might be a bit difficult to achieve.

[@chanelor]

i was looking for small simple remedy for my roller shades but your video came up... oh my god it's basically a renovation project! lol

[@dingopuppytoo]

THIS - THIS I totally LOVE!! I move into my own flat soon, I hope I can do this in my bedrooms- such a clever idea! Video SAVED! LoL

[@gudjonolafsson]

In Iceland, where we do not get any darkness for three months a year, we just learn do sleep in the light.

[@ragnkja]

Guðjón Ólafsson Curtains or blinds are definitely my friends from April to September.

[@LitoGeorge]

A good skill. Tough to learn when you're older and unused to it

[@hlg_theshepherd2873]

Midsommar?

[@gudjonolafsson]

@@hlg_theshepherd2873 Yes, exactly. June, July, August it practically never gets dark, May and September are so-so, but in December and January we get very little daylight. As a compensation we have no dangerous creepy crawlies :D

[@SteifWood]

@@hlg_theshepherd2873 A girl (model) friend of mine freaked out yesterday bcs she HAD to see it. Fast. Have no idea if the movie has anything to do w blinds

[@ConiferProject]

Wow, that surely took a while, with a great result 👍😊 nice and clean finish as noting happened there :D Nice to see a new video from you :)

[@Nigelsarmo]

I so love this project! I might going to do this too. Like you said in the end of the video "it never happend". It looks definitely like it was already there. Very nice. Love this kind of projects.

[@FUZZYBIGS]

Don't know which I like better, the editing or the perfect end product. Great job!

[@Mark583]

This idea should be patented! I love how the blind is almost invisible when fully open, looks so clean and super tidy. Great job.

[@marmitt]

Trabalho muito simples e funcional. Excelente! Com o acabamento e pintura ficou perfeito! Parabéns! Abraço do Brasil!

[@GetHandsDirty]

Muito obrigada!

The magnet trick at 6:05 was my personal mindblown. Wish I knew that earlier :) Great video, inspiring little project and the outcome looks very nice.

[@cengizgenc3701]

Cutting off the sides of the bottom rail and letting the fabric running through the timber channels, girl you are brilliant.

[@Robiero10]

Amazing. I'm so going to attempt this! Very inspirational thank you!

[@RoraighPrice]

I preferred the raw wood look, thought it made for a beautiful accent to the white.

[@kimzocco3911]

Brilliant! I paid an embarrassingly large amount for my Lutron auto shades and while the Lutron product delivers what it promotes (quiet, smooth, remote, wifi, bluetooth), the installer left me with a garbage look on 2 large slider-doors and a bedroom window. I had him come back out - he fiddled a little and said "that should do it" but I just let him leave because he was clearly inept at providing a seamless, even and clean look. If you could patent that, or make pre-fab systems, I'd be your first customer!! Thank you for sharing your TIME & TALENT !!

[@kimzocco3911]

What mechanical roller brand/device name did you use? The one drawback of the Lutron is that it seemed to be a bit bigger than what I see others are.

[@nicywicy]

You are SO cool exactly the kind of woman I want to become. You look awesome and you know how to get things done. Thank you for being alive.

[@christofix]

This is much beter, you are the proffesional there. They should pay you instead! Well done. Oh and by the way that sunset on 3:14 is just amazing!

[@GetHandsDirty]

Thank you so much!

[@Timberjagi]

If they are not willing to pay the pro’s for the extra work you can not expect them to deliver more work

[@johnbrown5443]

Spell much?

[@smarterthanyou9090]

You're an idiot. NO contractor who is hired to "install a window shade" is going to do all of this customized work to integrate the blinds INTO the window frame.

[@smarterthanyou9090]

@@Timberjagi EXACTLY

[@Makebuildmodify]

Fantastic install! Looks great.

[@idontmindpineappleonpizza8825]

Thought I knew that channel logo.

[@nicolasfredette8564]

3:22 with the sunset and the bird flying. That was awesome !! Great job by the way, very ingenious :D

[@lora1420]

Wow, mesmerising 🤩 From the satisfaction of the wood curls, to the aesthetics of the sunset and the sound effects of filling the wall... not to mention the end result was just something else!! Perfection. I am just looking for advice to fit a roller blind in a new build house 😂 regardless, I am so happy to have found your channel and am now subscribing 💯👏🏽🔥 the edit on this was just incredible ✔

[@wexaztor9394]

After doing that work, it would drive me mad to leave the line of light at the bottom.

[@theoriginalnutter]

so just add another board and over lap the original window sill. no need to be negative is there.

[@AKindChap]

THE ORIGINAL NUTTER if you see that as being negative you just leave a very positive life.

[@janell19]

I understand that.

[@idontthinkso666]

THE ORIGINAL NUTTER I gotta agree with WeXaztor on that one. You need to lighten up. Or go ride a unicorn into the rainbow colored sunset on your world. (Now see, THAT was negative.)

[@danejoe5148]

That part bothered me as well but I would guess it's an easy fix! She did an awesome job and it looks professional.

[@salbahejim]

This is similar to a solution I came up with, but yours is much more elegant

[@artiminimalist3187]

I loved seeing this project because it was very timely for me and helped me solve the gap problem in my home with various windows where light came it. I really enjoy all your videos, and have seen all of them. I am a new subscriber. Thanks again for being so inspirational!

[@ecrusch]

Much better than the old way it was. I need to do this and I thank you for some of your tips that I will use.

[@sandbach7195]

Dang, she REALLY didn’t want any light coming in, LOL

[@kerihutchings6772]

::::pause again :::::: THAT SUNSET!!! 🌄😍

[@GetHandsDirty]

ihihihi

[@jpkalishek4586]

And Pterodactyls! Well that's what my brain said when the gull went by

[@kerihutchings6772]

@@jpkalishek4586 Ha! It was like she planned the bird & looked at it flying by in surprise it was video bombing her! 🤣

[@chrisbabbitt4202]

This is fantastically well done. Very modern, which i love. Great job.

[@marieleelee]

You're very talented and your aesthetic is very precise and beautiful. Anyone else's work next to yours is going to look off. I wish I had your talent to make myself some blinds. I work nights and it's so hard to sleep in the day.

[@d4django]

It will crack where you attached the MDF/plywood to the masonry/concrete in a season change. You could have gone with an architrave although it wouldn't look that modern/chic as you have done now. Hope you'll be providing some interior window trims in future to conceal the cracks

[@chicoarraes]

This channel is awesome! Eu adoro esse canal :) abraços do Brasil

[@scrapple61]

Just came back from Portugal - so I like the pictures of Porto and the sky out of your window. And again I like your project.

[@monkeydo3117]

Nice and clean. Looks great. Thanks for the tip about finding the hidden screws. I've wondered what people do with hidden screws when they want to disassemble, and knew about using magnets for finding nails, just never really put the two together in my brain.

[@kerihutchings6772]

Ok.. Done. Yep, that was a fckn FANTASTIC idea 💡 👍 Lastly, it's really good to see you😉. You've been missed. Thanks for brightening my day with blacking out the light😁

[@stitchann]

You are creating such a beautiful home.

[@LoZioWeb]

I always like a lot how you transform something you need at home or in the office into a video for yuotube!

[@kimfucku8074]

Well, there is usually a fix amount somebody is willing to pay for a task. I don't blame the contractors to deliver the value they are payed for.

[@drgrubenhiemer]

Yeah I agree, most clients wouldn't want to pay the installation costs of what she just built. The original blinds were installed as per design and likely for a minimal cost.

[@kerihutchings6772]

Not even finished watching... Just thinking 💭 DAMN, what a bad ass idea! I was a construction worker for years and moldings/woodworking was my favorite... Ok.. Back to 👀

[@GetHandsDirty]

I'm flattered :D

[@kerihutchings6772]

You should be & Deservedly so! Not kidding when I say that I find your work pure genius & always beautiful.. You actually remind me (u look like) a very dear old friend that I simply adore, but used to not know the difference between pliers & channel locks😅 Anyway 😊... Take care & keep creating.. The world needs the beauty right now. Xoxo

[@Andrew-cp7mc]

Wow - fantastic work! Very impressed with the finish - so clean.

[@JesseLyn22Americano-Filipino]

Wow sweet....To all the night time workers, this is the way I want my room when I sleep in the day time.

[@youtubeviewer5198]

God: Let there be light. Get hands dirty: Today were getting rid of the light. God: Am i a joke to you.

[@johncochran8497]

As soon as God shows me the OSHA approval for that unshielded nuclear reactor, I'll start enjoying the sun in the morning.

[@mrpanda2655]

Just stop

[@konsul2006]

God is humans biggest joke, ever. Some just don't get it...

[@LauriEkman]

Very clever! I would totally do that to my home, if I had one :D I have also noticed that so called professionals don't do that good of a job. They might be fast but that shows in quality.

[@DC2809]

Everything is a question of the budget. When the owner say, they have 1h time and he will pay not more then that, you need to be quick. Sure, u can use hours and hours of your freetime like she does. But then dont blame the workers for not doing that.

[@drgrubenhiemer]

That wasn't a low quality install. It was a low budget install and likely what the client asked for. The cost of the work she did in this video would be way above the price most clients are willing to pay.

[@pilau]

the best part was the sunset while working... beautiful.

[@MrRawUK]

Talk about a quality job! If only blind fitters could do a fraction of this kind of detail.

[@Interknetz]

I've always hated these type of blinds, but this is how they SHOULD be done.

[@Qgal5kap123]

I imagine the price for the apartment would have been a fair bit higher if it had this level of detail.

[@jasond8734]

Beautiful work. I've been thinking about doing something similar, now I'm feeling inspired.

[@phatbuddha1]

I got to check to see if there is a ASMR-like video of shaving wood. There's nothing more satisfying than hand planing wood. The sound, the curls, the smell

[@MarkleZephire]

it's good, but is it hard to service if something goes wrong with the motorised blind?

[@joepaul1814]

MarkleZephire and something will go wrong

[@genli5603]

She’ll just take it apart again. :20’ from the end!

[@meijboomm]

you can take that into account while making the top part, maybe add a hidden hinge or something easily accessable

[@gnhun101]

form over function i guess.

[@DisgruntledPigumon]

no oneherre I hate when people say that. It should always be “form follows function”. Don’t give people the wrong idea. ;P

[@nicevideomancanada]

I was picturing something in my mind just like this yesterday and today it shows up on my KZbin feed? How does KZbin know what I'm thinking? :-\)(

[@andrianna2804]

Have you been talking about blinds or curtains? The same thing happened to me but I remembered I was complaining about my window letting in too much light earlier...

[@eln74]

Yay Cris it everything looks very smooth and you made it look very simple, now for all of us, you're the real pro here, tnx for sharing it....!!! 📐🛠🗜😍👊🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@xandersnyder7214]

Absolutely fantastic! I'm in the States but we use blackout curtains at my house in several rooms (especially the kids rooms and our game/media room) I'm going to do this because I can't stand the light gaps, they are sloppy and distracting. You just got a new subscriber :)

[@RhiannonMcCoy25]

Yay a new vid :)

[@jedics1]

And it is likely much more effective at keeping the heat from coming into the room...

[@dozog]

Not really a big difference. Primary source is sun radiation straight onto items inside your room, including floor and ceilings. Secondary is glass in the window itself heating up and becoming a secondary heat source right in your room. (Better keep the sun off your window)

[@jedics1]

@@dozog Keeping the sun off the window is the better way but not easy to do do for most people in a lot of situations.

[@dozog]

@@jedics1 I agree. What I was responding to is your assumption that closing those small gaps left open by a large curtain will make the heat blocking "much more effective". I think it looks much better, but don't expect much effect on heat transfer. Edit: I think people who have the equipment to make the window coverings that embrace the curtains the way she did in this video, might probably also be able to hang one of those rolling curtains designed for outdoor use.😉 They aren't available where I live, but my parents have them on their bedroom window. They work so well to keep the room cool.

[@annecaronphaneuf925]

Beautiful work! You're attention to detail is admirable.

[@abbyng7822]

oh my god the sunset out your window is so beautiful

[@tedstyle3798]

Yeah and what do you do when he motor burns out

[@markanne54]

Couldn't it do with a groove in the sill for the blind to sit into to black out the base too? Nice job, though, as ever.

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

She did say that it is a marble stool at 0:38.

[@gavinmcfarland1182]

Also it would'nt look as sleek when the blind is up and dirt may get trapped more easily inside the gap than the sides. A solution to this may be to replace the bar with a flat edge rather than a round one and use a fine brush trim or rubber trim along the edge.

[@artisanconcrete1212]

Nice idea recessing the shade into the wall, that would irritateme as well especially if it's supposed to be a "blackout" shade

[@adrianotomino]

Um trabalho incrível, feito com muita precisão e capricho, realmente muito inspirador. Um grande abraço !

[@sharky0]

There’s a lot of time and material into this project, I don’t know why you’re hating on the original installer, very few people would pay for this custom work.

[@becomingjoana]

maybe, just maybe, because something was asked to be made and they didn't follow through?

[@becomingjoana]

Reborn In Rationality listen, I hardly think you’re one of the guys who should’ve done the work right so you have no right assuming all of what you are assuming lol. Bye

[@cmishoo]

Completely agree,

[@becomingjoana]

@Reborn In Rationality dude. if you weren't there on the talks between the client and the constructors, you can assume all you want but there's a high chance you're wrong because you weren't there. It's your word against hers and honestly I've seen her work and I'm gonna go with hers :)

[@MrOrangeonion]

@Reborn In Rationality your most likely right, gotta make the vids somehow right:D.

[@MiraDaWulf]

“Water resistant MDF” that’s not something you hear everyday

[@DW-lp7bn]

Beautiful sunset!

[@burgulize]

When you want to do something right, better do it yourself :) Great video! I can really feel you on the "professional" work that was done, I have to fix things over the house all the time due to manufacturing mistakes and amateurs.. sometimes it feels that I come home to a second job instead of relaxing lol.

[@SDM17RG]

What happens when the mechanism breaks? Need to take the whole thing apart?

[@GetHandsDirty]

SDM17RG hopefully the fix can be done by removing the aluminum cap that has the 2 small screws. If not, the whole top cover needs to get out, yes.

[@GoneBananazMan]

Yup as an installer for shades of this type. I was just going to mention this. Will be one huge task to service the shade if needed

[@hebber1961]

Not to mention, blinds need some air between the window and the blind. As nice as it is and looks, there's big time trapped moisture coming if not left partially open. You'll wreck the wood and likely the blind. Buy a curtain.

[@xeroone1]

This solution may look good but will be an absolute disaster when the blind mechanism fails.

[@JamButter123]

xeroone1 it should have another backup option: use pull cord as manual

[@M1NDCR4WL3R]

I am sure she can fix this too

[@zodak9999b]

Great job, Cristiana! Your projects are always astounding!

[@garethtcollins]

Well done, fantastic job. If it were me though I would have just left the plywood. I think it looks beautiful without the paint!

[@BigJdawge]

And what happens when the motor in the shade needs to be replaced? Everything you just did needs to be ripped out and redone.

[@Sickshitmofaka]

BigJdawge women.. hah

[@enricomammarella7579]

Yes. Kudos for the effort, but talk about being over engineered. Dark curtains. Simple.

[@conceptuallyugly530]

You then call Tesla/ Elon Musk :D

[@tonymusolino2369]

Why would anyone go through all that trouble, only to still have light seep in from the bottom??? Should have thought it through.

[@tylerdurden2093]

Yea could of easily added another board on the bottom with a groove cut out and it would of sealed the whole thing up nicely.

[@alineettitou]

Girl you work super well. Clean and aesthetic. It always a pleasure to watch your video.

[@snowman7234]

Yea ok, this is a brilliant modification for an annoying problem. It's simple and quick too, love it!

[@conexos2007]

I can still see some light but is like 99% darkness so it's fine

[@icecreamtruckog3667]

And there is still a gap at the bottom.

[@carlosmfalves]

Pffff! Muito nice! Só te digo uma coisa, não há pai! A isto chama-se: DESIGN! Os meus parabéns!

[@cameronwong7608]

That looks fantastic!!! Once Ikea releases their smart blinds in the US I'll be doing this! Thank you!

[@sohilronagh286]

From your last video post, it's been such a long time. but the wait was worth it, you must be super busy! Loving all of your videos, can't get enough of them, keep them coming please!