How to Fit Roller Blinds

Roller blinds are not only a quick and inexpensive way of blocking out daylight and adding privacy but they can also add colour and texture to any room. Watch as I take you through each step of the process of fitting these and give you my tips along the way.
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[@kitten6062]

Blinds sitting in box for last 5 YEARS waiting for my husband to fit them, just did them myself, with your help!! Not the best job but 2nd one better than first. Thanks so much 😅

[@SuperPauline14]

Been fitting blinds wrong for years after seeing this. Perfect demo and happy I came across your video 😊

[@EMEL-hr4ut]

Did this video help ? Lots of unknowns still for me

[@joannaburn9514]

This will be my first DIY job unsupervised. Have been involved in putting them up with someone else but not drilled holes before. I am determined to become independent at this! Cutting to size is the easy bit, it's drilling the holes that will be the challenge. However, you have give some helpful tips so here goes!

[@proudbirther1998]

Great Video! Protecting the wall with cardboard before drilling was a great tip. Also Subtracting the the width of the window from the width of the shade was another great idea! Thanks!

[@Tattysnuc]

some great tips in there. The "measure what you take off" is keeper. :)

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@EMEL-hr4ut]

Is it me but no measuring was shown of the blind as a whole as that is what fits in the recess ? You cut the blind cloth to the aperture size and you won't have allowed for the end fittings

[@matthewsaunby9056]

Great video, I’ve fitted these exact blinds before too. I always adjust mine so that the little plastic connector on the pull cord is hard up against the top, that way you can never accidentally keep pulling on the cord, causing the blind to just roll over and over at the top. I also usually reverse the blind so that it drops on the back side of the roller, making it even closer to the window.

[@ceilidhdocherty1498]

Just wanted to say a huge thank you ,I managed to sort my blind out because of this video ,now I'm following you ,thanks again 👍🏻

[@bantcliff]

one of the better guides out there, there are some trash roller fitting guides out there. If you're trimming the blind 'on site' then you can as easily fit the brackets then cut the tube to suit and finally trim the fabric to suit the tube. I fit made to measure blinds but occasionally fit readymade rollers for friends and family. As for the child safety 'p' clip, leave some slack so it runs through easier and you can pull it away so you don't 'scrape' your knuckles, the idea is to leave it loose enough to make it easy to use but not enough for a child to get there head through. But the best advice is to buy a made to measure blind, everything about them is of much higher quality than ready made blinds, better brackets, thicker tube, stronger, smoother clutch set. higher standard of finish.

[@neilingram3973]

On the blinds I’ve fitted over the years I’ve never been happy with the finish on the cut edge of the material - although I didn’t do it with a Stanley knife but scissors…..one lesson learnt there from your video. However, on my last blind I thought I’d give it a go at ordering a made to measure one off the internet. Was probably a little more expensive but not by much. It was a perfect fit and quicker to install, and no faffing about cutting material and roller. I’ve just ordered another one I was so impressed. Great video.

[@jaymahoney69]

Great measuring and cutting tips. It seemed so obvious but I'd never thought of doing it that way before. Thank you!

[@vinnyreid5442]

Many thanks for the video. Got in knots thinking how I was going to cut them. Literally subtracted one number from the other and away i went cutting and they fit perfectly! Many thanks.

[@lukestevenson1713]

Just as an added bonus I always move the connector for the draw string so that it acts as a stopper when the roller is dropped to the correct length, saves you over rolling and getting the blind hitting and collecting on the sill. Good video, cheers

[@funnyviralespn5878]

You’ve done it sooo smooth! Made it look easier than it is😅😂😂

[@2icelollys1goat]

Superb video. Your delivery and editing is perfect

[@Puymouret]

Thanks for that, easy to follow and the tip to stop marking the wall was a good one, thanks again

[@robcaldwell285]

Top man. Absolutely fantastic. Your attention to detail and awareness of ergonomics is.... chef kiss 👨‍🍳🤌 mmmwah!! I doth my cap, kind sir 🙇‍♂️🙏

[@emmamcm3886]

Very resourceful and informative. Thank you.

[@martinhunt6004]

I thank you Stuart! I am about to fit a blind next Saturday at 10AM. Most splendid correct.

[@ProperDIY]

Nice one!

[@steveyeoland1214]

Great video as always Stuart... Never though about cutting the bit you don't need.. makes so much sense (as do a lot of your videos).. Keep it up .

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@MrMattyb111]

Another great video. Moving into a new build house I fitted a number of different blinds around the place and had so many issues with different materials in the recess. Drill through one and find steel very close above. Other a large gap suitable for plasterboard fixings. Some just solid with only a tiny gap behind plasterboard requiring some very slim fixings I made a bit of a mess with trial and error and which fixings to use

[@tuesboomer1623]

Very nice blind. Easy installation. Glad to see they have been refined and updated so I can finally address our entirely too sunny kitchen sink window and a few others in the house where the max. width of shades available for our budget at the time were a bit too short.

[@ProperDIY]

Go for it

[@jamsheelaulleerithodi3608]

Yeah it must be easy for you

[@welshrambler1893]

Very clear instructional video Stuart, well done! It's the fixings into the lintel can be problematic! Sometimes I've had to coat the plugs into an adhesive like no nails and let it go off before fixing the screws. Good tip about measuring the waste. Regards Keith

[@ProperDIY]

Good tip

[@mrwood4557]

Voice made for audiobooks.

[@garulusglandarius6126]

Good shout 👍

[@glynprice3815]

How about some Pratchett? Or HHGTTG

[@MikeSmith-sg9pt]

@@glynprice3815 was just coming to suggest Pratchett too. I think in my head CMOTD sounds like this

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

@@MikeSmith-sg9pt or Sgt Colon

[@JamesBrown-qm7qo]

Excellent tutorial with lots of great tips Thank you

[@outoftheburrough]

Stu thank you thank you thank you for mentioning the child safety clip and it's importance, so many people just take it off & don't realise that it is then not compliant and a hazard (& it doesn't matter if you don't have kids in your home or visiting you could sell the property to someone who does). Obviously you don't need it fully blackout in the utility there but if people want it to be more blackout having it roll down the back will help and mounting outside the recess with a reasonable overlap will also help

[@Lobat67]

Thank you for a well produced instructional video.

[@CarpyCam94]

Those are the exact same blinds I used to fit insides caravans a fair few years back! Honestly so easy to fix to anything well done

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@peter.russell]

Great video with very helpful tips. Thank you

[@richardportelli1983]

Amazing, I never knew you could buy blinds that could be easily cut to size! Thank you!

[@ProperDIY]

Happy to help!

[@ralphtaylor5328]

Good to see that you used a blind with metal tube. The cheap ones with cardboard tubes tend to deform after a while and then slip. IKEA also do metal tube types. One thought you did not explore was fitting the blind on the window side of the roller - gives better blackout than with blind on inside. Not always possible with all blinds. BTW I also subtracted the excess.

[@philtebble4390]

Great shout to prevent marking the wall Stuart . Done that a few times 🤔👍

[@duke_taylor]

Excellent video. Helped me a lot. Thanks

[@somewhereelse3813]

Excellent, maybe basic for some but this is something we all will do at some point. Great tips included as usual. 😁👍👍👍

[@ProperDIY]

Thank you

[@jules.marshall]

Excellent job, I will try this myself, thank you.

[@ProperDIY]

Nice one

[@josepeka1189]

Very good, informative video. Thank you . Jose from Australia

[@sc3421]

i know this is late, but this is a great watch for anyone fitting blinds, but how on earth do you deal with lintels and not end up with drill hole's the size of a 10 p piece - !

[@bhoywonder8892]

Fucking nightmare. Eating any metal drill bit i buy

[@stephenlamb90]

You make everything look so easy. Last time if fitted blinds like these, I drilled into the window soffit, only to find it was plywood and hollow.

[@ProperDIY]

Yes can be sometimes

[@awantamta]

Expertly done. Thank you.

[@peter.g6618]

Hi. Great job. Got me thinking now about these blinds for my own home. Thay look good. Some great tips to. Thanks for sharing. Cheers! 👍👌

[@ProperDIY]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BenJandrell]

Great video... I wish the manufacturers could have spent a few pence more to retain the metal end brackets as was the way 10 years ago for a better firmer fitting. Keep up the good work!

[@chrisdowning7543]

Oh Stuart Stuart! You make it look soooo easy! Me and my ex wife have spent many a evening back in the day fitting these god dam things. She was the brains cutting and measuring (all fine) . Made dresses and own clothes and so on. God how many times have I drilled in to the UPVC does not work. How many times have I drilled in the upper part and hit concrete RSJ or metal one! Render blown And plucked the hole with match sticks. We have spent many a night back to back in a huff with one another in bed. Thank you for this but I’m telling you now theses things are not the best invention!!😂😂😂

[@ice4142]

I have this exact problem. We installed a metal insulated lintel over the a window. I would like to fit a blind like this and I was planning to fix to the UPVC window. Any tips?

[@SuperLittleTyke]

True. I've even been looking at the no drill blinds, which do not require any drilling.

[@julianneale6128]

Really nice video and well explained.

[@sharpsconsultancy2342]

Total perfection - love it

[@twinwankel]

I had a form of these that were spring loaded so you just pull on the bottom to get it to raise and then pull again to stop it. They would break after awhile. I like your pulley system. Must simpler and less likely to break. I recently bought cellular blinds that are cordless and they go up and down by just lifting the bottom bar or pull the top bar down to look skyward. They are also insulating and save a lot of money in heating and air conditioning. Over the course of a couple of years, they will pay for themselves. I've my energy costs drop. Azon has them at a reasonable price roughly $30/window US. You can order them to size so no cutting required. Installation is similar to your roller except the brackets go in the middle of blind. Much easier because you don't have to protect the sides.

[@mirandafriday4023]

Excellent video. Nice job 😊

[@bencartwright1050]

I use my mitre saw leave it rolled up and cut through the fabric and alliminum bars, perfect every time

[@sailingatmorecambe7426]

Thanks for the tips. I nearly came a cropper when I followed your suggestion to measure the cloth to be removed ... I checked the amount to be used and it wasn't correct due to the cloth sides not being parallel. I had to measure the cloth used and, fortunately, that worked. Suggestion .. measure at least twice. 😁

[@paulmcgeoch2603]

I keep it all tightly rolled up and tape round my cut line and chop it all off on mitre saw. Job done 😀

[@marykidu8310]

Thanks for the tips

[@martincuper5142]

So helpful. Thank you

[@justarandum7959]

The beaded cord can be adjusted in the mechanism at the top prior to fitting to stop the plastic clip part being ran through the safety loop hook at the bottom too.

[@purple4d]

Thank you, top job and great video 🎉

[@fletton_man]

Nicely explained. There are companies that make made-to-measure blinds to order (including aluminium and wooden slatted Venetian blinds). Have always obtained blinds this way to get the perfect fit, especially when fitted in the window recess. Also beware hidden steel lintels immediately above the plasterboard in the recess. These can be difficult to drill through cleanly and it may be worth using a pipe detector to check if one is concealed, and if so where it protrudes to within the recess, before drilling.

[@bobarber6017]

8:44 8:45 8:46 8:46 8:56 😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@leejenkinson5521]

Yes, I agree, sometimes the Lintel will only allow a 5mmx20mm (or 5m x 25mm) rawl plug/screw, etc if drilling into the top of the recess, whereas if you use newer brackets they are multipurpose and will all top or side mounting, so where there is a Lintel you can opt for side mounting. Also worth noting the brackets are made flat on one side and angled on another so when you insert the blind into the back the bracket works under tension now to hold the blind tighter in position.

[@teresabell1014]

Thanks, that was a helpful video.

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@TheRealMozes]

Very nice video. Another piece of know how collected

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@katherinespencer2073]

cheers, nice blinds. I have lots of them, but not the hardware to hang up or operate properly. have tried to buys some, never showed up after lots of backorders at the local big hardware store branch. frustrating. Love the flat ones with bottom fringe for bedrooms behind sheers & the matchstick ones that would all go so nicely with my many large houseplants...instead, 3 in garage, 6 in basement, 2 in entryway corner.

[@stalati34]

Great clear video. My problem is always drilling the holes. The chuck and drill size means that the hole is at an angle.

[@Andy-wx4wx]

Nice video, many thanks.....

[@frankblack1481]

Video Idea: While listening to the news today, and the amazingly high energy prices likely to occur this winter in the UK, maybe a video on how to check that your house preeevrs as much heat as possible… and maybe some economical mods that will pay off when the cold snap comes.

[@chrismatheson2561]

Great vid. Thanks. How about doing one with a wooden slated type blind. They seem very popular at the moment.

[@michaelplays2449]

Great video !!!!

[@garulusglandarius6126]

Nice one Stuart 👍

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@allanjw1960]

Thanks for that mate.

[@moose6676]

Thanks 👍🏻 well explained, guess what I’m doing today 👍🏻

[@rettred8152]

Very nice video thank you.....only thing I would change is fitting the chain on the right for right handed people

[@PatrickMcNealMakesThings]

I missed the broom bit in the intro. It's back! 🙂

[@santoshmaharaj5002]

Excellent video. Gave me confidence to give it a go. Can you tell me where you bought your t square from?

[@eloadjointeplus]

Thank you for all these clear instructions! I bought a automatic roller blind and was wondering if I could change to a roll-up device like the one you use in the video. Do you believe this is possible? (I think so) Last question: How do I remove the end caps from each side of the pole on my automatic roller blind?

[@MS-yy2dh]

Best to measure the window aperture in several places as the width can vary quite a lot, especially if you live in an older house. Consider window fittings like opening trickle vents and whether you need to allow space for these (the blind can drop on either side of the metal tube - which can be steel and nasty to cut). Also, it can be worth considering made to measure blinds as they are not that expensive, have neat edges, and are quick to fit.

[@bantcliff]

Not normally an issue with roller blinds as the fabric is generally around 30mm less than the recess, don't even usually need to make an allowance for partial tiling in kitchens and bathrooms for standard 1/4" tiles (only the increasingly popular thicker tiles can be an issue)

[@MS-yy2dh]

@@bantcliff That's certainly not my experience and I fitted a lot of roller blinds. Granted, my window apertures tend to vary quite a bit in width but that is not uncommon in an older property. If I took just one width measurement, then, depending on where I took it, I run the risk of having a large gap (clearly subjective but I would have thought the point of the blind is to fill the space as much as possible) or the blind binding in the recess. By taking several measurements it is possible to find a neat compromise.

[@bantcliff]

For 'Blind sized' products its an issue, venetians, Romans etc. Any roller based product only needs the fixing point measuring (unless you can clearly see a huge out of square edge) I been fitting blinds for over 25 years so learnt where and what to measure depending on thebl8nd type.

[@MS-yy2dh]

@@bantcliff We are clearly going around in circles, so this will be my last comment. If the window recess is out of square, as they often are in old houses, then I would strongly advise measuring at three places, top, middle, and bottom (last particularly important where there are tiles only at the bottom), before cutting the tube and then trimming the material to fit. I have fitted enough blinds to know. Also, a quick Google on the subject gives this same advice: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5ibhIyQo6Z9gJo

[@krisgair5863]

When doing this, I always wish i had some really thin windows for the offcuts, I hate waste, top video yet again Stuart 😉

[@ProperDIY]

That did cross my mind actually with the 380mm I tool off. Unfortunately, I have nothing that thin either!

[@lilih1378]

Well made

[@techieboy333]

I've got two 2.8m wide electric roller blinds to fit to our pair of bi-fold doors. They've been sat in their boxes for a month as I'm dreading doing it as going by every other window we've tried to fit blinds to, there'll be a steel lintel 5mm above the plasterboard and it'll all go pear shaped at that point.

[@EMEL-hr4ut]

Like the spacer idea for setting brackets and covering of wall but why not also window ?

[@jameslewis4327]

Thank you so much, I've learnt alot from your videos. Just wondering what drill bit you use? I always seem to hit the metal bit and struggle ruining the plaster and a few drill bits in the process any help would be very appreciated.

[@JV-hu6df]

Hi good sir!, Love the tips and tricks. In particular: how to cut the aluminium tube straight and, which side to position the pully. Your great video would be even better with a few subtitles for the hearing impaired.

[@ice4142]

Hi Stuart, how would you advise fixing to a UPVC window? I think I would prefer that to having to drill through the metal lintel above and knowing my luck I would hit the insulation filled cavity.

[@simonsharkey7017]

Thanks stuart your help was invaluable just copied u and it went up a treat cheers

[@seagreenspiral]

As a left handed person I keep the pulley string on the right 😁

[@robinaakther6524]

Thanks hun 👍🏽

[@James011]

Thanks for the great tutorial! What are the chances of there ever being wiring, pipes or gas lines in the recess above a window? (In a very old European building)

[@Ricky-eg3wd]

Thank you Sir

[@henryewbaker]

Had an absolute nightmare trying to drill into the concrete lintels on a 1940s bungalow, doing a "small" favour for someone, hardest concrete I've ever come across. Bosch combi drill just couldn't cope.

[@01arron]

I would love to see you using some L shaped upvc trunking to enclose the sides of the blinds to make it fully blacked out

[@musk4mars116]

Stupid question. Why a blackout in the kitchen? Thank you for this video. I'll be installing my own soon.

[@lesthiele4921]

Hi Stuart, I have been through this exercise already with our kitchen blind, and not being a confident handyperson at times I took it nice and easy, and all worked out OK, I used scissors and the trick was just to push them along the length of the material, enjoy watching all your videos, best regards to you and your family from a Kiwi living in Australia.

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks for watching from down under

[@richzulewski7185]

In the US, every home center or DIY store will trim the blinds for free as you buy them. Thy have specialized machines that do it in a few moments. Of course you need to bring accurate measurements.

[@ProperDIY]

I've not seen that before

[@CRTECHPE1]

nice one

[@tonycat721]

Stuart, i never managed to drill properly either there is a concert girder or plaster that just crumbles every where, your suggestion for outside the window sounds better option, would i need to get some L brackets ?.

[@barrygilbert3649]

The bit you left out was, which type of fixing used to secure the holding bracket to underside of window. I assume it is hollow wall plasterboard and there are various types of fixings suitable for this, depending on the weight of the blinds. In your case the blinds look quite light so ordinary rawlplug might work but in heavier blinds you might have needed a molly bolt or spring toggle bolt.

[@BigSpud]

Great tips. My worst mistake fitting blinds once is measuring everything perfectly, sawing to length and getting it all just so. I offer it up to the top of the window, still all good. Then I drop the blind... I realise I'd forgotten to account for the wall tiles at the bottom of the window recess 🤬 Get the hacksaw back out...

[@paulryman-tubb3000]

Another excellent video, thank you. I didn't realise the stated width includes the brackets, that makes sense now and will use your technique next time. I have struggled to fix to top of the recess in the past because the drill hits a lintel. You didn't seem to have that issue at all?

[@pelvishakerg271]

Same. I did what he said without the brackets as he doesn't show the brackets in the measurements ... So I had to re cut!

[@valborchardt3596]

Thanks stuart, now thats something i really need in my bedroom, my neighbour has a bright security light that shines in my room which keeps me awake…..take care

[@hansamsterdam2635]

Very nice

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks

[@The_man_himself_67]

Why am I watching this? I don't have roller blinds. I don't want one either. What am I doing?

[@jangles8061]

😂❤

[@madgiemadgie9128]

😂😂😂

[@jamsheelaulleerithodi3608]

Hahah

[@johnllewlyndavies222]

😂You're looking for a new hobby.

[@gemini4491]

Because there isn’t any interesting drama for you to watch on Netflix 😃

[@jamesquinn6614]

Hi Stuart, question - to drill the bracket holes close to the corner did you have to angle the drill slightly (I could not see clearly in the video) ?

[@Jameso12345]

Worth noting that the option of having the blinds inside the window opening can be problematic if your windows open in the way. We just removed blinds in our new house which were fitted like this because it blocked the windows from opening even when the blinds were fully rolled up.

[@Mobile-pd1uc]

What drill bit and what size screws. Recently got a dewalt drill set but sds bits don't seem long enough.

[@seanrobinson2557]

I’m about to fit a blind in a room, although I’m struggling incredibly with drilling into the soffit, seems the lintel is impenetrable (70’s house), and advice for trying to get through it? I’ve tried a masonry bit, metal bit, and an all purpose bit and nothing is going through 😢

[@matthewtucker1178]

Hi , where did you get t shaped framing cutter ( yellow )

[@andrewedwards7827]

What sort of lintel did you have above the window? I have had problems fitting blinds when I have steel lintels

[@ice4142]

I have similar. Metal insulated lintel. Any tips?