Fitting Your Blackout Roller Blind
Fitting blackout roller blinds isn't particularly difficult but it can be fiddly so the best advice is to take your time and don't try and cut corners.
When you get your blind, unpack it and check that all the pieces are present before you begin. As roller blinds tend to come in standard widths which may not match the size of your window you may need to trim the blind.
Use a metal ruler to measure the correct width and mark with a pencil. A mini hacksaw is often recommended but make sure it's sharp to lessen the chances of ragged edges. For a neater finish you may want to unroll the blind, mark the line and cut the fabric using a craft knife and ruler or a pair of scissors. The inner core can then be cut with a hacksaw.
If you are fitting your blackout roller blind in the window recess and the window has handles (which most do) then don't forget to factor this in. If you try and fit the fittings flush with the window you'll end up with an awkward bulge where the handles are. Measure how far the handles protrude and then add another centimetre to work out where to place the brackets.
If you are fitting your blackout roller blind on the outside of the window recess then make sure that your brackets are evenly spaced and are level. There's nothing worse than one end being slightly higher than the other. Even just a small amount can be very noticeable especially once you've realised your mistake.
The thing that confuses people the most are the brackets. Because you have a choice as to exactly how you can fix your blind the brackets come with a number of holes. Always refer to the instructions to see which hole does what and then after you've used them to mark the pilot holes recheck those instructions again before you start drilling.
Then it’s a case of screwing in the brackets. This isn't difficult but it can be fiddly as the screws are small and too easy to drop. Then all you need to do is fit your blackout roller blind into the brackets. Just insert one end and push the other into place.
After this try the cord to ensure that it runs smoothly and that nothing is trapped or entangled in the mechanism. If it is just take the blind down and move the mechanism gently with your finger until it begins to move freely.