How To Install Blinds

How to install blinds yourself, step by step, covering roller, venetian, vertical and outdoor window blinds. Most windows take 20 to 45 minutes, and the plugs and screws come with your blind. Written so that anyone can follow it, with clear diagrams at every stage.

Not ordered yet? Measure your windows first to get the right size.

How to measure →

Gather everything below before you begin. There is nothing worse than being halfway through and realising you need something. The items marked “supplied” come in the box with your blind.

Drill with hammer function 5.5mm masonry drill bit

Phillips screwdriver Medium size

Pencil or marker To mark drill positions

Measuring tape At least 3 metres

Spirit level A crooked blind is very obvious

Step ladder For ceiling or high windows

Rawl plugs and screws Supplied in your box

Cord cleat Supplied with corded blinds

Fitting to plasterboard or drywall? Use hollow wall anchors for a secure hold. These are not supplied as wall types vary. Buy them at any hardware store before you start. For concrete, brick, or tile: use the rawl plugs and appropriate drill bit supplied. For metal surfaces: pre-drill the hole before inserting any screw.

Child safety: cord height rule

This applies to every single corded blind in your home. All cord and chain controls must be fixed at a minimum height of 1.5 metres above the floor. A cord cleat is supplied with every corded blind. Fix it to the wall at 1.5m and always wrap the cord around it when the blind is not being adjusted. Loose cords at low heights are a strangulation risk for young children. This is a South African safety standard and it is non-negotiable.

Works for: blockout rollers, light-filtering rollers, zebra blinds, double rollers. Two people make this easier.

Buying these online? Blockout roller blinds  ·  No-drill roller blinds  ·  made to measure, delivered free nationwide.

Recess fit (inside frame) Tab bracket Pin bracket Face fix (on the wall) Tab Pin or

Recess fit sits inside your window frame. Face fix mounts on the wall above the window.

• 1 Decide: recess fit or face fix? Look at how you measured your blind when you ordered. If you measured the inside of your window frame, you have a recess fit blind. If you measured wider than the frame to cover the wall around it, you have a face fix blind. Not sure? Your order confirmation will say which type. For recess fit: check nothing will block the blind when it is rolled down, such as a window handle, security bar, or door handle. If something is in the way, the blind needs to sit forward of the obstruction.
• 2 Mount the Tab bracket first (this is the chain side) Your blind has two brackets. The Tab bracket (it looks like a rectangular clip) goes on the same side as the chain control. If you ordered a left-hand chain, it goes on the left. Right-hand chain: right side. Hold the Tab bracket up to the wall or frame in the position where you want the blind to hang. Use your pencil to mark the two screw holes. Put the bracket down, pick up your drill, and drill into both marks. Push a rawl plug into each hole. Now screw the Tab bracket firmly in place. Two people are recommended here. One person holds the bracket in position while the other marks the holes. It is much harder to do alone.
• 3 Mount the Pin bracket on the other end Hold the roller inside the Tab bracket on one end. Let the other end (the pin end, which has a small round pin sticking out) rest against the wall where the Pin bracket will go. This tells you exactly where to position the second bracket. This step is critical: the blind must be perfectly level. Use your spirit level across the top of the roller before you mark the Pin bracket position. If the roller tilts even slightly, the blind will roll unevenly and eventually bunch to one side. Once level, mark the Pin bracket holes with your pencil. Remove the roller, drill the holes, insert rawl plugs, and screw the Pin bracket in place.
• 4 Hang the blind Make sure the fabric is rolled up (not hanging loose) before you mount it. Insert the pin end of the roller into the Pin bracket first, then apply gentle pressure pushing the roller toward the Tab bracket side until the headrail clicks into the Tab bracket. You should hear a firm click when it is seated correctly.
• 5 Test the blind Slowly operate the blind several times. Check that the blind rolls up evenly, the fabric hangs straight, the bottom bar is level, the blind does not rub against the sides of the recess, and the chain operates smoothly.

Works for: 25mm aluminium, 50mm aluminium. Note: 25mm and 50mm venetians use slightly different brackets. Both are covered below.

Buying these online? 25mm aluminium venetians  ·  Plaswood venetians  ·  made to measure, delivered free nationwide.

Ladder tape/cord Lift cord Bracket Bracket 50mm min clearance

Leave 50mm of clearance on each side of the tilt control wand and lift cord. Green lines show the ladder tape/cord that holds the slats aligned.

• 1 Check your blind type before you start Feel the tilt control. If it is a flat wand (like a ruler), you have a 50mm venetian. If it is a cord (a string), you have a 25mm venetian. The bracket systems are slightly different and are covered in the steps below.
• 2 Position the brackets Decide recess fit (inside the frame) or face fix (on the wall above the window). Hold the blind up to the position where you want it to hang. Look at the tilt control: the brackets must sit at least 50mm away from the tilt wand or cord on each side. This is so the controls can move freely without catching on the bracket. For 50mm venetians (face fix): Position the bracket with the swing arm facing toward you. Mark the two screw holes, drill, rawl plug, and screw in place. For recess fit: Measure how far any window handles stick out from the frame. Mark that distance inside the frame on the top surface (the lintel). Your bracket goes behind that mark so the blind clears the handle when lowered. Drill, rawl plug, screw in place.
• 3 Fit the valance clips (50mm blinds only) Your 50mm venetian comes with a decorative front panel called a valance or pelmet. Before you mount the blind into the brackets, slide the valance clips (small white or grey plastic hooks) onto the headrail, spacing them evenly along it. If you have a face fix blind: clip the two short side valance pieces (called returns) onto the ends of the main valance, then clip the whole valance assembly onto the headrail using the clips you just attached. If you have a recess fit blind: the valance is cut 20mm longer than the headrail so it fills the frame nicely. You may need to trim it slightly with a hacksaw for a perfect fit. Clip it on last, after the blind is hung. 25mm aluminium venetians do not have a valance. Skip this step if you have a 25mm blind.
• 4 Mount the headrail into the brackets For 50mm venetians: Hook the front of the headrail onto the front of the bracket, then press the back of the headrail up into the bracket until it clicks into place. For 25mm venetians: Slip the headrail onto the front plastic piece of the bracket, push it inward, then twist the back of the headrail up in one smooth motion until it snaps into place. It feels like a single push-and-twist action.
• 5 Understand your controls Your venetian has two controls. The lift cord (or pull cord on 25mm models) raises and lowers the blind by pulling the slats together and apart. The tilt wand (a flat rod) or tilt cord (a string) rotates all the slats from fully open to fully closed, controlling light and privacy. Fix the cord cleat to the wall at exactly 1.5 metres from the floor. Wrap the lift cord around it when the blind is at the height you want.
• 6 About the ladder tape/cord Running vertically through the slats you will see two sets of evenly-spaced horizontal threads connecting to vertical cords. This is called the ladder tape or ladder cord. It is what keeps every slat perfectly level and parallel to the others. Do not cut it, remove it, or adjust it. If a slat comes loose from the ladder tape, thread it back through before operating the blind.

Standard Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings vertical blinds come chainless. The weights are already in the hem pockets of each louvre. If you requested chains, they are attached.

Buying these online? Blockout vertical blinds  ·  made to measure, delivered free nationwide.

Max 600mm between brackets Carrier

Brackets must be spaced no more than 600mm apart. First bracket goes right at the corner of the opening.

• 1 Decide: recess fit or face fix? Recess fit (also called reveal fix) means the track mounts inside the top of the window opening, on the horizontal surface called the lintel. Face fix means the track mounts on the wall above the window opening, or on the ceiling. Face fix brackets are adjustable and provide 50mm of clearance between the wall and the track. This gives the louvres room to swing open without catching on the wall.
• 2 Mark and drill your bracket positions Place the first bracket right at the edge of the window opening, left side. Space the remaining brackets at no more than 600mm apart across the width of the window. For most windows, three brackets are enough. Wider openings may need four or five. For recess fit: measure how far any handles or fittings stick out from the frame before you drill. Your bracket must sit behind that measurement so the louvres hang clear of everything when they swing. Mark each bracket position, drill, insert rawl plugs, and screw each bracket firmly in place.
• 3 Snap the headrail (track) into the brackets Lift the headrail up to the brackets. The headrail snaps into the brackets from below. Press it up firmly until you hear each bracket click. To remove the headrail later, press the release lip on each bracket upward with a flat screwdriver.
• 4 Hang the louvres Each louvre has a small plastic hook at the top. Along the headrail, you will see a row of carrier stems pointing downward. Push each louvre hook up into its carrier stem, then press it straight down until it locks in place. You should feel a positive click for each one. The louvres are all the same, so there is no specific order. Start from one end and work your way across. The weights at the bottom of each louvre are already inside the hem pocket. They should sit flat and straight. If any louvre twists or looks uneven, check that the hook is fully locked into the carrier stem.
• 5 Test the blind Pull the operating wand or cord to draw the louvres across the opening. They should slide smoothly in both directions. Important: always open the louvres to the flat (open) position before you try to traverse them across. If you try to pull the louvres across while they are in the closed (tilted) position, you will stress the carrier mechanism. Pull the tilt chain once in each direction to rotate the louvres. This also automatically aligns any that are sitting slightly off-angle.

Outdoor blinds are installed in patio openings, pergolas, and under roof overhangs. They are not installed against glass doors or windows. Two people are strongly recommended.

Buying these online? PVC outdoor blinds  ·  Canvas outdoor blinds  ·  made to measure, delivered free nationwide.

Controller bracket Pin bracket Ground anchor hooks (prevent wind lift) Must be perfectly level

The roller must be perfectly level or the blind will roll unevenly. Ground anchor hooks at the bottom bar prevent wind lift.

Before you drill for outdoor blinds

Outdoor blinds are heavy and span large openings. The fixings must be correct for your surface. Buy appropriate fixings before you start: coach bolts for timber beams, masonry anchors for concrete lintels, self-tapping bolts for steel beams. Standard rawl plugs are not sufficient for most outdoor blind installations. If you are in any doubt about your structure, WhatsApp the Custom Blinds shop before drilling.

• 1 Identify your mounting surface Is your blind going into a timber beam, a concrete lintel, or a steel fascia? Each requires different fixings. Timber: pre-drill a pilot hole, then drive a coach bolt or heavy wood screw. Concrete: masonry drill bit plus masonry anchor bolts. Steel: self-tapping bolts designed for metal. Take a photo of your beam to the hardware store if you are not sure what to buy.
• 2 Mount the controller bracket first The controller bracket has a rod and a small mechanism where the crank handle will attach. Mount this bracket on the side where you want the crank to be. Hold it up to your beam or lintel, mark the fixing positions, drill, and bolt it firmly in place. Tug it hard before proceeding: this bracket takes the full weight of the blind on one side. Two people are strongly recommended from this point. One person holds the roller while the other marks, drills, and fixes.
• 3 Mount the Pin bracket on the other side Hold the roller with one end in the controller bracket. The other end has a pin sticking out. Position the Pin bracket so the pin seats inside it, then check that the entire roller is perfectly level using your spirit level. Mark the Pin bracket fixing positions. Remove the roller, drill, and bolt the Pin bracket in place. A roller that is even 2 or 3mm out of level will roll unevenly and eventually bunch or tear the fabric. Take time to get this right.
• 4 Hang the roller With both brackets mounted and confirmed level, place the roller back into position. Insert the pin end into the Pin bracket first, then seat the controller mechanism into the controller bracket. The roller should sit securely without any movement or wobble.
• 5 Attach the crank handle Hook the crank handle onto the controller mechanism. Turn it to lower the blind slowly. The blind should unroll evenly across its full width. If one side drops faster than the other, the roller is not level and needs adjustment before you continue.
• 6 Fix the bottom bar anchor hooks Lower the blind fully. Along the bottom bar you will find a chain or strap. Ground anchor hooks can be screwed into the floor of your patio or deck directly below the blind. Hook the bottom bar chain to these anchors when the blind is fully lowered. This prevents wind from getting underneath and lifting the blind, which can cause serious damage. For permanent installations on exposed coastal patios, Duncan recommends flush stainless steel anchor points set into the tile or deck.

Not sure about something? Ask before you drill.

Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings has fitted over 10,000 blinds. If something in this guide does not match what you are looking at, or you are not confident about any step, WhatsApp before you start. It is always easier to fix a question than to fill a hole.

WhatsApp 076​ 022​ 8410 →