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Grey tension-mount roller blind fitted without drilling in a window with sea view, woman standing beside it

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No-Drill Blinds vs Regular Blinds

You want blinds. You are not sure you want holes in the frames. The difference is the bracket, not the blind.

Buying guideNationwide delivery
Subject
No-drill and drilled blinds
Reviewed by
The Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team
Updated
7 September 2026
Reading time
4 minutes

Should I choose no-drill blinds or regular drilled blinds?

  1. No-drill if you rent, have tiled reveals, want to protect aluminium frames, or plan to move within a few years
  2. Drilled if you own, want the widest range including honeycomb, verticals and motorised, or have very large or unusual windows
  3. Tension brackets are the only reliable no-drill method in South African conditions; adhesive fails in heat and magnets only hold on steel
  4. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies no-drill rollers in blockout and sheer, and 25mm aluminium and aluwood venetians, online from R610 with free delivery
  5. No-drill is not cordless: rollers run on a chain and venetians on a cord
  6. Both are made to measure; no-drill adds a white tension bracket to the same roller blind
From R610No-drill roller, live shop
40mmMinimum frame depth
3 yearsManufacturer’s warranty, either mount
“No-drill is not a compromise product. It is the same roller blind on a different bracket. The fabric, the mechanism, the warranty are identical. The only thing missing is the holes.”
The Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team
01

The actual difference between no-drill and regular blinds

A regular roller screws into the wall or frame with two or three brackets. A no-drill roller sits in spring-loaded tension brackets that grip inside the recess with no screws, adhesive or permanent fixing. Same fabrics, same mechanism, same warranty; a white housing each side that all but disappears once the blind is down.

02

Which to choose: no-drill or regular blinds

No-drill

Tension bracket

You
Rent, or plan to move
Frames
Tiled reveals, aluminium you want unmarked, heritage windows
Blinds
Roller in blockout or sheer on a chain; 25mm aluminium or aluwood venetian on a cord
Size
Windows up to 2m wide, frame at least 40mm deep
Leaving
Lift out, no marks, refit next home

Drilled

Screwed bracket

You
Own, and are staying
Frames
Any solid surface
Blinds
Rollers, venetians, honeycomb, verticals, motorised
Size
Very wide or unusually shaped windows
Look
Brackets hidden in the recess or above the frame
03

No-drill and drilled blinds compared

PerformanceNo-drillDrilled
Blind typesRollers and 25mm venetiansEvery type
FabricsBlockout and sheerFull range
Damage on removalNoneScrew holes
MotorisedNot on tension mountSomfy available
Wide windowsUp to 2mAny span
Fit timeUnder a minute, no tools15 to 20 minutes with a drill

Three dots excellent. No dots poor or not recommended.

04   Why tension only

Adhesive fails in heat. Magnets fail on aluminium.

Adhesive strips lose bond strength above 35 degrees, and a north-facing frame in direct sun goes well past that. Magnets hold on steel, and most South African frames are aluminium. A spring-tension bracket grips mechanically and holds through years of daily use, which is why it is the only no-drill mount Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies.

Mix themMany owners fit no-drill in tiled rooms and drilled everywhere else.

05

Ordering no-drill blinds online

Measure the inside width and drop of the recess, check the frame is at least 40mm deep, choose blockout or sheer, and the price shows. Made in about 5 to 7 working days plus courier transit, free delivery, Custom Fit Guarantee.

Buy online:

No-drill blockout·No-drill sheer·Roller blinds
06

Questions buyers ask about no-drill vs regular blinds

Are no-drill blinds as good as regular drilled blinds?

Yes. The same roller blind, fabrics, mechanism and 3-year warranty on a tension bracket instead of screws. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies them nationwide with free delivery.

Do no-drill blinds work on aluminium window frames?

Yes. Tension brackets grip any square recess at least 40mm deep: aluminium, uPVC or timber.

Why do budget no-drill blinds from online marketplaces fall down?

Most rely on adhesive or magnets. Adhesive softens in South African heat; magnets do not hold on aluminium. Spring tension does not depend on either.

Can I get blockout no-drill blinds for a bedroom?

Yes. Blockout and sheer fabrics are both available on the tension mount.

Will no-drill blinds damage my window frame when I remove them?

No. Release the tension and lift them out; nothing was screwed or glued.

Can I mix no-drill and regular blinds in the same house?

Yes, and many do: no-drill in tiled rooms and rentals, drilled where venetians, honeycomb or motors are wanted.

07

Further reading on no-drill blinds

Content reviewed by the Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team. Visit the online shop for current pricing.

Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings | South Africa’s trusted blinds, shutters and awnings specialists since 2010.

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