Vertical Blinds fitting question.....

[thelewisgang]

we have had vertical blinds fitted and although they do look nice we have a problem that the company who fitted them don't seem too concerned about and would like advice from anyone who could help.
We have two windows with narrow top recess, its only just over an inch deep. Brackets of 4" in length have been fitted to this recess & then the vertical runner to the bracket. When the slats are then in place we have a gap of over three inches at each side of the window when the blinds are open or closed and we didn't take too much notice of this until I returned home one evening when the light was on in this room and basically because of the gap at the sides you could see right into the room. we have rung the company who fitted them but they say there is no alternative as the runner has to be on this bracket. obviously we were not informed that we would have this 'problem' when their rep came round to quote us for the work. Just wondered whether there was any alternative hanging system that would minimise this gap. thank you in advance of any replies

[vivandorron]

Hi thelewisgang,

I am a bit of a do-it-yourselfer and have tried to visualise your set-up.

If I understand correctly, the end slats of your blinds are each 3ins off the wall surface.

You mentioned a vertical runner which I feel sure was intended to read as the horizontal strip from which the slats hang and which is fixed to 4inch brackets to allow the blinds to be vertically tilted or drawn open.

To be absolutely honest, I know very little about vertical blinds but was given a demonstration of how they work by neighbour friends who have now moved to live near their daughter in Australia. Consequently, I can't , at this stage, further examine the mechanism involved with the blinds, which could be similar to yours.

Nevertheless, I would think that it should be possible for an additional slat to be positioned and angled each end of your blind (un-coupled from the chain linkage) in order to fill the 3inch gap which is causing a problem.

It's just a thought and I shall not take offence if you tell me that I am being stupid.

Best wishes ........Ron.

[thelewisgang]

hello Ron. thanks for your reply and yes, the blinds are 3" off the wall surface hence the gap we have at the side of the windows when the blinds are closed . Its really only in the closed state this causes a problem. The runner is indeed a horizontal strip from which the slats hang which is fixed to a 4" bracket and as you say this allows the blinds to be vertically tilted or drawn. What peeves me is that when the company came to measure up & give us a quote we hadn't realised they would use a 4" bracket. we have had blinds fitted on bay windows in the same room and they are fine with no gaps at the sides. Because of the narrow recess, I would have thought they would have used a narrower bracket maybe 2" which would still clear the window without a problem. I would have thought they would have mentioned that we would have this gap and brought it to our attention as we really didn't know the bracket would be 4" deep. We were promised a phone call today from the company but sadly they have not contacted us as yet. I do not feel you are being stupid in your reply - you posted a sensible answer and your comment about the possibility of an angled additional slat would seem the thing that is needed. Will have to await their call & hopefully a visit from their rep - thanks again.

[vivandorron]

Hi there again thelewisgang,

Thanks for having responded to my comments.

I can fully appreciate your concern about the indifferent attitude which is being adopted by the firm which supplied and fitted your blinds. It is unfortunate that you have such a small window reveal of 1 inch. However , even if you had smaller brackets of 2 inches there would still be a gap to view the corners of your room.

As I see it, you mast have something down the sides of the blinds to block the gaps. Hence the reason for my suggesting a few angled slats; if it's possible to fix them onto the present rail.

Pity I can't put diagrams into AB to illustrate the thoughts I have in mind. For instance, if the blinds were a few slats more, the angle of vision into the room would be considerably reduced; but it would involve the whole wall being covered by the blind to have 100% block out.

Have you thought about mock curtains. Just a few folds of material hanging down the sides by being fixed to the corners of the overhead rail.

Something to fill the gap is definitely required.........I'd be going 'over the top' and constructing a pillared effect down the sides with timber ( Contiboard probably.) But, my taste for Georgian and Tudor decor is not everyones taste.

I'm sure you will resolve your problem without involving your Local Authority's, Consumer Protection Department on the basis of 'Goods unfit for the purpose for which they were intended'.

Don't be too down about matters. There's bound to be light at the end of the tunnel.........Sorry, you wish to block it out: and you will.

Sincere regards........Ron.

[thelewisgang]

thanks so much Ron for answering again. I really do appreciate you taking the time to do this. At the moment, we have put the curtains back over the blinds to hide the gaps but obviously we had hoped to do away with these. We still haven't heard from the company who fitted them & if no call by tomorrow, we will ring them again on Thursday. live is never straightforward is it.......well, it doesn't seem to be for me lately. all the best, Pat

[vivandorron]

Hello there Pat,

I am genuinely concerned about your problem and, having given further thought to it, I am of a positive opinion that the installers of the blinds are, or should be, able to rectify matters.

Perhaps a longer rail bent each end inwards towards the wall with a few additional slats could be the answer. (Extra slats might not even be needed.) If the rail is metal,this should be easy; however, if it's springy plastic it will require screwing to the wall or the shallow window reveal. No problem in my opinion.

I feel sure there is definitely something which can be done quite aesthetically to overcome the problem. Furthermore, it is my view that the firm which you contracted is under an obligation to put matters right because of a negligence on its part in not pointing out to you the position of which it would have been aware and which now prevails.

Best wishes for resolving the issue concerned.........Ron

[thelewisgang]

well, I typed out an answer to your latest reply, pressed submit and its disappeared never to be seen again, I guess! Anyway, thanks so much for your advice. The company haven't rung today so if no call tomorrow we will ring them again. One thing I didn't mention before (well, I don't think I did) was to say we had four windows fitted with the verticals in the same room and the finishing length of three of them are the same, sitting around 1/4" off the window sill. The fourth has obviously been measured wrong and sits around 1 1/4" off the sill. Oh, they do seem to have done such a good job!!!! We have mentioned this in our phone call at the end of last week. They are members of the British Blind and Shutters Association whoever they may be! so we might have to go down that road. I will post again to let you know. regards, Pat

[thelewisgang]

well, its Friday & no phone call so we called them today but they tell us 'the boss' is away on holiday till Monday so we will be ringing them again early next week. just thought I'd let you know.

[vivandorron]

G'evening Pat,

Thaks for keeping me up-to-date.

Hope tomorrow that you get some sense out of the manager and he agrees to replacing the blind which was measured wrongly. Also that he has a suggestion for filling the side gap. .....Ron

[thelewisgang]

hello again Ron. well, the manager has said that everything will be done to help with the problem we have & we are awaiting a phone call which should arrive sometime Wednesday to arrange an appointment for their fitter to come & have a look. So, hopefully we might just be getting there eh? we will wait & see, in hope! All the best, Pat

[vivandorron]

Great news Pat. ' Keep your guns loaded and have no compassion when firing from the hip'.

Hope you hit your target.....Ron

[vivandorron]

Hi Pat..........Hope today you have fixed the fitter.

I am very anxious that you should resolve the issues concerned. However, my wife (Viv) is a little bothered that my advice could (forgive her pun) be leading you into a blind corner. I hope not, because I still believe, quite honestly, that you have a case for some form of recompense from the firm concered; if it is unwilling or unable to put matters right and to your satisfaction............Ron

[thelewisgang]

Hello Ron and Viv!!
well, we haven't heard a titter today...typical eh? the manager promised the fitter would call us today but he has not so I guess we will have to ring them again but it won't now be till Friday as we are out most of tomorrow. If someone calls us tomorrow then we have an answerphone so will just have to wait to see if its flashing when we come in. As for your wife's concern, I am just very grateful for all your postings & I certainly don't believe you are leading me into a blind corner. Did you mention somewhere that you were in Australia? Might have got that wrong??!! I'll post again after Friday to let you know just what they say this time. generally cheesed off with them now as you can imagine. bye for now, Pat

[vivandorron]

G'evening Pat........Any news to report?.

We hope you haven't pulled the shutters and turned a 'blind' eye to your problem. ( We could well do at our ages)
Incidentally, we live in Gower, South Wales, U.K. although we did mention friends who now reside in the land of Oz and it was they who had vertical blinds when they lived in our village. However, unlike us, they didn't have a glasshouse (that must be a clue to our age grouping when nowadays folk say greenhouse) so they never had an abundance of green tomatoes; as you have.

Good On Yer Cobber..........Viv & Ron.

[thelewisgang]

hi again. well, this saga is going to go on and on it seems! The blind company were due to send their fitter round 'sometime this week' & were due to phone to make a definite date but nobody has rung. we tried to ring them yesterday but picked up their answerphone so we will ring them first thing monday morning. not happy at their so called customer service!! what with this and the problem I have with my sewing machine (another story - won't bore you with that), its been a bad month for us. Will let you know early next week. ps/ I guess you saw my posting re the green tomatoes! I haven't looked at that thread yet so maybe you replied as to I should use malt or pickling vinegar. Anyway, nice to hear from you again. bye for now, Pat

[vivandorron]

Hi there again Pat......Sorry to hear that your problem is still unresolved. We know the feeling you are experiencing which can only be described as a progressive posterior pain.

By the way, you wouldn't have bored us with details of the problem with your sewing machine.. We have such a machine and our Cook is quite good with it. (No stars for guessing who is the cook and 'seamstress'.) Unfortunately, the machine can't be adapted to stitch together things which often fall-apart in the kitchen; but is used to make curtains, place-mats etc; and has been utilized for knocking-up the odd dress or two.(Odd being the operative word.)

We'll await hearing further from you; we hope with good news.

Sincere best wishes........Viv & Ron.

[thelewisgang]

hello Viv and Ron. I will certainly let you know how the blinds saga goes. I have posted on here tonight about my damn sewing machine so you can read my bit under "Law". September seems to have been a bad month. Will be in touch again shortly. all the best, Pat

[thelewisgang]

just to quickie for now to let you know we contact the blinds supplier this afternoon. It appears their fitter was off sick last week hence the reason he didn't turn up but it would have been nice if someone would have picked the phone up to let us know, poor customer relations I think. Anyway, they are due to come here later in the week so I will post again to let you know what they say. kind regards, Pat

[vivandorron]

Thanks Pat for your up-dates. I agree that a phone call from the firm would have been appropriate. There certainly seems to be a complete inconsideration on its part.

September really has been a bad month for you. Viv is always optimistic about matters and along with me, she hopes that October will be a good month for thelewisgang.

Hope you sort-out the blinds and the sewing machine.

Best wishes ......Ron

[vivandorron]

Sorry Pat if I appeared to have ignored your feed-back about the sewing machine; which of course is good news. I am having an e/mail communications connection problem with my ISP (virgin.net) so didn't get an update communication from AB..

However , I am looking forward to hearing the outcome on the blinds.

I feel sure you will be relieved when everything is 'sewn-up' satisfactorily.

As always....Best wishes ....Ron

[thelewisgang]

well, how strange that you are also with virgin. You know all about the problems with them. Outlook working ok tonight but webmail still down.
Right, blinds!!!!! they are replacing the ones that they measured wrong as they hang shorter than the rest. We should get them fitted in the next couple of weeks. As for the gaps at the sides of the two windows, well, it looks like we will have to live with this. If they replaced the existing bracket with a smaller one it would mean the blinds would be touching the opening lever at the top of the window. I only wish they had informed us when they came here for fitting that we would have this gap. They say that having a curved piece at the sides, something I think you spoke about, would not be available. Still thinkng of going into a showroom of another blind supplier as a potential customer to ask what the options are for fitting verticals on a window with a small recess. I don't give up easily unlike my husband who has such a lay-back attitude! I will keep you posted. all the best from me too. Pat