Are Blinds Inside Glass a Good Choice?
Blinds fitted inside double glazing units have come a long way in the last few years. Most commonly operated using a magnetic slider, some can now be motorised giving the ultimate in ease of use.
Often seen on Bi-Folding doors the blinds are neatly out of the way when the doors fold back.
But are they a Good Choice for your Window Blinds?
The Pro’s
Integrated blinds are easy to maintain. Being sealed into the double glazing means the blinds do not get dusty, or require cleaning.
They are Child Safe by design, making them suitable for rooms where young children are present.
The operating system raises or lowers the blind uniformly.
They are Neat and streamlined and do not swing or rattle in the wind
The Con’s
Built in Window Blinds require speciality windows or doors, and these can be a lot more expensive than standard doors.
There is less choice, the blinds need to be able to fit between the glass, so the styles are limited to narrow Venetian Blinds or Pleated Blinds. Typically these come in a limited range of colours too.
As changing the blind requires changing the whole double glazed unit, if you want to change the room decor you would need to make sure the new scheme matches the old blinds.
UV in sunlight damages blinds and can cause them to become brittle. The average lifespan of the built in window blinds is 10 – 12 years. Most Double Glazing will last between 20 to 30 years depending on supply and fit. Therefore, with the blinds you could need to change the windows far sooner and costing far more.
Standard Double Glazed Units have Argon gas between the panes of glass to act as an insulator. In some cases when building windows with integrated blinds the Argon Gas is omitted. This is done to maintain the integrity of the window treatment. However it has the effect of making the Unit less energy efficient.
Although the Built in Blind will offer shading and cooling in the Summer months, it will offer minimal insulation in the Winter compared to a secondary blind fitted in front of the window glass. A secondary blind will create an additional air gap helping keep the heat in.
If the blind breaks, gets stuck or stops working, the unit would need to be replaced, and this is considerably more costly than simply replacing a window blind.
As the blind is likely to perish earlier than the double glazed unit, many are offered with a limited warranty in comparison to a standard unit.
Blinds integrated into the Double Glazing certainly have lot of positives, however they are not for everyone, and there are plenty of alternative options available. Please Contact Us. We are happy to go through all the alternatives available so that you have all the information to make the right choice for you.
