Pleated blinds are ideal for conservatories but are suitable for all types of windows in both homes and offices. They can be used on standard vertical windows and, in recent years, have become increasingly popular for conservatory roofs, mainly due to the Perfect Fit system.
Standard blinds can be operated via a cord lock mechanism, continuous chain or motorised. They can be free hanging or have guide wires installed to keep the fabric more rigid and less mobile if installed on doors or opening windows. Cord-tensioned versions, where you move the blind directly by hand, are another common option. These tension cords also act as a guide wire, providing additional stability to the fabric.
The Intu pleated blind system is similar to Perfect Fit in that no drilling or screws are required. Ideal for conservatories, glazed doors, and tilt and turn windows, Intu blinds fit neatly and unobtrusively into the window bead using a patented bracket system so you can operate your window or door handles with ease. Slimline channels are installed down the sides of the blind, reducing light gaps and giving exceptional control of solar heat and light. Intu blinds are cord-tensioned, meaning you open and close the blind by raising and lowering the bottom rail by hand. They are also available in Roller or Venetian blind versions.
Perfect Fit is a unique system that allows the installation of blinds on UPVC windows without any drilling or screws. Its innovative construction allows Perfect Fit to become part of the window, unobtrusive and leaving windowsills clutter-free. The blind fits neatly into a stylish frame, which then snaps into the window using brackets held in place using the window bead. The blind moves together with the windows and doors when they are opened and closed, giving you the perfect combination of shade and ventilation. Also available as Roller or Venetian Perfect Fit blinds.
Perfect Fit roof blinds work on a similar principle, albeit with a slightly different design to Perfect Fit side blinds. A pleated blind is pre-built into a frame that snaps-fits into the window using brackets held in place by the window bead itself. No holes are drilled, and no screws are used; everything is self-contained within the frame of the blind, thereby doing no damage to the UPVC. Standard operation is manual, either by telescopic wand or by hand if within reach, though motorisation by remote control is also an option. Click here for further information on the Perfect Fit system.
Standard blinds are a much more economical option than Perfect Fit blinds, but they install like a conventional blind, whereby holes are drilled and brackets are screwed into the frame of the conservatory or roof light. They operate in the same way, either by telescopic wand, hand, or electric, and are available in the same choice of fabrics.
We offer rooflight blinds for the three manufacturers of roof light windows: Velux, Keylite and Fakro. The blind is fixed in a compact aluminium headbox with side channels that guide the fabric as the blind is operated. The cord tensioning of the bottom bar allows the blind to be set to any position in the window frame. Bespoke roof light blinds are an option for non-standard or non-branded windows.
Most of our pleated blind range can be motorised using a low-voltage system. Motorised blinds bring the added flexibility of offering the perfect solution to window areas that are not easily accessible. Whether that be due to an awkwardly located window or the physical capacity to operate a standard blind with ease. We have installed electric pleated blinds in various domestic and commercial settings, from care homes, offices and conservatories.
Pleated blinds are not just for squares! They can be made into shapes and fans, whereby the fabric is either cut to the shape of the window or “fanned” out to accommodate the shape required. These can be ideal for awkwardly shaped windows in conservatories, as pictured above.
A multizone pleated blind allows for the fabric to be moved up and down from both top and bottom, giving the user optimum control over the light and shade provided. The blind can be fully opened and closed as normal, but with the added ability to be positioned anywhere in the window you may desire – leaving your view unobscured both above and below the blind.
A dual fabric pleated blind has two different fabrics within one blind. These could be two different colours, fabrics with different solar protective properties or most commonly one blackout and the other translucent. This last example is usually used as a sort of night-and-day option. During the day, fold the blackout fabric away and use the translucent section to provide shade but still allow light. At night, when you want to block all outside light, fold the translucent fabric away and extend the blackout section.
Pleated fabric is a single-layered piece of fabric with folds permanently creased into it, normally at 20mm or 25mm spacing. It is the conventional and more economical pleated blind option at purchase. Cellular fabric (sometimes known as honeycomb or Duette) is more expensive but does offer further economical benefits. The two-layer “celled” fabric traps air between the two, offering better insulation against both heat ingress during the summer and heat loss during the winter.
Click the above logo to see the range of Eclipse fabrics we use with our standard pleated blinds. This will open a new window to our supplier’s website.
Click the above logo to see the range of Eclipse fabrics we use with our standard pleated blinds. This will open a new window to our suppliers website.