Are you looking for a simple and ingenious window dressing? One that solves the problem of having full control over the amount of natural light that enters your home, while also enjoying the privacy you need, when you need it? Although traditional window dressings like blinds and shutters are popular and effective, they are harder to clean and maintain and lead to issues like pets and children playing with them and tangling them.
If you want a window dressing that solves those problems and offers the convenience you are looking for, why not consider integral blinds?
You may be wondering, what are integral blinds? Integral blinds are a type of blinds that rather than being installed onto your windows are built into the windows or doors and sit between the glass panes of double and triple glazing units.
Although they are installed between the glass panes, they can still be controlled manually or electronically.
At Affordable Windows, we are also happy to give you a no-obligation free quote on a brand new set of Integral Blinds for your windows at a price you can afford:
Let's look at them in more detail.
How Do Integral Blinds Work?
Integral blinds operate in much the same way as traditional blinds, despite being installed in-between the glass. There are two main types of control used – manual and automatic.
Manual – integral blinds can be operated manually via a special cord that is connected to a magnetic device that moves the blinds down and up.
While this still features a cord of some description, it is set with a high tension level and complies with the Make it Safe guidelines.
With some designs, you can have a remote control that operates the opening and closing of the integral blinds.
Automatic – there is also the option for automatically operated integral blinds that involve the use of long-life batteries and external solar panels. A motor moves the blinds down or up via remote control or another control device that is attached to the window or door.
Can Integral Blinds Be Fitted to Existing Windows?
If you have existing windows or doors that are still relatively new and you would like integral blinds but would like to avoid the hassle, disturbance, and cost of having completely new windows or doors fitted, you may wonder if you can retrofit integral blinds.
The short answer is yes, they can be fitted onto existing windows and doors, by replacing the current, sealed unit.
It doesn’t matter what material the frames are made of, whether it's aluminium, timber, or uPVC, it is an easy enough job to do. Read more articles to know how much they cost.
Are Integral Blinds Any Good?
You may wonder if they live up to the hype - if integral blinds are that good. This is a justifiable question to ask as integral blinds are not cheap.
(We have another post about how much integral blinds cost)
The good news is that they do offer several distinct advantages over the alternatives that make them worth investing in:
- They make it easy to control the amount of natural light and shading you have in your home
- They eliminate the hassles of cleaning and maintaining window dressings that you have with the alternatives like traditional shutters and blinds.
- They are child and pet-friendly and fully comply with the Make it Safe regulations
- They are dust-resistant and are therefore ideal if you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies
- They can collect energy, which means they can help you reduce your heating bills
- They can either be retrofitted to existing windows and doors or fitted into brand-new installations.
Really, at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference. If you do not have any pets like cats or dogs or young children in your home and you don't mind cleaning your shutters or blinds every few months, then you may not need to bother with integral blinds.
However, if you are wanting an easier life and want to have a safer home and window dressings that are better protected against child or pet-related damage or injuries, we would suggest it may be a good idea to invest in integral blinds.
At Affordable Windows, we are also happy to give you a no-obligation free quote on a brand new set of Integral Blinds for your windows at a price you can afford:
Summary
So, if you are looking for a modern and convenient alternative window dressing to traditional shutters or blinds, integral blinds are a great option.
They make it easier to control the amount of light or privacy you have at any time of the day.
They also solve the problem of dangling cords and other mechanisms that children and pets can play around with cause injuries and are much easier to clean and maintain, because they are encased between the panes of glass.
