Ivan Landa
Are you wondering if you can install outdoor blinds yourself, or is it better to leave it to the experts? Outdoor blinds can significantly reduce interior overheating, improve comfort and privacy, but their installation is not "just" about screwing on a few profiles. The decisive factors are construction readiness, correct anchoring, flatness and, for the motor, well-timed electrical installation. In this article, we will guide you through the most common installation scenarios, explain the differences between concealed and approved solutions, and provide you with practical check points that most often decide whether the blinds will run quietly and without jamming.
Concealed installation means that the upper box and often the wiring are hidden under the facade. The result looks clean and elegant, but it needs to be addressed in good time, ideally during the project and during the shell construction or insulation. At ISOparts, we use purenit boxes for concealed solutions, which are usually mounted above the window in the area of the contact insulation system. The great advantage is that they help to thoughtfully solve the construction detail of the lintel and limit the formation of thermal bridges, which in practice will affect the comfort and long-term functionality of the entire solution.
On the other hand, the acknowledged installation usually comes into play when the facade is already finished, or you do not want to interfere with the insulation. Installation is faster and often easier, but the box and some parts are more visible and the entire solution is sensitive to proper anchoring to the supporting base. Simply put, concealed installation requires better preparation and planning in advance, acknowledged installation is rather a faster way without major construction interventions, but with certain compromises.
Before you even pick up the drill, stop and go through the preparation, because most of the problems arise right here. You will need basic measuring and assembly equipment, i.e. a tape measure, a spirit level, a drill and drills according to the type of substrate, the right bits and also suitable anchoring material. When mounting into purenit, screws designed for this material are used, so be clear in advance about what you will be anchoring to and what kind of structure you actually have. A laser or a long spirit level will also help you a lot, because flatness is very important for outdoor blinds and a small deviation will later be reflected in noise or rubbing.
If the blinds are motorized, think about electricity in advance. Electrical preparation should be completed before the implementation of the contact insulation system, because it is at this stage that cable routing and penetrations are best addressed. With a purenit box, it is practical that the penetration can be drilled in the upper part of the box as needed and then sealed to minimize the risk of leaks. If this part is underestimated, you may later face unnecessary cutting, demolition or improvisation, which ultimately costs more time and money than timely preparation.
Measurement is really important for external blinds, because it is a system that must fit exactly on the window and the prepared building opening. For a concealed solution with a purenit box, it is usually enough to enter the outer width and height of the window to produce the box and insulating lining, either from the window production documentation or from the actual measurement on site. However, to be sure, check the dimensions in several places, because the masonry and lining may not be perfectly straight.
In practice, it pays to measure at the top, in the middle and at the bottom and take into account that the reality on site sometimes differs from the plans. At the same time, think about where exactly the guide rails will be and whether there will be any collisions with the door handle, window sill, insulation or perhaps the insect screen. It is these "little things" that often decide whether the installation will be smooth or whether everything will have to be redone later.
The installation of a concealed solution is best understood as a procedure where the box and the construction detail around it are first correctly installed, and only then the blind itself is installed. From the point of view of construction readiness, situations are typically solved when the windows are installed in the face of the masonry, or in a pre-mounted installation, and everything is connected to the contact insulation system. If insulation is not performed, it is necessary to create an appropriate space in the lintel so that there is somewhere to place the box and it is possible to maintain both functional and aesthetic details.
The procedure itself begins with the foundation profile being placed on the window frame so that it covers its upper part. The box is then placed on the foundation strip and aligned vertically. It is worth not to rush here, because as soon as the box "runs away" even by a few millimeters, this will later be noticeable when the blinds are running. When the box is correctly installed, it is time to anchor it. Consoles are used, which are first anchored to the masonry and then to the box, and at the same time thermal bridges are broken, for example by using a purenit pad under the foot of the console. This is a typical detail that is easily overlooked by a layman, but in the long term it is of great importance.
At the right moment, the power cable is also pulled into the box space. The hole is drilled in the location of the planned motor so that the wiring makes sense and there are no unnecessary kinks or tension on the cable. Before applying the facade, the purenit is treated with a suitable penetration for non-absorbent surfaces. And when working, do not forget to respect the structural elements of the box, such as internal reinforcements, which should not be removed during assembly. Once the box is ready, the assembly of the blinds themselves follows, i.e. the layout and assembly of the brackets, inserting the blinds into the brackets, connecting the motor according to its manual, mounting the guide rails in the flush-mounted housing and then checking the operation. For motors, the end positions are usually adjusted exactly according to the motor manufacturer's instructions so that the blinds move smoothly and without overloading.
The most common problem is that something is not level. When the box or guide rails are not exactly vertical and symmetrical, the blinds "pull" to the side when lowered, the slats can rustle or knock on the guides and the motor is unnecessarily strained. Prevention is basically that it just has to be followed consistently, which means continuously checking the vertical and plane and not underestimating the placement of the brackets. So think not only about making sure everything holds, but also that the load is distributed correctly and the structure does not move over time.
The second common area is the connections to the facade and lining. With concealed systems, it is necessary to ensure that the final layers of the facade do not exceed the places where the functional spaces for the guide rails are to remain and that the lining is mounted vertically. If this is not observed, it may happen that the blinds are "somehow" mounted, but they will rub, become noisier or their operation will gradually deteriorate. Here, the detail seems like a small thing, but in the end it determines whether you will have peace of mind for years, or years of dealing with complaints and repairs.
External blinds fall within the framework of European safety and functional requirements, which are summarized in the EN 13659 standard. For an ordinary user, this does not mean that they have to study the standard in detail, but it is good to be aware of the basic principle that the blinds must be correctly mounted and safe to use, including resistance to normal loads such as wind. This means that it is necessary to follow the manufacturer's installation procedures, not to underestimate the correct anchoring and to deal with the electrical issues of the motors so that it is carried out safely and with regard to long-term reliability.
Do-it-yourself installation can make sense, especially for admittedly smaller blinds in a well-accessible location, if you have experience with anchoring and know exactly what you are drilling into. At the same time, however, take into account that motorized blinds are not only about mechanical installation, but also about electrical installation, where it is not worth improvising. In the case of a concealed design as part of the insulation, every error is also visible and expensive to repair, because it often only becomes apparent when the facade is finished. In such a case, it is usually more sensible to invite experts, especially if you are dealing with large areas, installation at height, the windward side of the house or a more complex composition of the facade and the base.
If you want to avoid mistakes due to ignorance and be sure that everything is connected correctly to the window and facade, do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to prepare a solution for your project. With our products, installation will be fast, precise and without complications. All you have to do is enjoy the pleasant shade and aesthetically clean facade. Contact us today and let our experts prepare everything so that your outdoor blinds work perfectly for many years.
