Home Improvement Project: Adding Window Shades and Miniblinds

To avoid living in the proverbial fish bowl, most people want some kind of covering for their windows. For rooms where privacy is a prime concern, such as a bathroom or bedroom, window coverings are more important. In other rooms, you may need them mostly for protection from bright sunlight. Whatever the motivation, basic window coverings are easy to install, even for the not-so-handy.

Installing a window shade

Window shades are spring-loaded so that they roll up or down and lock in the chosen position. The hardware consists of round support brackets at either end of the shade. You mount the brackets on the inside of the window stops. One bracket has a hole into which a round shade support is inserted; the opposite bracket has a slot to receive the flat support on the other end of the shade, as shown in Figure 1.

If you're replacing an old shade, measure the width of the old roller from end to end, including the metal tips, and then measure the length of the shade fully extended. Order a new shade of the same width and length.

To measure for a new shade, hold a rigid measuring stick across the top of the window. Place one end on the inside upper window stop and carefully extend the rule across to the stop on the other side. Order a shade 1/8 inch smaller than the measurement.

Measure the inside of the jamb and then subtract 1/8 inch to find the proper length. You can purchase shades that are easy to cut to the exact length that you need.

To install a shade, follow these simple steps:

1. Position the metal support brackets on the two window stops at opposite sides of the window, and mark the brad hole positions on the stops with a sharp pencil.

Allow enough room between the top of the window jamb and the shade for the roller to turn freely, remembering that when the shade is fully rolled up, it grows in diameter. Hold the shade up where you plan to install it. When you find the correct position for the first bracket position, make a pencil mark for the location of the brad hole. Measure the distance from the top and sides of the window frame and then use that measurement to locate the bracket on the opposite side.

2. Secure the shade brackets to the window stops with small brads.

With a carpenter's awl or an ice pick and hammer, make starting holes in the stops. Hold the shade bracket in position with a tack hammer to drive in the brads.

3. Slide the ends of the shade into the slots in the brackets.

Make sure that the shade is fully wound up when you install it, or it may not retract properly. If you pull the shade down and it doesn't fully roll up by itself, pull the shade down a foot or so and take it off the bracket. Rewind the shade on the shade roller and then reinstall it in the bracket.

To remove the shade, just push upward on the slotted end of the shade to free it from its bracket and then pull the round support from the hole in the opposite bracket.

Installing a miniblind

Miniblinds are mounted in U-shaped brackets that have snap-on covers to provide a finished look. They're a mainstream decorating choice for a window treatment because they coordinate with just about any decor. Use them alone or with a fabric valance or cornice board covering the top of the window.

You can mount most miniblinds outside the window frame (on the outer trim of the window), on the wall (so that they cover the window trim), or on the inside of the frame between the window stops. Because you have all these options, most mounting brackets have pre-drilled holes on both the ends and the backs of the mounting brackets. You use only one set of holes, depending on how you mount the miniblinds.

Before you purchase miniblinds, decide whether you want to mount the blind inside or outside the window frame and then measure your windows using a folding wooden measuring rule or wooden measuring stick. Manufacturers have specific directions for measuring on their packaging or brochures, but the general procedure is to measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the window and use the smallest dimension for its width. Measure the length of the window to get the correct extension of the blind.

If you order custom blinds, you can indicate the length you want the blinds to be. If you buy blinds off the rack, you have to cut the blind cords to the proper length; usually, you want the bottom edge of the blind to rest on or slightly above the windowsill. Directions for cutting the blind cords for length are included in the miniblind package.

You can install small clips on both sides of the window to act as hold-down brackets to secure the bottom of the blinds so that they don't sway freely. These clips, secured with a small brad or finishing nail, are easy to reach but not noticeable.

To install a blind on the inside of the jamb, follow these steps:

1. Measure and mark the locations for the U-shaped mounting brackets.

Position the mounting brackets at the top corner of the window jamb. Hold the brackets in place (paying attention to which is the right and which is the left bracket) and use them as a template to mark the location of the mounting screws with a pencil.

2. Drill pilot holes for the mounting screws through the pencil marks on the window jamb.

Use a 1/16-inch drill or carpenter's awl to make starter holes for the screws.

3. Use a screwdriver to install the mounting brackets with the screws provided.

4. Push the blind's header bar into the brackets, as shown in Figure 2, and secure it by closing each bracket.

Some designs simply slide into the bracket.

5. If necessary, cut the blind cords to length.

Driving small screws while reaching upward is an awkward and frustrating job that may introduce new and colorful words into your vocabulary. To make the job easier, use a cordless screwdriver, which is small and lightweight. You can use the toggle switch on a cordless to provide drive or reverse power.