Replacing Window Blinds
Window treatments break. When you need to replace window blinds, follow these helpful tips:
- Measure the width and height of the blind. In the photo above the blind is mounted inside the window frame so you measure inside the window frame.
- Buy the right size. Visit your local home improvement store (Lowes) to purchase replacement blinds. In the photo above the width is 70 inches and height 57 inches. In the store this white, metal Levolor blinds came 72 inches by 72 inches. The Lowes employee cut one inch off both sides to make it 70 inches wide.
- Remove the old blind. When I removed the old blind, the brackets attached to the head (top) jam used hex head screws so I needed a screwdriver to remove them.
Photo below shows 1/4-inch hex nut driver which you can attach to electric drill. Alternatively, you can use a 1/4-inch hex bit screwdriver to remove hex head screws.
4. Bore holes into the window head jam (top). Orient the mounting brackets so they will correctly attached to the blind and use slots on the bracket to drill holes. I installed the brackets 1-1/2 inches depth measured from the wall to the window and 2-1/4 inches away from side jams. The reason you need to use a drill is because the screw will go into the metal or wood window framing. You want to make sure you are boring deep enough. When you attach the drill bit, make sure the length is equal or greater than the length of the screw. When you select a drill bit, visually compare the diameter of the bit with the diameter of the screw. You want the diameter of the drill bit to be smaller than the screw diameter. The photo below show the corded Metabo drill I used to bore holes.
The Metabo drill has a variable speed dial on the trigger. When boring holes set dial to high speed. When drilling screws set dial to slow speed. The 3/8 inch size is the maximum opening on the all metal keyless chuck. You can attached any size bit up to 3/8 inches in diameter.
WARNING: you need to bore hole so it penetrates into the wood extension jamb.
The first hole I bored went through the cornerbead (strip of sheet metal with a 90 degrees bend that runs along the front edges of the extension jamb) and the drywall. For extra support I used drywall anchors. See the photo below.
Drill Bit Sizes
If you are not using a drywall anchor, then 3/32 drill bit will work. If you use a drywall anchor, then 1/8 drill bit will work.
5. Attach brackets to top of the extension jamb. Phillips screwdriver is needed to screw drywall anchor and sheet metal screws into the extension jamb.
6. Attach blinds to the brackets.
That’s the 6 step process of replacing window blinds.
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