Changing vertical blinds from side opeing to split opening

Lady_K

Some of my vertical blinds open to one side instead of splitting in the middle, is it easy to change them to split opening? and will I have to buy anything extra to do it?

grimsalve

I think you'd just have to buy a new rail.

ic

The side openers tend to be DIY as they're easy to trim to size, whereas the central openers are often made to measure. Look on eBay, plenty of firms offering to make these.

Lady_K

Are they completely different types of rail then for split or side openers? I only had them fitted today and 3 out of the blinds open to the side but as they are going to be open a fair bit I really don't want them to be side opening as they will just look odd. I was hoping it might just be an adjustment

Mankysteve

Nope you'll need new blinds I'm afraid as other have said the rail are completely different

ic

If you've only just had them fitted, were you asked how you want them to open? Did you not question as they were fitted?

Lady_K

I just assumed that they were split opening as standard apart from the sides of bays so it didn't enter my head to ask the question. When the man came to give me a price he just explained about the bay window and where the cords would be and that it would center opening in the middle pane but side opening to the side panes.

I don't understand why the actual material of the blinds cant be re-used and just have new rails?

I did call the man back and he said that any windows below 6ft in width are not fitted as split blinds because he said 'its not worth it' not sure what he meant by that, if its not worth the trouble or not worth the expense. But, he said, rather reluctantly, if I really really wanted them changing he would do it and I said I would prefer it. He didn't sound very happy about that and then said leave it with me and I will get it sorted. I havent heard back from him again though although its only been 5 days.

For the man to re-do these blinds to split openers will it cost the same amount as it did to make them up in the first place? He didnt mention money to change them but I'm thinking should I offer to pay the difference?

I don't really like having to ask them to change them but I do think perhaps that he should have asked me which way I would prefer because I really had no idea and had no reason to think they would open anything but split way. If he does not get back to me I will have to take at least one of the blinds down because it will be open most of the time so it is important it is split opening

burnsguitarman

Ours are on a 3 window bay all equal sizes of 3ft, The centre one opens in the middle with an equal number of slats on each side, and the side ones open to their corresponding sides, as would curtains, they are open all day and closed at night, they certainly don't 'look odd'. If they all opened to the side you would have double the amount of slats at the 2 sides of the middle window.
When ours were fitted I was asked how I wanted them to open and at what side I wanted the cords at.

I've just reread your OP and I think I see what you mean, Yes all our other windows have blinds that split, unless I specified otherwise, apart from 1 which is only 2ft wide. You should have been consulted when your order was taken.

Lady_K

Thanks, yes if they had asked me how I wanted them to open I would have said all to split apart from the side bay ones. The ones that I want changing take up over a third of the window when opened and it just looks odd. My nieghbours all split in the middle and they have same size windows, I'm hoping he will call back again to sort this out as he said he would. I feel bad that he has to change them and wonder if I should offer to pay anything for the change but I was not properly consulted so should I really offer this unless he asks for extra payment?

ic

The slats, weights and chains are reusable, but not the rails and pull cords. In my mind its all about sight lines with where the blind gathers - in my house many of the blinds are side opening and gather into a position out of the sight line from the room to outside, however on the larger windows I do have it split in the middle. The guy should have asked/explained when first measuring up, as ultimately it is down to personal preference. There is unlikely any cost difference between side or centre opening.

Lady_K

ic wrote: »

The slats, weights and chains are reusable, but not the rails and pull cords. In my mind its all about sight lines with where the blind gathers - in my house many of the blinds are side opening and gather into a position out of the sight line from the room to outside, however on the larger windows I do have it split in the middle. The guy should have asked/explained when first measuring up, as ultimately it is down to personal preference. There is unlikely any cost difference between side or centre opening.

So when the man said they don't do split openers on sizes 6ft or less because it isn't worth it, it would be because they take more time to set up rather than that they cost more I suppose. In that case I won't feel so bad about getting them changed as it will just be the time they have to change them and not any extra cost, apart from having the origininal rails on thier hands after removing them but I'm sure they can re-use them somewhere else at some stage anyway

Thanks for the advice