Belisha beacons flashing in my bedroom at night!

RichardD1970

We've just installed these in our bedroom.

Not particularity cheap and you need to measure extremely accurately and have the right thickness of frame and handles etc.

Block out 99% of the light, just a little leakage at the bottom.

They sit inside the frames so you can still have your normal curtains or whatever you like over the top which helps cut out the last bits of light.

George_Michael

RichardD1970 wrote: »

just a little leakage at the bottom.

Reminds me of a problem that I used to suffer from!

Smodlet

If you really wanted to go all out, black out blinds, thick, lined curtains and a pelmet would stop light leaking over the top of the curtains.

http://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/interiors/window-dressing/traditional-pelmet

If I knew how to make the word "pelmet" into a link, I would, but I don't.

harz99

Ant555 wrote: »

When the kids were small we opted for a blackout blind close to the window (in the recess) AND lined curtains.
Yes, there is some leakage round the edge of the blackout blind as the roller type will often have a gap at the edges but the thicker lined curtains did a good job of blocking that excess light for us.

Our solution is both blackout roller blinds and blackout curtains on each bedroom window. Though our problem is just street lights on all the time.

Head_The_Ball

Smodlet wrote: »

..If I knew how to make the word "pelmet" into a link, I would, but I don't.

Highlight the word 'Pelmet', select the 'Insert link' button (which is 3 in from the right in quick reply or 7 in from the right just below the smilie button in advanced reply) and then paste the URL for the link.

Like this.

Pelmet.

If you can't find the Insert Link button just hover your cursor over the buttons until you see it.

JP1978

If you have uPVC windows, you can get a frame that clips into the window seal and holds a blind... we have them (although not the blackout variety) in house...

Google 'Perfect Fit Blackout Blind uPVC'

Smodlet

pelmet

I did it! Yatta! Ca marche!

Thank you so much, Head the Ball! Especially for just telling me without being patronising. I am rubbish with technology but am good at some things, honest.

Cheers!

paddyrg

An ebay link, there are other vendors

This is the one I use - Mindfold brand. It seems expensive compared with the others but frankly it works, and considering it's the difference between sleeping well and not for the price of a cinema ticket I suggest it's worth having one anyway - you can get proper darkness any time of day, even with your eyes open, so it fools your brain better!

JakiT

Thanks Paddyrg.

Just to update folks, I've tried putting blackout lining on already existing curtains but no joy A friend has some old heavy-duty curtains that may do a better job.

Meanwhile, I'm following Shaun's advice about the council proposals. It turns out there was a consultation which we failed to see. But also other residents did object and their solution was to install hoods and louvres on the beacons. While that would help some residents because of the position of their properties, the hoods and louvres are useless to us because of the position of our property. We've written to them anyway to see if they can offer any solutions such as stopping the flashing.

phil24_7

Try ducktaping the blackout lining directly to the window frames (cut or fold to the right size first). If it works then use velcro to affix it each night.