Curtain and blind installation: what happens
From the first visit to the day they go up, this is how a made-to-measure job usually runs, and what to sort out before the installer comes.
The visit to measure and quote
The installer measures each window on site, checks what makes the job harder, and can show you fabric in your own light.
Mention high or hard-to-reach windows beforehand: they change the job.
Nothing is made until the exact sizes are confirmed.
Making
Curtains usually take about 12 to 16 working days to make, counted from the deposit. Blinds usually take about one to three weeks.
December takes longer. Your quote gives the time for your order.
Fitting day
The installer books a day that suits you once the order is ready.
A roller or venetian blind usually takes about an hour or less to fit. Wooden and vertical blinds can take a little longer, and a motorised blind up to about two hours.
Before the visit
Decide whether a blind goes inside the window's recess or on the wall around it. How to measure
Decide on a motor before you order: a mains motor usually needs a power point or a cable route planned; a battery motor needs no wiring.
Have curtains and blinds fitted after painting and flooring are done.
In a complex with a body corporate, check its rules on what shows from outside.
Ask what is included
Ask whether taking down old blinds or tracks is included, and what the warranty covers. Makers' warranties on blinds run from about two to five years, and differ by product.