The installation of shades, blinds, curtain rods, or other window treatment is a typical, do it yourself, assignment for many individuals.
The majority of households will attempt to install shades, blinds, curtain rods or other window treatments, however this installation can have a tendency to create anxiety and turmoil, if not logically approached. Especially if this becomes a husband and wife endeavor.
Here are a few basic thoughts and comments, regarding this do it yourself project.
- Carefully remove all of the material, fasteners and small plastic pieces from the packing first. Do not start any installation, until you are assured that all of the necessary material is present in the package.
- Carefully remove all of the material, fasteners and small plastic pieces from the packing first. Do not start any installation, until you are assured that all of the necessary material is present in the package.
- Use a small container to place all of the small screws, fasteners, wall inserts, etc. into in an effort to eliminate searching for the fasteners and loss of that final screw, which occurs, more times than not.
- Use the proper size drill bit, as noted on the instructions. Do not attempt to force the screws into the wood framing or the sheetrock without pre-drilling. There is a logical reason that the exact sizeof the drill bit is noted, use it.
- Do not attempt to use a power screwdriver for everything. The use of a standard screwdriver, is in many instances, a more controlled method of installation of fasteners. The use of power screwdrivers will have a tendency to strip the head of the screw and make the actual installation much more difficult.
- Try to position the brackets for the curtain rods, blinds, etc. close enough to the window openings to utilize the window framing material, as a blocking material for the fastener. In most cases a window opening will have a double 2X4 stud on the sides of the opening, and a large wood header over the top. If you locate the bracket close enough to the window opening, you will encounter this blocking, which is directly in back of the sheetrock, and eliminate the need for special sheetrock fasteners.
- Measure and measure again. It is best to mark all of the brackets with a pencil prior to the installation of any of the brackets. Remember, once you make the hole, it will have to be patched, if it is not in the proper location.
- Remember that most of the curtain rods are adjustable, allowing you to adjust the length of the rod beyond the brackets. This will enable you to secure the bracket along the window opening, therefore securing to the blocking, and extend the curtain rods past this bracket, creating the projection of the curtains substantially beyond the bracket. In many cases, this is the preferred look.
- Use the middle support if it is provided and recommended. It is very easy to skip the middle support, due to the fact that a 36″ wide opening appears to be adequately supported by the end brackets. Eventually there will be a sag, and you will regret not installing the middle support.
- If a middle support is used, in many instances, this support needs to be offset and not directly in the middle. This is especially important if the shade, blind, drape, etc has a mechanism in the center, that a center bracket or support will interfere with. Read the directions.
- Take your time when it comes to trimming the blinds, shades or drapes. Remember, once you cut them, you can ‘t go back.
- Once the blind, shade or drape is in place, do not force any of the mechanisms. All of the operations should be smooth and easy. Ifthe mechanism seems to bind up, or more force is required to operate the shade or blind, take it back down, and make sure there is not a tangle of line, a cord that is jammed, etc. Do not force the mechanisms.
- Save the box and the packaging. If for some reason the window treatment fails to operate or is defective, you can return the unit in its original packaging.
The basic lesson to proper installation of curtain rod, drapes or blinds is patience and calmness. The tendency to hurry the installation or proceed, prior to reading the instructions will in most instances cause anxiety, failure and an incorrect installation. In most situations, this installation is not difficult, if you take your time and read all of the instructions.
If all else fails, a local handyman or window treatment professional is only a google search away.