To expect a blackout blind to actually stop light getting into my DDs bedroom?

[Pavlovthecat]

Is that not what they are for?

After ordering in Jan 08, after much chasing, arguing and more chasing, the guy finally came round to fit said blinds.

And had the cheek to ask for payment. It was paid for at time of ordering .

It is the not the exact length of the window, and comes out a bit. The fixtures are in place correctly but there are gaps at the top, and the sides and it clearly lets the light in.

So, AIBU to expect that these blinds should black out the light?

I am not feeling pleased, but more disappointed with my order.

lol

I have visions of DD's room:

• blackout blind 1
• baa baa blind
• blackout blind 2
• blackout curtains
• cardboard box
• pillow

IMHO they are misnamed. The actual cloth doesn't let much light through, but the blinds have to be fitted extremely well, else they almost bound to leak round the sides.

lol MP
The Baa baa blind has a sort of frill that extends over the frame of the window. Actually if you have pvc frames the suckers would prob stick well to that. Even better.

I have a black out blind in DDs room. It does the trick but it does let in a tiny amount of light from the sides.

DS also has a black out blind. Its still in its wrapper, even though it was delivered close to 2 years ago

I think the reason why DDs one works well for us is, before it was fitted, she had a nasty plastic venitian blind which was left behind by the previous tennants.

I DO have PVC frames

although my window drop is exactly 99cm and it says up to 100... what if there is a gap? I'll end up selotaping blackout fabric to the bottom...

I might just brick up the window

Igot dds blackout blind from tonys textiles for £2, it was too big so i put it out the outside of the window recess iyswim and it works fine

Lol at bricking up the window

Where can I find the holy grail that is ba ba blind?

www.baabaablinds.com/page/4520317306

Does it have suckers all the way round? Websitesays 130x200, our window is about 200 wide with 130 drop - coulsd we turn the blind round?

I like the baa baa blinds. See how DD sleeps, but now I am more frustrated that I spent so much money and the last 4 months waiting for blinds which are CRAP!

We paid £70 for these blinds, assured they would work well, absolutely not told they would not work well. They are roller blinds, which is why we thought they would work.

I was considering painting the window black and being done with it!! Or as has been said, brick it up!

So, should I just accept that the blinds are not going to do their job, or complain that I have been mis-sold?

I have two problems with blackout blinds: The first is that they don't fit the window frame snugly, and so allow light in - as already described by other posters.

The second problem is that one needs blackout blinds most when the weather is getting warm/is already hot - which means we need to open the window so dd's bedroom doesn't become like an oven. If we're lucky, the wind blows a bit to bring some fresh air into her room - but then the blind flaps in the breeze...letting in the air and the light! Can't win!

We stayed at a place in Germany every year when I was growing up with outside blackout blinds. They were awesome as you slept for the amount of time your body needed to, you didn't wake up just because the sun came up.

But just to cheer you all up ds never had blackout of any description (in NZ I don't know anyone that does) and now once he is asleep I can turn on his main light and put away his clothes and he doesn't even notice.

Ironically, in the 3nd world war - blackouts were effective enough to let nothing out. You'd have thought by now there would be really effective solutions.

If it is of any help to anyone, we have put door draught stopper strips (the rubber ones) up the sides of the windows and this stops the light coming out the sides of the blinds. Plus a pair of WW2 blackout curtains.
It is darker than the Earl of Hell's waistcoat in here during the day.

What a shame they cant seem to master technology. We have fancy computers, can fly to the moon, talk on mobiles, see our family abroad on video links. Yet, we cant get curtains like in the 2nd WW!!! shocking.

Why cant they just make them to roll the other way? That way they would be closer to the window, less gap, less light? OK, MY idea. Just in case this starts happening. I want it noted that this was MY idea.

Line a heavy curtain eg velvet , brocade etc with a woolly blanket et voila! a blackout curtain circa WW2!
Pavlov !

I got my mum to make us some black out blinds - we measured the inside frame of the windows, she got the material according to our measurements, put velcro all the way round, got the sticky back velcro to put on the frames, and there we go - sorted. The room is pitch black now (although I shOuld say we have wooden venetian blinds and curtains as well). It is so dark that I can't even see my DH in the room. And this came to the grand total of £23.

To get the best black out? buy black out curtains from a photography darkroom supply store and get them wall-wall on the window wall. (I guess I?m stating the obvious). But I?m with Earlybird on why not to have them. I?ve been told it?s much less of a shock on kids to wake naturally then all of a sudden they go from dark to day in 10seconds. It makes sense to me. I know for me, I prefer it that way.
Blinds always seem to have flawsinfitting. One place my DH and lived though had the best blinds. They were black but reflective. You could see out but no one could see in? couldn?t even tell if lights were on. They were great and shaded the blazing sun from 2-sunset.

The baa baa blind does have suckers all the way round.

We need it most just to get the girls to realise it is night time and go to bloody sleep in the first place. Once they are asleep they are impossible to wake and I often have to wake them in the mornings despite sun streaming in through our useless blackout lined curtains. I am very pleased based on last nights experience. We are in rented accomodation too so I am not paying out for fitted things when we may be moving again. This way I can take the blinds with me

Sorry to OP. Yes I would complain tbh with all the other hassle you have had. Prob won't get you anywhere though ...

Have just ordered some baa baa blackouts to stop our house from looking like a crack den, which is does at the moment due to v shoddy temporary blackout arrangements!

If a complaint about shoddy work is not dealt with by the company, is there not some kind of better business bureau you can contact? Might be worth it.

Def complain. We had a local company to fit our blackout roller blinds and they are brilliant. I still draw the (very thin) curtains just to cover the chinks at the side but the room really is pitch black.

Our blinds cost about the same as yours too.

Pavlovthecat .. all rollers can be made up so the fabric can come off the front of the roller or the back (against the window) ... you can usually swap them over yourself as well!