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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Windows with blinds inside the sealed glass panels

18 replies

purplegreen99 · 30/09/2017 12:59

We are getting window quotes for our new house which we're about to start renovating. Apparently you can now get blinds fitted inside the sealed glass units, which sounds great in some ways.

Does anyone have these? If so, what are the pros and cons? All I can think is

Pros: don't get dusty, save space

Cons: might still need curtains to insulate the colder rooms, won't exclude light if we sleep with windows open and, the big one for me would be what happens if the blind breaks, would you need to get the whole sealed unit replaced?

Obviously I will ask lots of questions when I get quotes, but I wondered if anyone has any opinions/experience of these kind of blinds and would you recommend them or not?

OP posts:

Flossy1978 · 30/09/2017 13:01

Well. Those kinds of blinds are common in countries like Finland. Yes, you should still put up some nice curtains.

fuzzywuzzy · 30/09/2017 13:03

one of the houses near me has them, they look lovely.

I always wonder tho what happens if a blin breaks/stops working? How often does that happen and what's the cost of fixing it?

munchkinmaster · 30/09/2017 13:03

We got a quote for them. about 3 x the price of what we went for

Kidsarekarma · 30/09/2017 13:05

I thought they would be great for my new French doors but they would have added £800 to the price so I didn't have them.
I also worried about what would happen if they broke.

ShotsFired · 30/09/2017 13:06

I have had them in several offices I've worked in - usually as dividers/privacy for internal meeting rooms.
So beware that you may have more of a worklike feel than you might want in a home.

TheBitterBoy · 30/09/2017 13:09

My in-laws have these and in general I think they are great. They haven't had a blind break yet after nearly 10 years, they open and close with magnets. You do need curtains in the bedrooms as well, as I dont think they block the light enough personally, but they are great for privacy in the living areas, as you can have them tilted just a bit, which lets in enough light, and are good for when it's really sunny and you want to shade the room a bit.

Original poster

purplegreen99 · 30/09/2017 13:27

Thanks everyone. munchinmaster & Kidsarekarma, I haven't had a quote yet so wondered if it would add loads to the price. Though we'd need new curtains/blinds everywhere which will cost a lot anyway.

ShotsFired good point - that's one reason I don't like vertical blinds as to me they are very office-like. Might need floaty curtains or something to make them look less official.

OP posts:

namechangedtoday15 · 30/09/2017 13:48

Also be aware that (certainly in the doors I've seen with internal blinds) a little bit of the blind is always visible at the top of the frame even when the blind is up.

Original poster

purplegreen99 · 30/09/2017 19:23

Thanks namechanged I will see if I can look at them in a showroom to get an idea of how much you can see when the blind is up

OP posts:

notapizzaeater · 30/09/2017 19:26

We've just had new windows and I asked about these - they would have added £500 to each pane ! We decided nit to and am about to fit perfect fit blinds to the windows

Anatidae · 30/09/2017 19:29

We had them in our old place (we are in Sweden) - quite common here.

They're fine - usually the ones here are triple glazed units. Low maintenance, if needed part of the window swings in. You dont need extra blinds but of course with the light all night here in summer we had fucking tinfoil on the windows it drives you insane extra curtains.

Imissmyboy · 30/09/2017 19:31

I work at a company that supplies these. Very expensive, so not too popular. As far as I know they are quite reliable, but we have had a few complaints of them stopping working and the whole unit needs to be changed - not a problem as there is usually at least a 5 year guarantee on them depending on who you buy them from.
Personally, I think you also need some sort of window dressing as they are too office like, and certainly need curtains in a bedroom, so you don't save money that way either.

Original poster

purplegreen99 · 30/09/2017 20:54

Thanks notappizza, Anatidae, Imissmyboy - I'm thinking they sound good but maybe too expensive. Will see what the quotes are. I'm wondering if it would look weird to just do some windows, might just do the front of the house which gets more sun.

OP posts:

QuitMoaning · 30/09/2017 22:37

We have had these fitted in our new bifold doors that were installed 2 weeks ago. They added a serious amount to the cost as they were about £400 per door and we have 5 doors
However they are in an extension which will house my new kitchen and I didn’t want any other window covering for that room. 5 external blinds would annoy me and look scrappy and I don’t want floor length curtains in a kitchen.
I think it was my only option but I must admit they look stunning and am delighted so far. I will keep,them down and adjust the angle depending on light and privacy requirements.

Original poster

purplegreen99 · 01/10/2017 14:29

Another question: if you have windows with little top opening windows do you just have the blinds on the main window and not the top openers?

OP posts:

TefalTester123 · 01/10/2017 14:41

I have them on bifolds in kitchen, but would not have them in the bedroom. We leave them down, but open during the daytime, then tilt to close at night. I would not have them if I needed to raise and lower them every day, more to go wrong.

May09Bump · 01/10/2017 16:54

I've looked at these as very practical - no dusting blinds. In real life I found them looking office life and didn't really suit residential use (for me anyway).

HomeExtender · 08/04/2018 14:46

What did you decide on purplegreen99 and are you happy?

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