Talk to me about blackout blinds (Intu, Perfect Fit, pleated, roller, etc)

[ParentOfOne]

Being blessed with kids who are very light sleepers we want to get some kind of blackout blinds (we really wish we could have the rolling shutters which are so common in some European countries - those block 100% of the light and are also great security).

Does any one have experience of Intu vs Perfect Fit? Are there other kinds / brands? It seems that Perfect Fit requires a frame all around the window, while Intu only at the top. Does this mean the Intu let in more light?

Pleated vs roller: we think we'd prefer roller, because pleated let in light from the sides, but also accumulate lots of dust.

Some windows are PVC push-out, while others are wooden sash windows. What blackout blinds can you fit on a sash?

Basically we want to avoid the blackout that you can buy from Ikea or John Lewis, because those always let in loads of light from the sides, so we want something that fits inside the frame/recess of the windows, like the Perfect Fit or Intu.

following for interest. no experience to offer.

@ParentOfOne I can't answer about sash windows but I can help you with comparing the two.

I have had both Intu and Perfect fit. But never for blackout reasons, I just used blackout roller blinds combined with blackout pencil pleat curtains for the children. But if you google both Perfect Fit and Intu roller blinds I can point out the difference that pisses me off.

I had PF roller blinds in my lounge where I have a French door bay window so 4 windows and 1 set of french doors all making a square bay. Then I had new double glazing in and the PF blinds no longer did the french door drop with the new slightly narrower width (something to do with spring tension) and I am looking at the Intu blinds as I type this.

So Perfect fit roller are the better ones than Intu. Perfect fit have a full frame that clips into the window. Intu does not have a frame instead it has 2 metal channels that run down either side. Therefore you have ugly clips showing at the bottom of the metal channel. Like the metal channel has hair slides holding it to the side of the window. There is no bottom piece. I feel this does make a difference to the light at the bottom as the frame stops before the very bottom of the glass due to the bevelled edge of the UPVC. ie it lets a bit of light in.

Also if you look at the roller casing, on PF it is all neatly hidden away but the Intu again has ugly clips showing underneath. It feels like they didn't really think through their design. It isn't neat and tidy.

PF roller casing is in line with the frame whereas Intu roller casing is wider than the metal channels meaning it looks like you fitted the wrong thing.

Now I have pointed those out, look at the google images and you can see what I mean. PF are fantastic blinds and I was gutted I couldn't have them again. I know that lots of AV forums rave over PF blackout but do team it with a dark fabric to aid the blackout. You should be able to order a sample of the fabric which you can put against the window to see what if any light comes through.

HTH

So perfect fit is better than Intu, thanks a lot, much appreciated.

Do you have experience of pleated vs roller? I suspect pleated lets too much light in and may accumulate lots of dust.

Also, is Perfect Fit a generic name or does a single company own the trademark and manufacture all the perfect fit frames? I see even John Lewis makes Perfect Fit blinds , I wonder if they're the same.

Bloc blinds. They make it very dark indeed.

The key is the cassetted design which seals in the edges

I second Bloc blinds

I feel your pain. I searched high and low for the best black out solution. In the end I settled for block roller on the sash window. Additional internal frame inside the window for the roller and little frame on both sides to catch the roller in, if that makes any sense. Then it’s perfectly dark, suitable for vampires.
To be stereotypically OTT I also have black out or line curtains. It’s a softer look and also ensures it’s super dark.

Sorry, I couldn't have Bloc as I have the french doors in a bay so no windowsill space if that makes sense. I forgot about bloc for this but have heard great things about it.

My FIL has the pleated PF ones in his sun room. They are dust magnets and I would think they would let in light at the sides due to the design.

Came on specificity to say bloc blinds !!

Customer service good with bloc as well. I don’t think our builder fitted them quite right and they went a bit weird just over a year later . They sent us free replacement bits.

We’re moving and I will definitely be getting more at new place.

So what is the difference between Perfect Fit and Bloc Blinds? Looking them up they seem basically identical.

We have these and they work well! We do have the old version though that aren't as nice as this...

How much light do the Ikea blinds let through? I had them in another property but the problem was that there was always too much of a gap at the sides. That's why a frame like that of the Perfect Fit makes sense - without a frame the blinds will never stick to the sides

We just use cheap blackout roller blinds and curtains. I wouldn't use any of the blind systems mentioned unless I had to as they reduce the amount of light getting into the room in the daytime because of the frames.

But by how much can they reduce light during the day?
Have you tried?

Anyway, in my case I have no choice because the kids wake up at the smallest ray of light

So I know this thread is a little old but I made a review of perfect fit blackout blinds in case it helps anyone else: Basically, not prefect blackout, but with a little DIY with black felt cloth self adhesive strips it's ok if you don't need perfect and don't get full direct sunlight. I need this for upcoming child 2 so it meets our needs. But if you need vampire dark maybe it's not enough especially if you get direct sunlight.

Jo

I got a blackout blind from blinds2go for the children’s bedroom. You send your measurements so it’s an exact fit. It lets no light through and was a bargain. It’s a roller blind, I got plain white it was about £69! I paid extra for next day deliver too. Perfect fit blinds aren’t blackout, or that’s what I found whilst looking.

www.blinds-2go.co.uk/blackout-blinds.htm

Not what you were asking but we made a conscious effort not to do complete blackout when DS was young. Gave us the flexibility when away from home not to rely on complete blackout for sleeping especially as we camped.

Going away with cousins was a nightmare with all the blankets and sheets put up by Dsis up at the window trying to improvise blackouts.

We did try to not do complete blackout with our daughter but after a summer of 4am starts in an East facing bedroom we lost the will to live and got blackouts.

Friends have Bloc and recommend them. We’ll be getting them in new house as DD’s bedroom will be SE facing.