Guide to understanding roller blinds

When it comes to selecting the right blind for your windows and skylights, roller blinds are often a very good choice due to their ease of use, and compact nature. They are easy to install, can be made to fit any window size, and can utilise a wide variety of colours and materials.

What’s more, roller blinds have been proven to be particularly good at helping to regulate heat within a building, meaning they will help you to reduce energy usage in your home or business. For a more detailed look at the data behind that, see our article on the value of energy-saving blinds.

If you’re considering roller blinds for your work or living space, read on to learn more about the different types available and what you should consider before buying.

Key things to consider

When considering roller blinds for windows, the first thing you probably think about is the colour and material. Choosing the right aesthetic is vital if you want to create a harmonious fit with the rest of the room or building. At James Robertshaw, we have hundreds of fabrics to choose from that can be colour-matched to suit your space.

Different materials will also offer differing qualities that can help absorb or deflect heat, provide waterproofing or obtain various looks. You can also choose from recycled fabric options to create a more sustainable blind. There are some other items you might like to consider also.

Blackout Roller Blinds

Blackout blinds are designed to fit seamlessly into a window area so that no light can penetrate around the edges. They are perfect for bedrooms that receive bright sun in the mornings or other areas you want to completely block out the light from.

To achieve a complete blackout effect, you need to use specific materials as some fabrics will still let light penetrate through them. There are lots to choose from though, so you can still have an aesthetically pleasing finish with a blackout roller blind.

Electric Roller Blinds

An electric blind will allow you to control the opening and closing of your blind remotely, either through a remote control or whilst connected to a smart home system. This can be particularly useful if your blind is covering a window that's hard to reach, like a skylight or tall wall. It’s also well suited if you want to set your blinds to operate on a timer, or even to open and close depending on the room temperature (when integrated with a smart heating system).

Made to measure Roller Blinds

The other thing you should consider is how big your window area is. Roller blinds work best when they fit the window properly. This can sometimes only be achieved with a made-to-measure blind. Having a custom-fit roller blind made is very easy and something James Robertshaw specialises in. If you’re not sure how to go about measuring your window area for the appropriate blind size, please reach out to a member of our team who will be happy to assist you.

Outdoor roller blinds

A very effective way of controlling unwanted solar glare is to use an outdoor roller blind, as this will stop the sun's rays before hitting the glass of your window. These can also be used to protect against wind and rain as they will typically be made from high-performance fabrics designed specifically for weatherproofing.

Outdoor blinds are manufactured for year-round reliability so are functionally effective for both summer and winter months. With a wide variety of colour choices to consider, they can also be used to add to the aesthetic of the outside of your building.

Indoor roller blinds

An indoor window roller blind will provide a convenient mix of thermal protection and modern aesthetic qualities. Lots of homeowners are turning to roller blinds to enhance their indoor spaces because not only do they look great and are easy to install, but they also are proven to reduce energy consumption requirements.

During hot summer days, a roller blind will deflect solar heat reducing the need for electric air conditioning. In colder months or at night, they can be used to reduce heat loss negating the need for as much energy to be used in manual heating. When used appropriately, this makes roller blinds a very sustainable choice in home environmental management.

Skylight blinds

If you have skylights on your property, it is usually advisable to install a Skylight Blind as well. Depending on your location, you might find it a necessity during hot days. Skylight blinds are often where it makes sense to include some automation or remote control to open and close for convenience.

Skylight blinds are very effective at controlling heat within a space, especially where the roof window receives a lot of direct sunlight. They can also be made to blackout standards, in order to completely eliminate all light, or give you precise control over the amount of natural illumination you want to receive.

Our range of premium quality Roller Blinds

Now you know about the different qualities and environment settings you might choose a roller blind for. The following is a selection of specific products we offer to cater for those.

Eliminate

The Eliminate is our most popular choice, mainly due to its versatility. Clever and sophisticated, the Eliminate® range is a zip blind system that can be installed within multiple environments offering dim-out, blackout and screen shading, light and heat control, insect screens, and room dividers.

• Standard RAL colour; White (RAL 9010)
• Corrosion-resistant, powder-coated, extruded aluminium hardware, with stainless steel components
• Cassette box (round) sizes of 95mm or 120mm dependent on the width
• External blinds available up to size 5000mm (w) x 3000mm (d)
• Internal blinds available up to size 5000mm (w) x 5000mm (d)
• Mechanical gearbox or RTS Somfy Motor Operation
• Blackout, screen or acoustic fabric options
• Fabric Teeth Technology

Elite

The Elite is an all-weather roller blind system that can be installed within multiple environments to protect from adverse weather conditions. It is particularly suited to pergola structures.

• Guide rails and motors combine to create a tight fabric wall
• Fabric, rails, and covers are available in many colours
• Wall, ceiling, or soffit installation options

Greenhouse Blinds

Greenhouse blinds are simple in design, stylish, and easy to operate. Easily installed in the internal framework of greenhouses, these blinds help to prevent the greenhouse, plants, and users from getting too hot in the summer months.

• Standard RAL hardware colours: White (RAL 9010) (cassette options only)
• Corrosion-resistant, powder-coated, extruded aluminum hardware (cassette options only)
• Contemporary design, with stunning fabric options
• Limitless light control
• Enhancing privacy, reducing glare
• Make It Safe™ EN 13120, CE safety marked, complying with CEN standards
• Extensive range of greenhouse fabrics to suit heat, light and decorative requirements

Eliminate Skylight Zip

Skylight blinds are used in many commercial applications, in addition to high-end domestic situations. When combined within a zip channel, the textile is guided during operation and is able to retract squarely. This also enables usability on long thin rooflights.

They are ideal when roof lights or skylights are used to provide much-needed light but want to be able to control the amount of light and heat that could cause problems for the building and its occupants.

• Perfect finish with overlapping shelf
• No sagging due to constant fabric tension
• Coverage up to 4m x4.6m.

Eliminate Skylight CT

The built-in counter tension of these binds makes them a great choice for larger skylights, up to 4m x 6m or 4m x 12m as a pair. Our fabric tension system (FTS) ensures that wide or large drop blinds operate with minimal sagging or rippling. The kevlar belt straps are retained within the shelf profile, resulting in no visible guide wires.

• Remote control operation is the standard option
• Constant tension for no sagging, even across large areas
• Coverage up to 4m x 6m or (4m x 12m double)

System 32, 40, 45, 55, 78, 85

The System series of blinds have been designed for maximum versatility when installed in different windows. The flexible nature of the sizing allows for a consistent look to be followed over a wide variety of window sizes, whilst ensuring the appropriate strength is provided to hold the blind in place.

• Maximum versatility across hundreds of fabric & colour choices
• Tensioned systems designed for larger windows
• 32mm, 40mm, 45mm, 55mm, 78mm, and 85mm tubing provides appropriate strength for your window.