Blinds bowing in the middle

colm_c

I recently got some new roller blinds to replace some old venetian blinds, I've now fitted one and it's bowing in the middle with a noticeable dip (1cm).

It's a largish window opening ~170cm

I'm assuming this isn't normal?

What are the ways to fix this?
a) shim the new fixings so it's tighter (walls aren't 100% plumb at the top)?
b) some kind of clip in the middle to hold it up?
c) some kind of reinforcement on the tube?
c) return them back to the shop and ask for a refund/different blinds with a metal tube instead of cardboard as they aren't fit for purpose?

Thanks!

slimjimmc

I don't know if that is normal but I wouldn't have thought so. On that basis I'd remove the blind from the wall and hold it at each end and check against a straight edge. If it's sagging then it would seem the tube isn't strong enough in which case I'd go back to the shop (Option d). If it's straight then the problem might indeed be the fixing forcing the blind out of shape (Option a).

I presume the top of the reveal is straight.

homer911

Definitely not acceptable - we have longer blinds than this which are 100% straight.

Is the core really cardboard??

colm_c

homer911 wrote: »

Definitely not acceptable - we have longer blinds than this which are 100% straight.

Is the core really cardboard??

Yeah, seems like cardboard, albeit very thick (1 cm). Going to have a look tonight and see if it's bowed when just holding it by it's ends to rule out the walls/mounts being slightly off.

Very strange, why would they sell it in this width if the material can't hold it!

game4it70

I have roller blinds like that too.Thick cardboard core is useless if you have wide windows.
Mine where ok for a week or so before they started to bow.
I'd bring them back and get a metal core.

dodzy

colm_c wrote: »

I recently got some new roller blinds to replace some old venetian blinds, I've now fitted one and it's bowing in the middle with a noticeable dip (1cm).

It's a largish window opening ~170cm

I'm assuming this isn't normal?

What are the ways to fix this?
a) shim the new fixings so it's tighter (walls aren't 100% plumb at the top)?
b) some kind of clip in the middle to hold it up?
c) some kind of reinforcement on the tube?
c) return them back to the shop and ask for a refund/different blinds with a metal tube instead of cardboard as they aren't fit for purpose?

Thanks!

Get the blind and bring it to a proper blind shop. Get them to transfer the material to a metal tube. Cardboard spanning almost 2mtrs is a bad idea IMO. Won't cost much...I'd say 40quid should get you out.

Alun

We got a roller blind like that from Argos with a useless cardboard tube too. I got a piece of dowel rod the same length and rammed it down inside the tube. Job done.