What to consider when specifying blinds for long windows

Floor to ceiling glass is increasingly common in offices and hospitality venues, and roller blinds that are capable of covering the entire height of long windows are therefore favoured by specifiers, interiors designers and facilities managers.

The maximum drop that any particular roller blind is capable of achieving is determined by a number of factors. This post explains what to look out for.

Roller blind width

The first factor to consider is that the maximum drop of a roller blind must be considered in conjunction with the width. For any roller blind with a width of more than 1m requiring a drop of more than 2m, the roller tube should be a minimum of 40mm in diameter.

This will ensure the tube does not bow under the weight of the fabric, causing unsightly ripples or ‘smiles’ in the fabric.

Bracket size

Next is the size of the roller blind brackets. The drop of the blind will be limited to the amount of space available for the roller tube and fabric when it is rolled up.

Most large roller blind systems, such as the ShadeTech RBXL range, allow a maximum roll-up diameter of 110mm. This allows for an approximate drop of 6m based if you’re using a screen fabric with a thickness of 0.6mm.

Fabric type

The type of blind fabric is the third consideration.

Some fabrics are more dimensionally stable than others which helps them to roll up straight. Treveria type fabrics have a tendency to run off on one side when being rolled up and, on a long window, can snag against the bracket causing the fabric to fray.

Thin polyester fabrics tend to curl at the edges on a blind more than 3m tall. Anti-glare screen fabrics such as Betascreen 90 are not only weighty and stable, they’re also available in wide widths. Therefore, any roller blind under 3m wide can be made without the need for joins in the fabric, regardless of what the drop of the blind is.

If you require roller blinds with a greater drop than 6m on your project then the Draper Flexshade 2 (max. height 9m) and Draper Colossal (max. height 12m) electric blinds are worth considering.

If you’d like to discuss blinds for long windows on your project, then get in touch with us and one of our expert team will assist you.