An integrated blind is part of the double glazing, sealed between the two panes of glass. One of the benefits of integrated blinds is that their placement in the glass protects them from dust and general wear and tear.
Since an integrated blind is hermetically sealed in the thermal pane, this means you can’t access them. Can you repair integrated blinds and how reliable are they?
Can you easily repair integrated blinds?
Integrated blinds in bifolds are one of the most popular places to use them. But can you repair integrated blinds?
The short answer is no. Should an integrated blind become damaged or need to be repaired, it’s not easy to do because it’s simply not available. If an integrated blind fails, the entire thermal pane is affected, not just the blind.
A double glazing unit goes through several processes in the glass factory. Cutting, cleaning, polishing and ensuring the internal surfaces of the glass are clean and dust-free are critical parts of the production process. After these processes, the two or three panes of glass are assembled around a spacer bar that separates the glass, providing insulation and a hermetic seal all around.
When you incorporate an integrated roller blind into this production process, it’s easy to understand why it’s not easy to repair integrated roller blinds.
Are integrated blinds reliable?
An integrated roller blind will provide years of trouble-free operation. Typically, you can expect a minimum five-year warranty. Some homeowners may be concerned that the expected ten-year warranty available with most home improvement products may not cover the integrated blinds. Should you worry about the reliability of integrated blinds after the warranty has expired?
Used correctly, an integrated blind will provide years of good service and homeowners should not be unduly concerned after the warranty period has expired.
What can go wrong with integrated blinds?
Integrated blinds are available in manual and motorized versions, but when used and installed correctly, there’s not much that can go wrong. Motorized blinds could arguably be considered more reliable because the motor drive keeps the lifting and lowering action consistent.
You can damage a manually operated blind by clumsy use. Operating the magnetic slider or wires with force can also damage the blind. Your installer will always demonstrate the correct function of your new integrated blinds.
It is important that a high-quality integrated blind has a tried and tested method of operation. Motors are reliable and extensively cycle tested. Manually operated blinds are continuously assessed for reliability. Features such as a snag-free design, smooth sliding blades and other features all contribute to a highly reliable product.
We’ve yet to hear of many problems with damaged integrated blinds beyond misuse, abuse or lack of user knowledge.
If an integrated blind needs repair, what happens to the glass?
In the unlikely event that an integrated blind needs to be repaired, it should be removed. This will mean removing the glass and a temporary method of glazing your doors, such as a wooden board or temporary glass unit without a blind.
The entire glass unit must be returned to the factory. In many cases, the simplest solution is a brand new blind and a new glass unit.
Experienced glass manufacturers and providers of integrated blinds may be able to supply spare parts depending on the nature of the fault. They may even be able to dismantle your existing glass unit, repair or replace the blind and reassemble it with the same glass and some of the original parts.
This will of course depend on the nature of the damage, how complicated the repair work is and whether it’s easier to simply replace the entire unit with a new one.
