Sometimes new customers call me in to look at a new project and apologise because it may still be a building site or they don’t really know what they want because the property is sufficiently advanced for them to get a true “feel” of the way the rooms will be when completed.
Believe me this is the best time to start – if for no other reason than I can talk to the builders about where tracks, poles and blinds are potentially going to be fitted. With the “dot and dab” type walls, which are truly wonderful for insulation, the insertion of wood behind the insulated board is critical if any great weight is to be put onto fixing brackets. Even if you fix through the boards onto the stone or brickwork beneath with very long screws the cantilever effect in the comparatively soft board is asking for trouble.
There is a really simple way around this problem though and in my experience builders are quite happy to work with us on this one because it saves them hassle later.
If you have a window similar to the one shown below you are going to need three fixings for the two end brackets and the centre bracket.
The pieces of wood or “noggins” (isn’t that a wonderful word) should be larger than any potential bracket you may use, about 30mm thick if possible and screwed directly onto the wall. Make sure you allow sufficient distance past the edge of the windows for the end brackets. The builder then cuts back the insulation at the back of the insulated board to fit over the noggins so the finished surface is flush with the rest of the wall. Easy if done at this stage !!!
If the window is very large, and you want to use a smaller diameter, more modern style of pole, you will need to use quite a number of brackets across the window with passing rings and special passing brackets and of course this means that you will also need to put more wooden sections behind the board or for ease I usually suggest one long piece of wood as shown in the diagram below. Depending on the brackets you could use a more narrower piece of wood.
Passing Ring & Passing Bracket
Hope that helps.
My next weblog will hopefully show you pictures of a wonderful new fabric range that is aimed at children but has other uses too. It is gorgeous and there were plenty of oohs and aahs when our lovely agent Russell brought them in to show us today.