Installing Vertical Blinds With Confidence

Let's Take A Look How It's Done …

Parts For A Vertical Blind Install - Outside Mount
(L to R - 5 valance brackets (top), 2 returns (middle),
2 rounded corners to join the returns
with the valance, 4 rounded corner plugs,
4 metal outside-mount brackets - metal (top - R)

Step 1:

Unpack the shipping box and …
You need to find there: a headrail, mounting brackets (2 or more), valance brackets (clips), a valance returns kit, mounting screws.
Inspect everything to make sure there’s no shipping damage. Checking the plastic riders in the headrail is a good idea since they are fairly exposed to accidental damage.
Sometimes, instead of valance brackets, the mounting brackets have tongue-shaped bend outs on their tops. The valance slides into them without the need for any additional brackets or clips.

Step 2:

Unpack the second box (if there’s one).
That’s where the vanes are. Some vertical blinds manufacturers pack them together with the rest of the goods.

Detail - A Vertical Blind Headrail
With Plastic Riders

Step 3:

Di’s holding a single vane at the height where the bottom of the mounting brackets will be.
Trick: With these brackets for an outside mount, we always mark the wall or window casing where the top of the vane ends up (once the bottom of the vane is at a desired distance from the floor). The bottom of the mounting bracket then sits right on that mark. To mark for the rest of the brackets, we measure the distance from the ceiling, floor, or the window casing and transfer the measurement to the additional bracket placement spots.
If this is your case, you can do it the same way.


A Single Vertical Blind Vane (Testing for the proper bracket height)	Holding A Single Vane (The top of the vane marks the spot. That's where the bottom of the mounting bracket will be.)

Step 4:

Mount the metal brackets on. If there’s a narrow strip of wood you are mounting the brackets to (like in this picture), pre-drill the screw holes to prevent the wood from splitting. Alternately, for speed and the same holding effect, we use self-drilling metal screws, which eliminate the need for pre-drilling.

Outside Mount - An Adjustable Bracket
(Vertical Blinds)

Step 5:

Snap the headrail in the brackets. Make sure to center the blind over the window width. If you’ve calculated in some extra headrail length to keep the stacked vanes away from the window, move the rail slightly towards that side.


Detail - A Headrail Locked In The Bracket (Window-side view)	Detail - A Headrail Locked In The Bracket(Top view)

Step 6:

Next … you need to assemble the valance. The following pictures go step-by-step through the process.




	(The rounded plugs snap on right where the corners are - top & bottom.)
The Steps To Put The Valance Together
(The flexible strip of trim pushes into the plastic receiving channels. It is available with executive valance orders.)

Step 7:

Snap the valance holding clips onto the headrail. Slide the valance into the plastic holding clips.


A Valance Holding Clip Snapped On The Headrail (Top view)	The Valance In The Holding Clips(Top view)

Step 8:

Using the tilt chain control, align the headrail riders in a perpendicular fashion to the rail. (Just like in the detail picture above.) Then, attach the vanes to the headrail riders. While doing this, make sure to keep the fabric seams at the top of the vanes facing the same direction.

TIP: If we find a rider or two misaligned with the rest of them, we gently twist ‘em until they click into the desired position.

Step 9:

It’s quite common to have the bottoms of the vanes cling together because of static. The static is especially strong with vinyl vanes. A fabric-softener sheet comes to the rescue. Gently rub the stubborn vanes with it and the static will go away. Using a damp cloth on vinyl vanes can do the trick as well.

The Vanes Hang On The
Headrail … With A Bit Of Static
They Cling To Each Other
At The Bottom Where The Sewn-In Weights Are

Step 10:

It’s all up and ready to be used. Test both the stacking and tilting functions. If all is well and everything runs smoothly, there’s one more thing to do.
Using the included cord & chain controls safety cleats (the types vary), screw them to the wall. Keep both controls fairly tight by gently pulling down on them and then attach the cleat to the wall using the included screws.
You are done!