Exterior shades measuring instructions

Measuring Instructions for Your Exterior Solar Shades

Exterior solar shades are the ideal window treatments for outdoor spaces such as sunrooms, decks, porches, garages, workshops, and other areas where you need high visibility of the outdoors.

If you're thinking about purchasing exterior solar shades from Blindster, it's important that you provide us with the most accurate measurements possible. To get the right dimensions for your order, you must first accurately measure either the inside of your window frame or the area you wish to cover with the shade itself.

INSIDE MOUNT BLINDS

Inside mount blinds fit inside the window frame and provide a sleek, clean, and built-in look that preserves the appearance of woodwork and molding.

If you plan on mounting your blinds inside your window frames, keep the following tips in mind:

• Provides a sleek, low profile, and built-in look for your exterior solar shades.
• Mounts directly inside the window frame for a flush appearance.
• Maintains the appearance and visibility of exposed woodwork and molding.
•  Requires a minimum depth of at least 1 1/4" for a secure inside mount without cassette valance and 1 3/4" with cassette valance.
•  Requires a minimum depth of at least 2 1/2" for an inside flush mount without cassette valance and 4" with cassette valance.
•  If your window frames aren't deep enough to support installation based on minimum depth requirements, use the outside mount installation option instead.

Measuring Inside Mount Blinds

To get an accurate measurement of your windows before placing an order for inside mount blinds, follow these instructions:

1. Measure the interior width of the window opening where you plan on mounting the shade in three separate locations from the bottom, middle, and top. Take the smallest of these three measurements and this is the measurement you will use when placing your order with Blindster. Note that the factory will make slight deductions of around 1/8" when you place your order.
   
2. Measure the interior height of the window opening where you plan on mounting the shade in three separate locations from the left side, the middle, and the right side. Take the largest of these three measurements and this is the measurement you will use when placing your order with Blindster.
   
   Note: Roller shade fabrics are manufactured and shipped roughly 1" to 1/2" narrower than the ordered width to allow room for mounting brackets. If this will result in a large gap that allows too much light in, consider choosing an outside mount installation option instead.

OUTSIDE MOUNT BLINDS

Outside mount blinds are perfect for windows that are too shallow to support the installation of inside mount blinds. They can be mounted to the wall, ceiling, or frame/molding around the window and are often used to make windows appear larger.

Here are a few important facts to know about outside mount blinds:

• The best option for windows that have shallow window frames.
•  Allows you to mount the brackets to a variety of surfaces near the window, including the wall, ceiling, or molding.
•  Helps make windows appear larger while also hiding unattractive woodwork, molding, and other details on windows you wish to keep hidden.
•  Requires a minimum flat surface of at least 1 1/2" for a secure inside mount without cassette valance and 2" with cassette valance.

Measuring Outside Mount Blinds

Follow these instructions to get an accurate measurement of your outside mount blinds:

1. Measure the full width of the area you wish to cover with your exterior solar shades. If space allows on your walls, add an extra 1" to 1 1/2" to each side of your measurement to reduce the amount of light leakage from the sides of the shade. Use this measurement plus any additions when you place your order with Blindster.
   
2. Measure the full height of the area you wish to cover with your exterior solar shades. When measuring, include the height of the flat surface mounting area necessary for the brackets in your final dimensions. Note that the factory will make your shade, including the roller or cassette valance if ordered, to the height you specify. Also, note that 3" to 4" of height should be added to your order if you want to mount your shade above your window frame and cover any molding or framework.
   
   Note: When the factory makes your exterior solar shades note that the shade material will be 1" to 1/2" narrower than the measurement you provided to allow room for brackets. If you need your shade to fit a specific measurement or width, add 1" to 1/2" to your ordered width to get the correct width.