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Conservatory Blinds - Part 2

14 March 2011

When choosing your blinds for your new DIY Conservatory, there are lots of different types out there to choose from. In this article we will have a look at the standard pleated blind and the pinoleum blinds. An effective conservatory blind needs to reflect most of the heat, allowing a small amount of light in.

Standard pleated

The standard pleated blinds have a modern look and come in a variety of colours, with a choice of translucency ie how much heat and light you want to let in to your conservatory. They can be made using solar reflective fabrics, which can offer up to 85% heat reflection. If you are concerned about colour fading, pleated blinds are normally made of polyester fabrics which have a certain amount of colourfast properties in it.

Pinoleum Blinds

These blinds were first used in the Victorian times and have been made in France for well over a century. The blinds are made using thin strips of wood which are woven together, providing some dappled shade to the room. They look stylish, particularly suiting Victorian Conservatories and can be fitted to windows, doors and conservatory roofs. Although they may not be the most suitable for keeping the conservatory cool, they are effective for conservatory plants as they allow an element of direct sunlight into the room. If you have or are thinking of having rattan or wicker furniture in your conservatory, pinoleum blinds will compliment this furniture perfectly. If keeping the room cool is more important, some manufacturers are now able to add a reflective surface to the back of the blind but is at the cost of the amount of sunlight that would normally be let in by a traditional pinoleum blind.

Both the standard pleated blinds and the pinoleum blinds can be operated either manually or electrically (depending on manufacturer).