We have a lot of blinds that do not work, and it is driving me crazy! After years, I am finally looking into getting them fixed, as opposed to buying new blinds.
The kind of blinds we have operates with a string. You pull the string up/down to open/close them. When I pull the string, nothing happens. I am sick of manually opening and closing our blinds! Does anyone know if they can be fixed, and if so, what kind of a person would I need to hire - a handy man? Thanks!
No, they are not high end blinds. I don't know the material they are made of, but it looks like a mixture of fake wood and plastic. It doesn't look bad, though. I don't need high-end blinds - just blinds that work!
These might be venetian blinds. We had these when I was growing up, wish I could afford them now. Back then they were metal. Anyway, you would pull one side of the string to open and the other to close. It would probably be a lot cheaper to replace than repair. You need to trace the string to see if it is connected still. Unfortunately, I can't tell you exactly what to look for. It has been a long time.
What about youtube?? It is my favorite go-to. Maybe some handyman decided to make a video for you.
I'm going to look. I have 3 broken blinds in the house.
ETA: after your SWH, I'd guess it would still be cheaper to react them, especially sice you're not heavily invested.
Mini blinds are pretty cheap. You can get REALLY cheap ones but they might just break. Maybe do a room at a time?
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Are they really good, high end blinds? If not, I would think repair will be more than replacing.
I finally had it with the traditional mini blinds with slats and got the honeycomb kind from Lowes/Home Depot.
So much better and so many less headaches!
If I'm understanding the type of blind I've fixed one by following the cord comparing it with one that worked. As I recall I just adjusted the cord. This was a venetion blind. There are two sets of cords. One set raises. And lowers the blind. The other set tilts the slats.
I, too, suggest that unless you're able to repair them yourself it's probably most cost effective to buy new ones.
I have really old, probably authenticate antique, wooden venetian blinds. Thirty years ago I took them to a shop that cleans blinds and had them cleaned with new tape and restrung with all new cord. I could've purchased new midpriced blinds at the same cost but they wouldn't have fit the design I was going for. Thirty years later they are dusty but are still attractive.
I found the shop in the yellow pages probably under window treatments.
Okay, let me see if I have this right.
I have never seen blinds that turn directions to let in more light by pulling the cord. The cord should be attached to the bottom blind. The string goes through all the holes along that vertical line and that's what makes them go up and down.
If the strings aren't attached to the bottom blind what "are" the strings attached to? If they aren't attached to the bottom part then how do you keep them all together and move them anywhere?
The other option is a stick on a hook on the other side from the strings. You twirl this stick around and that moves each blind around, flips it up or down then it also helps keep the room darker.
Blinds at Walmart start around $4 each. I'd get a room of new ones each payday.
I am assuming you are taking about the tilt not up and down? Fixing them is more than replacing them.
I just want to add, I can fix anything and running a new cord for up and down is easy, well it is time consuming because you have to slip the cord through every dang slat and make sure it alternates on either side of the side by side control that actually holds the slats. But mentally it is easy.
Just tedious.
The tilt control on cheaper blinds is a sealed unit up in the header. It has to be replaced, it cannot be fixed or restrung.
http://www.blindsparts.com/servlet/the-Blinds-cln-1-Inch-...
As you can see if you click the link the cheapest gear is 7 dollars and you can buy a mini blind for around four. Add to that you would actually have to know which one your blinds take, how to remove and install a new one.... If you paid someone it would be 7 plus at least 20 in labor.
Buy new blinds!
