Doors & Windows
What is an integral blind ?
They may be best known for being the go-to shading solution for bi-folding doors , but integral blinds are actually suitable for virtually any type of window or door . Ian Short , Managing Director of Uni-Blinds ® integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass explains how they are made and why their popularity continues to grow .
Despite originating in Italy back in the 1970s , integral blinds are still a relatively new phenomenon here in the UK . We started making them in 2004 after seeing how their popularity had grown massively elsewhere in the world , and we firmly believed that homeowners here would see them as a fantastic alternative to curtains and traditional wall-mounted blinds .
Many installers will be familiar with integral blind units and how easy they are to fit . But if you are new to integral blinds or have never fitted them , this article is for you !
In short , an integral blind is a Venetian or pleated blind which is permanently encapsulated inside a double or triple glazed unit . It is built into the cavity meaning it will never become dusty or attract dirt during the lifespan of the insulating glass unit ( IGU ) – and the main blind unit cannot be damaged unless the glass is broken .
With the Uni-Blinds ® range , you can choose from up to five different operating systems depending on the type of blind . These include a cord-operated manual system , the C System , and our most popular type of integral blind , the SV System , which is raised , lowered and tilted using a patented magnetic slider .
Two motorised systems are also available . The MB System is a smart-home compatible integral blind which is operated by remote control , wall mounted controls or using a smartphone app , and the W Smart is a motorised solar powered integral blind which can be installed without the need for hard-wiring .
Quality starts with what ’ s on the inside
One of the most important things to note is that , as with virtually every product we purchase , there is huge variation between the different integral blind products on the market . Hence why it is crucial to understand exactly what you are buying when choosing a supplier .
We have only ever manufactured our integral blinds using the world-renowned ScreenLine ® systems from the Italian company that pioneered this technology in the 1970s , Pellini S . p . A . No other company can match their quality and reliability , meaning that customer satisfaction is maximised because they are far less likely to experience functional or aesthetic issues throughout the service life of the blind .
16 FEBRUARY 2024 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM