News
10 | FEBRUARY 2024
News
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
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 .
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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 ,
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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 .
How an integral blind is made
The ScreenLine ® blind unit is manufactured by Pellini to suit the width and height of the IGU . Once at our factory , the blind unit is assembled as part of the sealed unit making process , with the inner and outer panes of glass separated by a warm edge spacer bar – something that no other UK integral blind manufacturer does . All our units are dual sealed to ensure optimum thermal performance and gas retention .
Once sealed our Uni-Blinds ® branded integral blind units are quality checked and dispatched , with the additional benefit to customers of free complimentary delivery .
As the world ’ s largest producer of bespoke ScreenLine ® integral units , we
benefit from the shortest possible lead times for blinds of this kind , meaning that we can deliver orders to our customers in as little as 10-12 working days .
Tailored glass options for all window or door styles
As every integral blind unit is made to order , we can use several different types of glass to provide enhanced thermal performance , greater solar control to prevent the risk of overheating or both .
Simply specify what glass is required at the order stage , with the choices ranging from the excellent all-rounder Planitherm Total Plus and lower U-value option Planitherm One , to some of the world ’ s best performing solar control glass products in the Saint-Gobain COOL-LITE family .
These glass upgrades help to make Uni-Blinds ® integral blinds a powerful sales proposition , given that homeowners can benefit from windows and doors which feature a virtually maintenance-free , elegantly designed blind that matches their interior décor , plus upgraded performance that makes their homes more energy efficient and comfortable .
And don ’ t forget that integral blinds can be fitted into all kinds of windows and doors in PVC-U , aluminium and timber frames . They work across fixed lights , casements , entrance doors , sliding doors , vertically sliding sashes and many other styles , and can be fitted very easily by any competent installer .
www . morleyglass . co . uk