In the words of Bob Dylan, the answer is blowing in the wind, but in this case the wind is actually the problem.
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- Exterior Sheerweave Solar Shade
Q: We recently purchased and installed nine Exterior Solar Shades with cassette valence systems. They are inside mount shades with removable porch screens on the outside. They have inserted metal rods in the bottom hem which is providing some weight; however, they blow into the room even with light breezes. We would like to have some sort of a clip to fasten the rod to the sill to hold them down or possibly a clip mounted on the window casing which would hold the ends of the metal rod when the shade is rolled down. Any suggestions or hardware available? – Bob P.
A: Hi Bob, great question. First of all, congratulations on your new Exterior Shades. No doubt your home is already better insulated and cooler! For your problem, I consulted Ann W., a Design Consultant here at Blinds.com. Ann has over 15 years experience in the window treatment industry and has come across this problem before.
Here’s What She Said:
“A great solution, and one I tell a lot of customers to do, is to glue magnets to the wood post or window casing. The benefit of doing this is they catch the bottom metal rods and help prevent them from blowing. Of course, you would need to make sure you place them in the exact place where the bar hits. You may even want to paint them to match your railing so they become almost invisible.”
Magnet Photo Credit: Corey Holms via Compfight cc
This is a simple, cheap way to keep your blinds in place and reap the benefits of solar shades. Plus, there’s no hardware to install to ruin your view to the outside. I recommend using a ceramic round disc magnet 1/8” thick. Simply glue one to the window casing on both sides at the lowest point to which the blind hangs and you should be good to go. You can get these magnets online, or at any home improvement store.
Have a Wonderful Summer, and Happy Decorating!
Esther
