Can I put screws into UPVC window frames?

Can I put screws into UPVC window frames?

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guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Thursday 22nd November 2018
quotequote all
Not the actual frames I suppose, the openers. I want to fit blackout blinds, and it's a bay window - so 3 blind, one for the big middle window, two for the side ones (which are the openers).
I had a look at the blinds today and they are very light, so no weight problem - just unsure as to the make-up of an opener.
Obviously I'd keep the screws well away from the glass - but am I going to damage anything if I drill a pilot hole (to avoid buckling the UPVC), and screw in 4 small self-tappers?

StreetDragster

1,558 posts

231 months

Thursday 22nd November 2018
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It'll be fine

Thanks
Matt

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Thursday 22nd November 2018
quotequote all
Great stuff, cheers SD!
They are pretty old d/g windows anyway, but I don't want to destroy them. they still work fine and the blinds are cheap as chips on Ebay/Amazon. Currently have vertical slat blinds, but if I open the window to get a good breeze through in the summer, they tie themselves in knots!

xx99xx

2,522 posts

86 months

Thursday 22nd November 2018
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Or go for the no drill type.....

https://newblinds.co.uk/perfect-fit-blinds

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Thursday 22nd November 2018
quotequote all
Those are a load more expensive, but would be brilliant for the bedroom - I have bays in the front room and the bedroom.
Might be worth me ringing them and seeing if they have a sample or misfit they can send to have a look at.
The winter isn't bad, but during the summer - Jesus, the first ray of light and I wake up. And then don't get back to sleep again.
I suppose quality sleep is worth the money...


Edited by guindilias on Friday 23 November 10:50

alabbasi

2,925 posts

100 months

Thursday 22nd November 2018
quotequote all
You have to use screws in some cases on the frame. This is what I needed to do in order to join 2 2x5 windows together with a blanking plate.

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Thursday 22nd November 2018
quotequote all
The big window in my bay is about 6ft wide. Are they what they look like, a frame that snaps over the window frame, but has the blind "held" inside it?

I might try the dirt cheap Ebay ones first, it wouldn't be a huge waste of money - in fact I could always put them downstairs if they don't work as well as hoped, for the winter nights.

I am a bit obsessive about sleep - the best night's sleep I ever had was at a hotel a mate had his wedding at - I wasn't even particularly drunk, but slept for 13h straight, the blinds were complete blackout ones, with a big pelmet and thick curtains as well.
Couldn't believe the time when I woke up!

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
quotequote all
Just watched the measuring and installation for the perfect fit blinds - very impressive indeed, think I'll go with them for the bedroom...

craig1912

3,914 posts

125 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
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guindilias said:
Just watched the measuring and installation for the perfect fit blinds - very impressive indeed, think I'll go with them for the bedroom...
Had them for a few years - had a problem with cord fraying on one blind- returned and fixed free of charge (after three years of use).
https://www.perfectfitblindsuk.com

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
quotequote all
Hmm. Both seem to have a width restriction of max 1400 (newblinds), or max 1500mm (perfectfitblinds) - my windows are wider than that. If you ring them can they make them larger?

dickymint

26,846 posts

271 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
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Should be fine - any decent UPVC window will have aluminium (some cheaper ones use steel) reinforcement in them.

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
quotequote all
Cheers, Dicky - definitely of a mind to go with the snap-in ones, though - if they can make them wide enough!

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
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Which neither company can, after phoning them... 1400/1500mm is the max.

SeeFive

8,352 posts

246 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
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Just make sure that the screw / drill clears the glass. The panel will explode like a toughened windscreen if you hit it.

Yes, you are right. I made this mistake years ago fitting a security bolt into my patio door. The glass takes up a lot more of the frame than you may think.

xyz123

1,066 posts

142 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
quotequote all
xx99xx said:
Or go for the no drill type.....

https://newblinds.co.uk/perfect-fit-blinds
These are good but if one gets regular condensation in winter does, won't be long before mould develops in the blind and I doubt if you can clean it...

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Friday 23rd November 2018
quotequote all
I don't get condensation, ever - house is too draughty for that! They do both offer water resistant/anti-mould/washable/wipe clean type fabrics - they just can't do then as wide as I need! So it looks like they are out.
Now looking at blackout electric curtains, Wi-Fi controllable of course (because I can!) - Ali Express have a lot of Xaiomi stuff, which I have found to be good in the past (the maker, not the curtain tracks) and is very reasonable.
Or, I might look into making my own blind tracks using available ally moulded extrusions, I like the idea of a blind which is in a frame and won't move anywhere except up and down, and totally seals out the light.
The easy, cheap answer is of course the removable Velcro types - but firstly, I can't be assed putting them into place every night, and secondly, Velcro does lose it's stickiness as it gets full of fluff.
Might look into the electric curtain stuff, but using it vertically to pull a (captive) blind down rather than pulling curtains across.
All a bit up in the air at the minute, I'm sure I will work something out!

CoolHands

20,399 posts

208 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
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Can’t you have 2 ie they meet in the middle where the bar is? Or 3 if window is in thirds

guindilias

Original Poster:

5,245 posts

133 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
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There is no bar, it's all one big pane!