We’ve lined the inside of the door panels to our workshop with offcuts from the thermal blinds, ssems to have done the trick! Now its getting chilly we are working hard to finish your orders promptly and enjoying working with our new fabrics.
We’ve had some great publicity via the Homes & Design section of The Independent early in December (pics here but theres no online version) and a similar piece in Homes & Property. If you’d like a quote just send us a photo of your windows and the sizes & we’ll do the rest. See our ‘ordering‘ page for measuring details.
Article on keeping warm in The Independent
Photo of a thermal blind from The Independent article
We exhibited at the Regen SW RE Marketplace on 8th April at Westpoint, Exeter – stand Sh 15 in the ‘Community’ section (by the catering stall!). Download a leaflet here. We launched the new fabric range, well received!
See us at Sh 15 in the Community section
The Exhibition: Featuring over 100 south west companies including, renewable energy installers; construction companies; training providers; manufacturers, consultants and advisors; energy assessors; financiers and banks and installers of energy efficiency measures. You should be able to meet everyone you need for a project here under one roof.
Outside: A showcase of green cars (including test drives), charging points and smart energy solutions.
Demos: In the middle of the exhibition hall there will be a number of demos.
The Talks: We have lots of talks on the different renewable energy and energy efficiency options for you. These include individual technology overviews, updates on policies and funding streams. Specialist talks for farmers, communities and the arts sector.
The Conference: A high level overview of the sector. Designed for those who are already developing projects or those looking to explore complex policy areas or opportunities.
The show really is the place in the south west where anyone with an interest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainability all meet up. We look forward to seeing you there so please drop by our stand and say hi & please bring a friend with you!
How to do it – for a sash window. The blinds were designed specifically for sash windows, though they work on other windows (see this post). Here is a drawing showing how they fit & which dimensions we need. You can download the instructions as a pdf (includes photos) here and if you’d like a Word version of the dimension chart to fill in it is available here.
typical sash winow showing where the blind fits
How to do it for a non-sash window. Often the blinds are fitted in the recess of a window reveal. Because the headrail is 44mm deep it is usually fitted in front of the existing frame, fixed either up into the soffit or into the window frame (see below).
Measurements needed for non-sash windows
We will need the exact measurements of the width & height of your recess, together with photos showing each corner of the window (without curtains or blinds), plus the floor to sill height. Download instructions (pdf) here, or a Word version here. The blind will be made about 8mm narrower than the recess so it doesn’t rub on the walls.
We will be exhibiting, as usual, at this lovely Show on 16th & 17th November. It is held at the Royal Bath & West Showground (near Shepton Mallet). For free tickets click below.
We will be on stand 216, right in the middle of the main hall.
Opening times:
Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday 10.00am – 4.30pm
Come & see the blinds in action, pick up a sample or discuss your problem windows with us. If you remember to bring a photo that’s even better!
Our stand
You can see our previous show stands here for 2012 & 2011.
I’ve been asked many times for a brochure & have finally prepared a simple leaflet which you can DOWNLOAD HERE (or see the image below) – its just a single A4 sheet with some images from the Retrofit projects and a small amount of information. If you want the full (large file) technical report you can download it HERE and if you’d like fitting instructions they are available HERE. Typical fixing details can be downloaded HERE.
I’ve also made up some sample packs, so if you’d like to see fabric & component swatches or know someone who might like a pack just email me on info@thermalblind.co.uk Continue reading
As a newly qualified architectural student Katy was involved in super-insulated homes built in the 1980’s, when working for Feilden Clegg Design. In some properties roller blinds were velcroed to window frames, and she has been searching for a better version of this idea ever since. As a Conservation Officer in the 90’s & a Conservation Architects’ Assistant in the 00’s she worked on many old buildings with sash windows. As these are protected from change, a non-invasive solution to heat loss is needed. The idea of a magnetised edge led to some prototype blinds and thermal testing in late 2010 and by February 2011 the business was ready.
After a period of time during 2010 struggling to import alternative blinds from the US she now makes the thermal blinds in Somerset. The workshop is a converted school toilet building, fondly known as The LoobyLoo.
We have supplied thermal blinds for five of the Retrofit for the Future properties, a national programme of whole-house refurbishments on a wide range of typical UK homes funded by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
Prince Rupert Road thermal blind fitted
The aim is to cut CO2 emissions by 80% & establish which specifications are best and most cost-effective for each type of home. A virtual meeting with Mark Elton, Associate Director and Head of Sustainability at ECD architects at the Sustainability Now conference gave us the opportunity to discuss how thermal blinds might be used where the existing windows couldn’t be replaced with high performance new windows. Continue reading
