See our thermal blinds on Saturday 5th March at this Conference & Show in Frome. Some fascinating speakers & case studies. Price includes coffee & lunch and there is a 40% discount for locals. Frome is also a great place to visit, shop & a good base for sight-seeing. Why not make a weekend of it? Venue is the Cheese & Grain right in the middle of the town centre.
We are excited to launch a new range of fabrics, carefully tested to ensure they work well with our 25-component thermal blinds. For samples please send an email with a photo of your window(s) & sizes and a list of the fabrics you are interested in. Check the ordering page for measuring guides.
The images below are split into the 3 price bands, with Astoria & Waldorf offering the best value blinds. Click and zoom for close-up view.
There are 3 price ranges, A (Waldorf & Astoria, 32 colours), B (Motif & Velton, 40 + 21 colours) & C (Agua, 10 colours, fireproof & suitable for public buildings). Below these you can see some colour ranges for inspiration – Creams/Beiges, Greys, Greens, Reds, Browns, Blues & Darks.
So what’s unique about our thermal blinds? Well, for starters, they are truly insulating, unlike most other ‘thermal’ blinds which rely on either a single layer of foil material or open-ended folds of paper-like material containing tiny pockets of air. Our blinds have 3 insulating components – two layers of Mylar – a reflective, resistive metal-coated ployester. These both keep heat in and stop solar overheating. Then a 7mm thick Thinsulate layer, made of thousands of tiny [15 micrometres (µm) in diameter], fibres, trapping air (& used in Jag soft-top roofs, apparently). Together these materials bring the insulation level to the equivalent of triple glazing. No other blinds on the market achieve this level of insulation.
Secondly, unlike most roman blinds which hang in front of your wall or window, they fit tight against the frame and overlap at the top & sides, bringing the overlapping edges in contact with your window frame. This reduces gaps around the edges to a minimum. And thirdly they have tiny hidden magnets sewn inside, matched by self-adhesive magnets (just 1mm thick) which you put on your frame. This gives a very snug fit and stop that down-draught from cold glass which can drop into your room. Continue reading
We’ve had some really lovely pieces written in the last couple of years, the latest being on the blog ‘All Things Bright & Good‘, a lovely blog by Judy who I met at a Frome ‘Jelly’ (an event where home workers work together for a day). She has written a book about homeworking & also runs the blog ‘Working from Home Wisdom‘ which is full of great tips on homeworking and there did an article about me in unusual home working jobs.
Judy gave me her loft-stored sewing machine when I first set up, it was her 18th birthday present so very special! It was my workhorse for two years til I bought my amazing Pfaff.
The She-Shed and Pfaff
We also got a mention by Julia Kendell in the Sunday Times, by Roger Hunt on ‘old windows need not be cold‘, a very fascinating blog, and I believe we are mentioned in his book too ‘Old House Eco Handbook‘ (must get a copy!)
Julia said;
“Heavy lined curtains are a tried and tested way to keep in heat, but there are more effective options. “A clever solution is thermal blinds,” She recommends a new product by the designer Katy Duke. Her thermal blinds lock onto the frame with magnets and are made with materials used in skiwear.
Roger said;
“As an alternative to replacing windows there are a variety of low impact and cost effective alternatives:
Rattling windows may be wedged or, with sash windows, a fastener with a cam action which draws the two sashes together can be fitted.
Shutters and heavy curtains reduce draughts and keep heat in, especially if they’re closed before it gets dark so the warmth of the day is retained. One further step is to install thermal blinds which incorporate a variety of insulating and reflective layers designed to minimise conduction through the fabric.
We also got a lovely write up in Blinds & Shutters magazine when Katy won the PEA Award.
The next article expected is in The List, a very popular local magazine. Check out the December issue!
Sunday Times article by Julia Kendell
Article in Blinds & Shutters magazine
Special discounts available for May only for anyone within 15 miles of our HQ at BA11 – 10% discount on thermal blinds in standard fabric (9 colours available) if you order 2 or more.
ALSO there is a 5% discount available for all orders of four blinds or more, wherever you are.
Email your sizes and a photo and we will send you a price & swatches.
A lovely new patterned & textured fabric range is now available. We have spent weeks testing to ensure that the fabric is suitable for our five layers & now bring you the ‘Classic’ range. There are 39 different fabrics to choose from. Download a pdf showing the range here. Email us with your window details (photo & size) to info@thermalblind.co.uk & we will send swatches.
Thermal blind in ‘Tuscany moss’ fabric
New ‘classic’ range – sheet 1
New ‘classic’ range – sheet 2
New ‘classic’ range – sheet 3
Child safety is important to us. With recent new legislation (February 2014) our blinds now have additional safety features to ensure that there is no choking or strangulation hazard to children. There are two modifications which will be made on all blinds from 28th February 2014.
1. The chain loops supplied to control the blinds will be supplied so they hang no lower than 1500mm off the floor and included will be appropriate safety cleats for you to fix the bottom of the chain loop. These have been supplied with the blinds for some time now but it is now compulsory for the customer to fit them on installation.
2. The cords on the back of the blind will either be supplied at spacings which do not need safety devices OR we will supply the blind complete with safety release catches designed so that the cord separates under a load of 6kg.
These features ensure that the blinds comply with the new British Standard BS EN 13120. For more details see our suppliers information page.
We offer a retrofit scheme for older blinds for our existing customers. Contact katy@thermalblind.co.uk if you have any concerns or would like to have your blinds modified. We advise all previous customers to ensure they have fitted the safety catches provided. If existing blinds are accessible by young children please consider using our retrofit service.
You can download the British Blind & Shutter Association’s ‘Make it Safe’ brochure here or see the ‘Make it Safe’ website.
Safety cleats & labels are supplied with your blind
The back of the blind has quick release safety catches
Safety cord release on back of blind, how it works:
More information from ROSPA.
Please note we can supply retrofit safety devices as well – don’t take a chance, make it safe!
The safety catches are hand-sewn onto the back of the blind
Cord locked into safety clip
Next week we will be exhibiting again at Ecobuild, catch us on stand N1050 with the marvellous ModCell guys. Click on the ecobuild logo to register for free tickets.
Thermal blinds on the Modcell Stand