talkmagic.co.uk

I've just started shopping around for quotes on conservatory roof blinds and got a quote for £1,309 for bespoke blinds measuring approximately 2.7 x 3.3m. Does this seem reasonable? I thought it sounded a bit much but I know nothing about conservatory blinds so perhaps it is a fair price after all.

This is a fully inclusive price regardless of which fabric you choose and includes survey, bespoke manufacture of your blinds and our full fitting service and VAT.

Wow! I'm in the wrong line of business, £1300 for essentially 3m x 3m blinds...

I remember my parents deciding not to put blinds in their conservatory a few years back as it was too expensive, so perhaps it is a 'reasonable' quote.

I guess the word "Bespoke" really adds to the cost as they have to be custom made...

I guess the very nature of the product means they have to be bespoke. But £1,300 did come as a bit of a shock for less than nine square metres of blind. At least there is a 24 month interest free payment method available. Hmm, I going to get more quotes before I decide.

I had the same problem with my conservatory last year. If you want anything that looks even half decent, they cost a fortune. I really dont know how they can charge such prices. Luckily I moved so didnt have to shell out. Left that to the new owners! It may be worthwhile looking into the 'off the shelf' blinds, and depending on the size you need, seeing if they can be altered slightly to fit your needs.

The price depends on the size of the conservatory and for an average size I've seen some far more expensive than this.

I'm probably like you in that I'm reluctant for pay that much for blinds to keep the sun out. Isn't that why we get conservatory's in the first place?

dat8962 wrote:I'm probably like you in that I'm reluctant for pay that much for blinds to keep the sun out. Isn't that why we get conservatory's in the first place?

Seems a bit strange I'll agree .

It does get VERY hot in our conservatory in summer though. We have an electronic thermometer in the kitchen (kitchen is connected to conservatory via an archway) and on some days last year, on those few sunny days that we had, it reached over 50 degrees C ( 120+ degrees F ).

Our is also a sizzler when the sun's out so I know where you're coming from

The best quote we had for blinds was a taj under £3.5K

The problem with most conservatories, right, is they feel like the Sahara in the summer and the Arctic in the winter (now we've had a radiator fitted, it's not too bad in the winter). The conservatory was already there when we moved into the house two years ago; if I was going to the expense of having a new conservatory built, I would rather pay the extra for that fancy glass to be put in (the type that reflects sunlight and heat or somesuch). My wife is looking for cheaper-than-£1.3k blinds on eBay now.

If not sure if this is true but someone told me a few years back that if you install a radiator in a conservatory that's part of the household heating system then it changes or requires a different planning permission.

As I say, I don't know if it's true but with so many 'quirks' in our planning rgulations it wouldn't surprise me one bit if it is true.

With radiators, I think it depends on if they are part of you central heating system, or one of those plug in types. It may be worth checking it out if you plan on selling the house in the future though.
We had that special glass in the roof, and with a bit of hangling, though whole thing was pretty cheap. The cost of the normal window blinds are even more horrific unfortunately.

Thanks for the radiator info, guys. But I don't see how having a radiator in the conservatory can be a bad thing; I think most people would be grateful for it. Unless I'm missing something?

I think that a radiator in a conservatory is a good thing, particularly if you want to use it in winter.

Do EXACTLY what AndyRegs says and check out first if you need planning permission for a plumbed one otherwise you will have problems when you come to sell as you then then need to apply for retrospective planning permission which can lose or at least hold up a sale.

I know from selling my last house which had an extension that didn't confirm to planning permission. In the end I had to pay for an insurance policy to indemnify the buyer against it having to be un-built

It depends on what type of blind you are having.

roof blinds need to be fitted with rails at each end, then tensioning wires through the blinds, at the right tension to stop them sagging, yet not too tight to make them stiff to pull open/shut.

If they are the normal, single pleated blinds, it does sound expensive.

If they are the Duette type blind, with a honeycomb centre, between two layers of fabric, these always have been expensive. They have thermal properties, keeping warmth in, or keeping the heat of the sun out.

I fitted blinds for almost 20 years, with conservatories always being the least favourite.
In mid summer, people would happily tell you the temperature in the consrvatory had reached 110 degrees. They must have known it was hotter by the window, yet some never offered a drink, even if I was in there for 5 hours.

If you're paying that much, I presume you aren't going to be fitting them yourself?

Darrel, who did you work for? If they are still in business I could look them up and get a quote, if you think they're any good. And I notice you are in my neck of the woods - if you want to fit my blinds, you can have as many drinks as you want.

The initial quote I got was from some website and was just a general quote; I think they said the price would vary depending on choice of material, style, etc. Price includes fitting by them, too.

The days of fitting blinds are long gone, but am going to the Wonderland on the 1st. You say you are about 5 mins away, so could take a look and give you some advice if you want?

PM if you are interested. Might not be able to reply until next week.