If you've been looking at conservatory blinds but feel a little blind by the amount of choice you have, this guide aims to make life a little easier for you. We cover vertical conservatory blinds, thermal conservatory blinds, conservatory roman blinds and even more. We also cover the installation fees and any additional fees!
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So what’s the best way of solving the problem without limiting the amount of sunshine you can let into the glass extension (which is, after all, the main reason you bought the thing in the first place)? Well, conservatory blinds, of course.
Removable conservatory blinds are a great way to lend your extension a bit of extra functionality, as they offer a degree of shade in those summer months of stifling heat whilst simultaneously acting as a layer of insulating material during the winter! Plus they can be purchased in a range of colours, patterns and designs and can be rolled to whatever degree you wish. They are also waterproof and – unlike ordinary curtains – neat and easy to clean without having to put the whole lot through the wash.
What Are Conservatories?
Conservatories are glazed structures that feature a glass roof and/or glass walls. Structures can be attached to existing construction or be manufactured as separate units. Conservatory cost varies a lot. But as a general rule, we can estimate from our experience that conservatory prices start from £4,000 to £6,500 for small rooms and from £25,000 – £50,000 for bespoke conservatories.
Different styles of conservatories
There are four basic styles of conservatories: Lean-To, Victorian, Edwardian and P-shaped styles. Lean-To conservatories may have a gently sloping or a gable roof. It is the simplest model of conservatories and it is mainly attached to the house. Other styles are more decorative and these models can be built on the foundation of its own apart from the house and having more space than Lean-To ones.
Conservatories can house and even propagate plants, but their primary function is the creation of additional living space. These structures serve as seating areas, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchen extensions and pool houses. The possibilities are endless. Conservatories are highly decorative, featuring window grids, finials, crown moulding, Palladian arches, ridge cresting and other decorative elements.
Benefits of Conservatory Blinds
Conservatory blinds offer many benefits you will appreciate. The main advantages are as follows:
Controlling the amount of heat and light in the conservatory: There can be too hot or too sunny. With well-chosen blinds in the windows and the roof of your conservatory, you will be able to use all year around without any problems.
Privacy and security: One of the greatest advantages of a conservatory is that you can enjoy outside all year around with comfort and also enjoy more privacy when you need to.
Superb control: You can adjust your blinds to let in a certain amount of light to feel. Venetian blinds can be tilted, as can vertical blinds. While wood-weave blinds provide control and style being kind to the environment.
Wide choice of styles, fabrics and woods: There is a wide selection of conservatory blinds to choose from in many different colours, fabrics and patterns to choose from.
Conservatory Blinds Cost Estimates
Conservatory Blinds prices based on the style of conservatory
Here are several average conservatory cost examples for different styles of conservatories:
Lean-To conservatory blinds cost estimate for 3.3 m x 2.8 m with 4 panes of roof glazing and 18 panes of window glazing.
- Roof blinds: £950 – £2,600
- Window blinds: £1,300 – £3,700
Gable-End conservatory cost estimate for 3.3 m x 3.1 m with 8 panes of roof glazing and 22 panes of window glazing.
- Roof blinds: £1,300 – £3,600
- Window blinds: £1,250 – £3,950
Edwardian conservatory cost estimate for 3.3 m x 3.3 m with 12 panes of roof glazing and 22 panes of window glazing.
- Roof blinds: £1,950 – £4,850
- Window blinds: £1,200 – £3,350
Victorian conservatory cost estimate for 3.3 m x 2.8 m with 12 panes of roof glazing and 22 panes of window glazing.
- Roof blinds: £1,750 – £4,250
- Window blinds: £1,250 – £3,500
P-Shape conservatory 5.1 m x 5.1 m with 19 panes of roof glazing and 28 panes of window glazing.
- Roof blinds: £3,300 – £8,100
- Window blinds: £1,800 – £4,900
*All prices include survey, installation and VAT.
Looking to convert your loft? We can help!
Lean-To Conservatory Blinds
The conservatory blind ranges are wide and it is the other factor that affects the price, in addition, the style and the size of the conservatory. We have listed the range of types below and estimated the prices for the basic Lean-To conservatory used these different types of blinds. Hopefully, this helps you to estimate the costs for your own project. The pros, cons and prices per type of blinds are as follows:
Pure Pleated Blinds
Pure pleated blinds are specifically designed for use in UK conservatories. They can be made to fit any shape of conservatory roof or window. They are designed to fit individual panes of glazing, which makes them easier to operate and conforms to the requirements set out by all of the major roof manufacturers. The size of selection is over 150 solar reflective fabrics and all of them are washable.
Advantages:
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- Highly suited to individual blind layout
- Oversized roof blinds will reduce cost
- Unique shaped side blinds
- Adjustable handles for ease of operation
- Easily removed without tools for cleaning
- True recess-fitted window blinds
- Purpose-designed fabrics retract neatly
- Virtually all fabrics are washable
- Smallest cording holes conceals light grabs
- All shaped blinds include lay-flat cording
- Available with remote control operation
- 8 colour rails with matching components
- Available with custom colour options
- 5 years parts & labour guarantee
Disadvantages:
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- More expensive than most other blinds
- Not suitable for cheap fabrics
Pleated conservatory blinds prices
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- Conservatory roof blinds: £950 – £1,550
- Conservatory window blinds: £1,750-£2,500
- Victorian or Edwardian conservatory windows: £1,300 – £2,350
- Victorian or Edwardian conservatory: £2,250 – £3,250
- P Shape conservatory windows: £2,250-£2,850
- P Shape conservatory roof: £2,800-£3,800
Pure Pinoleum Blinds
These blinds have been made from woven wood, edged with acrylic braid to create a durable blind that will last for years, even in the hostile environment of a conservatory. Pure Pinoleum Blinds create an inviting atmosphere without reducing natural light. They are designed to be simple operate, easy to keep clean and safe for children.
Advantages:
-
- Suited to timber and uPVC conservatories
- Oversized roof blinds will reduce cost
- Uniquely neat shaped side blinds
- Adjustable handles for ease of operation
- Easily removed without tools for cleaning
- Durable paint finishes
- Colour coordinated roof blind micro-cables
- Solar lining for privacy, heat & insulation
- Available in 3 different wood weaves
- Optional custom painted finishes
- Choice of 3 manual window controls
- Available with remote control operation
- Optional wood rails
- 5 years parts & labour guarantee
Disadvantages:
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- More expensive than Classic Pinoleum
- Les suited to oversized blinds
- Can only be wiped clean – not washed
Pure pinoleum conservatory blinds prices:
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- Roof blinds: £1000 – £1,600
- Window blinds: £2,150 – £2,700
- Victorian or Edwardian conservatory windows: £1,300 – £2,350
- Victorian or Edwardian conservatory: £2,250 – £3,250
- P Shape conservatory windows: £2,250-£2,850
- P Shape conservatory roof: £2,800-£3,800
Prices include survey, installation and VAT.
Conservatory Roman Blinds
These blinds are specifically designed for conservatories in the UK with solar reflective fabrics and the same operating system as that used on roman pinoleum conservatory blinds. They have optional controls and headrails for every possible requirement. The styling makes them ideal for rectangular Lean-To style and Gable End conservatories, where the minimalist structure accentuates the horizontal fabric rods and ultra-modern look.
Advantages:
-
- Perfect as rectangular roof blinds
- Suited to timber and uPVC conservatories
- Adjustable handles for ease of operation
- Easily removed without tools for cleaning
- Color coordinated roof blind micro-cables
- Soft solar reflective fabrics
- Choice of 2 manual window controls
- Available with remote control operation
- 8 color rails with matching components
- Custom color options available
- 5 years parts & labor guarantee
Disadvantages:
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- The most expensive conservatory blinds
- Intensive design, survey & manufacture
- Soft fabrics must be treated with care
- Stiffer fabrics fan-out when retracted
- Often require specialist cleaning
Roman conservatory blinds prices:
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- Window blinds: £1,600-£2,150
- Roof blinds: £2,700-£3,100
- Victorian or Edwardian (windows): £2,000-2,750
- Victorian or Edwardian (roof): £2,800-3,550
- P Shape (windows): £2,400-3,450
- P Shape (roof): £3,800-5,300
Conservatory Duette Blinds
These blinds are available with translucent, opaque and full blackout options depending upon your needs. The fabrics filter the sun rather than reflect it. We only normally recommend these blinds in conservatories, where the roof is not south facing and where the roof is only made up of large panes with similar window glazing.
Advantages:
-
- Highly suitable as rectangular blinds
- Suited to timber and uPVC conservatories
- Semi-opaque or blackout fabrics
- Blinds can be removed for cleaning
- Absolutely no visible cording holes
- Support wires concealed when extended
- Optional Somfy remote control operation
- Available in white or brown hardware
- Custom colour options available
- Perfect blackout fabric for window blinds
- Excellent insulation against heat loss
- 1-year labour & parts guarantee
Disadvantages:
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- Shaped side blinds have fixed rails
- Fabrics stack very deep when retracted
- Reduces more light with tinted glass
- Difficult to clean within the fabric
- Window blinds not suited to recess-fitting
- Roof blinds not suited to cut-outs
- Not recommended on south-facing roofs
Cost:
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- Roof blinds: £1,350 – £1,800
- Window blinds: £2,400 – £2,900
Eos Pleated Blinds
These blinds offer a neat, extremely modern looking appearance with sleek rounded rails and concealed clips. Particularly suited to large rectangular blinds and simpler shapes, they can offer the most integrated looking solution on certain types of conservatories.
Advantages:
-
- Highly suited to individual blind layout
- Oversized roof blinds will reduce cost
- Available with shaped side blinds
- Available with light-translucent fabrics
- Blinds can be removed for cleaning
- Can be recess-fitted to uPVC windows
- Washable Crush/Chintz fabrics
- Available with Cascade remote control
- Available in white or brown hardware
- 5 years parts & labour guarantee
Disadvantages:
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- Requires an installer to remove blinds
- Large cording holes create light gaps
- Roof wires stand out against pale fabrics
- Cheaper fabrics stack quite deeply
- Easy Care fabrics cannot be washed
- Cheaper fabrics reduce natural light
Conservatory duette blinds prices:
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- Roof blinds: £900 – £1,450
- Window blinds: £1,550 – £2,300
Conservatory Pinoleum Blinds
These blinds are handcrafted in the traditional way by expert blind manufacturers, using wooden rails. The bespoke nature of these blinds means that every single aspect can be uniquely tailored to your requirements. As roof blinds, they are really designed for staying extended all the time diffusing the light and creating a soft dappled shade.
Advantages:
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- Ideal when fitted between timber rafters
- Elegant dappled shading at a lower price
- Lightweight wood for oversized blinds
- Oversized blinds available up to 2 m wide
- Wood rails painted to match pinoleum
- Blinds can be dusted and wiped
- Optional Somfy remote control operation
- 5 years of parts & 1-year labour guarantee
Disadvantages:
-
- Not suited to uPVC conservatories
- Not suited to individual roof blind layout
- Only available with fixed shaped side blinds
- Can sometimes allow too much light/glare
- Roof only meant for occasional operation
- Fixed tension blinds cannot be removed
Conservatory pinmoleum blinds prices:
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- Roof blinds: £950 – £1,350
- Window blinds: £1,850 – £2,250
Standard Pleated Blinds
These blinds are traditional and lower cost option for conservatories. They are adapted from European sunroom blinds and therefore they aren`t terribly well-suited to recess-fitting on shaped glazing beads as they remain tilted and there are gaps between the beading and the rails caused by the clips.
Advantages:
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- Designed for wide blinds to reduce cost
- Available with light-translucent fabrics
- Blinds can be removed for cleaning
- Can often be cleaned with care
- Available also as simple-shaped side blinds
- Optional Somfy remote control operation
- White, brown or bronze hardware
- 5 years of parts & 1-year labour guarantee
Disadvantages:
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- Shaped side blinds may be fixed
- Fabrics stack quite deeply when retracted
- Some fabrics darken adjoining rooms
- Fixed tension blinds are difficult to remove
- Some shaped blinds require extra rails
- Fabrics are not suitable for tinted/solar glass
- Large cording holes create light gaps
- Roof wires stand out against pale fabrics
- Window blinds are not suited to recess-fitting
Cost:
-
- Conservatory roof blinds: £900 – £1,450
- Conservatory window blinds: £1,550 – £2,300
Conservatory Pleated Blinds
These blinds are the right choice as you would expect with such cheap pleated blinds. They are not washable and cannot be easily removed as they have a fixed tension operating system. A difference to the original classic system it has a basic lay-flat cord integrated into the fabric to hold it flatter when retracted.
Advantages:
-
- Perfectly good as rectangular blinds
- Simple shade at the lowest price
- Dim-out fabric at no extra cost
- White, brown and tan coloured rails
- 1-year labour & parts guarantee
Disadvantages:
-
- Not available with shaped side blinds
- Fabrics stack very deeply when retracted
- Reduces more light with tinted glass
- Fixed tension blinds cannot be removed
- Fabrics are not suitable for tinted/solar glass
- Large cording holes create light gaps
- Tension cords are only available in white or grey
- Nylon wires will sag over time
- Not possible to recess fit window blinds
- Cannot be washed
- Not available with remote control operation
Cost
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- Conservatory roof blinds: £800 – £1,250
- Conservatory window blinds: £1,450 – £2,000
Conservatory Roller Blinds
These blinds are great with high performance solar reflective fabric and optional cassette to conceal the rollers. Roller blinds are best suited to very large timber conservatories with contemporary style.
Advantages:
-
- Simple shade at relatively low price
- Dim-out fabric at no extra cost
- Can potentially be made up to 3 m wide
- Available in white or brown hardware
- 1-year parts & labour guarantee
Disadvantages:
-
- Not suited to uPVC conservatories
- Not suited to individual roof blind layout
- Cannot be made as very small blinds
- Unavoidable gaps between roller blinds
- Not available as shaped side blinds
- Reduces more light with tinted glass
- Tensioned by cords tied onto cleats
- Fixed tension blinds cannot be removed
- Fabrics are not suitable for tinted/solar glass
- Cannot be washed
- Not available with remote control operation
Prices:
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- Conservatory roof blinds: £900 – £1,500
- Window blinds: £1,150 – £2,000
- Victorian or Edwardian window binds: £1,250 – 1,500
- Victorian or Edwardian conservatory roof blinds: £1,000 – 1,300
Perfect Fit Blinds Cost
These blinds are a range of pleated, Venetian and roller blinds mounted within a Perfect Fit frame that can then be push-fitted between the glass and neoprene gaskets of uPVC windows without the need for drilling or screwing.
Advantages:
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- Any blind type fit in a Perfect Fit frame
- Window blinds ideal for DIY fitting
- Classic Pleated window blinds
- Classic Venetian window blinds
- Classic Roller window blinds
- Conceals side gaps
- Avoids looped cords
- White, brown, grey and tan hardware
- 1-year parts & labour guarantee
Disadvantages:
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- Not possible with external glazing beads
- Not possible with concealed gaskets
- Not suited to shaped windows
- May compromise uPVC roof guarantee
- Require uPVC infills and connectors
- Difficult to remove, even by experts
- Bulky frames unsuited to shaped roofs
- Difficult to remove dead insects
- Thick fabrics fan-up when retracted
- Large cording holes create light gaps
- Nylon or plain steel wires sag over time
- Semi-recess frames clash with handles
- Classic Pleated Blinds cannot be washed
- Not available with remote control operation
Perfect conservatory blinds prices:
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- Roof blinds: £1,250 – £1,450
- Window blinds: £2,050 – £2,350
References
http://www.conservatoryblinds.co.uk/prices/14/Lean-To-Conservatory/
http://www.almostimpartialguide.co.uk/conservatories/sunshd.htm
https://www.johnlewis.com/our-services/made-to-measure-conservatory-blinds
http://just-blinds.blogspot.gr/2012/03/what-are-best-blinds-for-conservatory.html
http://www.whatprice.co.uk/conservatory/blinds.htm
https://www.barlowblinds.com/2018/02/28/much-conservatory-blinds-cost/