Integral blinds are rapidly becoming one of the most popular home improvements in the South West. Homeowners across the Bristol area are falling in love with their modern aesthetics and effortless functionality. But what actually are integral blinds, and how do they work?
What are integral blinds?
Integral blinds are fitted between the panes of glass that make up a double or triple glazed unit. Despite being in between the panes of glass, the blinds can open or close manually or by an electronic operation.
They are made to measure and can be fitted into bifold doors, windows and conservatories. This blind system is ideal for controlling light and shade in both residential homes and commercial office settings. With their unique Venetian style, they add a sophisticated touch of style to your home and they will transform your living space.
How do integral blinds work?
With manual and automatic operating systems, our range of integral blinds are incredibly easy and accessible to use.
Manual blind operation
You can operate the blinds via a securely attached cord fitted to a magnetic device. This makes the blinds go up and down. Although a cord is used in this option, it’s held lightly under tension and fully complies with Make it Safe guidelines.
The Make it Safe campaign was launched by The British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) to raise awareness for safer blinds and keep babies and young children safe.
A cord-free option is also available. In this case, a single intelligently designed magnetic slider allows for the blinds to open and close effortlessly (see the image below).
Automatic blind operation
A solar-powered motorised operation system is available. This system uses long-life reachable batteries, combined with an external solar panel. The motor moves the blinds up and down, operated by remote control or a control device magnetically attached to the window.
Are integral blinds a good idea?
Absolutely! If their stunning, unintrusive aesthetics weren’t enough, integral blinds offer plenty of practical benefits, including:
- Reduced heating bills
- Enhanced solar reflection
- Total resistance against dust, making them friendly towards allergy-sufferers
- Immunity to damage
- Improved security against intruders
Integral blinds are particularly fantastic for bifold doors. Locked inside the glazing units, they can’t swing about and interfere with the doors’ opening and closing.
Can you retrospectively fit integral blinds into double glazed windows?
Yes. We can retroactively fit integral blinds into any glazing cavity, so long as it has a width of 20mm or more. We can achieve this by replacing the sealed unit of the window or door. Any type of frame material can support integral blinds, including uPVC and aluminium frames.
2600m is the largest cavity width that can support integral blinds. This makes them suitable for both triple-glazed windows and large commercial properties.
What is a Uni-Blind®?
Uni-Blinds® are a leading brand of integral blinds. These are blinds that can be integrated into the mechanism of windows and glass doors. Permanently sealed within the glazing unit, the blinds are fully protected against dust and damage.
With their unique Venetian style, they can add exceptionally sophisticated style to your home, as well as help to control room temperatures. The blind mechanism can be controlled either manually or electronically via a remote control. They are also available in a variety of beautiful colours.
What colour integral blinds should I choose?
We offer integral blinds in a range of subtle, stylish colours. For a more traditional effect, cream and white are classic choices. For something more modern, anthracite grey is an incredibly sleek shade that’s perfect for newer homes across the South West.
For those who want to really stand out, we even provide blinds in shades of yellow, green and blue. To see what we can do for you, please get in touch and request a colour swatch for an accurate colour representation.
Can you have internal blinds in sliding doors?
Yes. Integral blinds are a brilliant addition to any set of sliding patio doors. Thanks to their seamless integration with the sealed glazing units, the doors can slide effortlessly without any interference from the blinds, creating a seamless transition.
For the same reason, integral blinds are perfect for bifold doors, French doors, and any other type of product with large panes of glass. They allow you to control the amount of natural light coming into your home, without negatively impacting the performance of the door’s mechanism.
How do windows with built-in blinds work?
Double glazed and triple glazed windows all have vacuums between their glass panes. Integral blinds can be fitted into these cavities, shielding them from dust and damage. During Summer, the blinds will further assist the window’s glazing with reflecting sunrays and diffusing heat.
To work the blinds, you can either control them manually, via the use of a pully lever, a twist rod, or a sliding mechanism. Alternatively, they can often be controlled electronically. This will usually be via a remote control that only requires you to touch a button to open and close your blinds.
What are the benefits of integral blinds?
Integral blinds can offer privacy and provide a sleek and sophisticated look to any property. These aren’t the only benefits of these blinds.
Additional benefits are:
- Easy light control and solar control
- Low maintenance
- Child-friendly as they feature a cord tensioner which fully complies with the Make it Safe campaign
- Resistant to dust, making them allergy-friendly
- Available in Pleated or Venetian blind options
- Great thermal performance
- A wide range of colours to choose from including anthracite grey
- High security, ensuring complete peace of mind
How long do integral blinds last?
Integral blinds are designed to last as long as the windows or doors they are fitted into, which can be up to 25 years or more with proper care. Made of durable materials, integral blinds are sealed between glass panes, thus protecting them from wear and tear. While the lifespan of integral blinds can vary based on usage and maintenance, they are generally considered to be a long-lasting and low-maintenance option. Integral blinds also offer improved thermal efficiency by helping to keep the glass units insulated, in turn reducing heat loss and energy costs.
Can blinds between glass be repaired?
It can be difficult to access the blinds once they’re inside the window or door’s sealed unit. However, for the same reason, the chances of integral blinds suffering any damage are minuscule.
Damage being inflicted from inside the unit is almost impossible. However, to give our customers total peace of mind, we’re happy to supply all our integral blinds with a 5-year guarantee.
How to clean and maintain integral blinds
The great news is that integral blinds don’t require specific cleaning, as they are sealed between the glass. You clean the glass externally, as you would with any window, as well as occasionally check the magnetic operator or motor batteries.
Where in the home do integral blinds work best?
Integral blinds are great in high-traffic rooms, rooms that are prone to getting moisture and rooms that already have large expanses of glass. They are usually best suited for the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms, but they can also offer many benefits in any room with windows where you want to upgrade your current blinds. They are amazing for bifold and sliding patio doors, since other styles of blinds can interfere with their operation. Because the integral blinds are encapsulated in the glass, they don’t block the doors’ function at all. Integral blinds are used across conservatories and orangeries to combat UV fading. They are also great for home office spaces and living rooms due to enhanced privacy.
Are integral blinds secure?
Once integral blinds are installed within the window or door’s sealed unit, it is almost impossible for them to be broken. If an intruder attempted to break the glass, the blinds would act as another safeguarding layer, especially if they can only be opened electronically.
Closing your blinds at night will, of course, also prevent passers-by from seeing into your home and targeting your possessions. For optimum privacy and security, integral blinds are a great addition to your South West home.
Are integral blinds child-friendly?
Definitely. Concealed within the window or door’s mechanism, there’s no chance of children running into them or getting their fingers trapped.
With total resistance against gathering dust, integral blinds are also completely friendly towards children or adults with allergies.
Are integral blinds energy efficient?
Integral blinds work in tandem with their double or triple-glazed units in order to conserve energy and control thermal transmittance.
During Winter, they assist the windows in preventing your home’s heat from escaping. This is because they effectively act as another layer for the heat to disperse through. With them installed, heat passes through much more slowly.
Furthermore, since you have total control over their opening and closing, you can control how much warming natural light enters your home. In every aspect, integral blinds are equipped to help drive your energy bills down.
Are integral blinds worth the investment?
Integral blinds are a great investment. They typically have a lifespan that matches the glazing with maintenance of the internal mechanism, which is around 10 to 25 years. The other styles of blinds (Venetians, rollers, vertical blinds, Romans and shutters) are cheaper and can be more easily replaced, but integral blinds are better and more convenient for a wide range of different applications and factors:
| Factor | Integral Blinds | Traditional Blinds |
| Cleaning | Never required (sealed) | Regular dusting or wiping |
| Allergies and asthma | Excellent, no dust traps | Poor to moderate |
| Child and pet safety | No exposed cords or parts | Cords remain a known hazard |
| Typical lifespan | 20 – 25+ years | 5 – 10 years |
| Operation | Magnetic slider or motorised | Cord, wand, or chain |
| Suits, bifolds, and sliders? | Yes, no interference | Often awkward or impractical |
| Efficiency | Thermal barrier in winter, solar gain control in the summer. Highly increased thermal efficiency. | Depending on the material, traps heat inside, reflects heat and can cause a buildup of condensation. |
| Bathroom and kitchen use | Excellent, no warping or mould | Prone to damage and odours |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Lifetime cost | Lower (no replacements) | Higher (replaced 2–3 times) |
| Aesthetic | Clean, architectural | Traditional, soft-furnished |
Modern Integrations for Integral Blinds
There is now a wide range of modern integrations and features for integral blinds that integrate seamlessly with smart home technology. Integral blinds are often compatible with smart hub systems, where you can integrate the control of the blinds into your main app or system of choice. This allows you to program opening and closing schedules to suit you, and you can change this in the winter and summer at the touch of a button. Combining sun sensors with integral blinds creates a fully automated solar control system. This system works with the solar sensor, with the sensor measuring real-time sunlight and temperature, automatically tilting or lowering the blinds. This then blocks heat glare and reduces heat from building up in the room automatically, so your integral blinds now self-regulate using data from the sensors.
Interior blinds for bi-fold doors, windows & conservatories from the double glazing experts in Bristol and across Somerset
Interested in our range of industry-leading integral blinds? Visit our showroom in Clevedon to chat to our friendly team for more information. We’ve also got a taste of our product range on display, including composite doors, uPVC windows and bi-fold doors. With so many options to choose from, you are bound to find the perfect solution for your home.
At Seal Lite, our bifolding doors feature slim sightlines and low U-values. With integral blinds incorporated, they are an excellent choice for any home.
More information on our high performance integral blinds can be found on our integral blinds FAQ page. However, to get in touch with one of our expert team members, please call us on 0333 270 3704 or contact us online.