Roller Shade problem

[shabbychick]

I have a problem with a roller shade I recently installed on my bedroom window. First, it was a pain in the neck to even get installed. I wanted to install it on the inside of the window frame because I have both a sheer and a beaded curtain already mounted outside the window. I needed to roller shade for privacy, as you can see through the sheers. I drilled about ten holes along the sides of the sill trying to find a place where a screw could catch some wood, but no luck. It was just drywall. Then I tried screwing holes just inside the sill, assuming it was at least framed with wood. Well, it was framed with something metal, and no amount of drilling would create a hole. So then I ended up going all the way to the back of the sill just beyond the window. I was finally able to use those plastic anchors to get the mounting hardware up. My problem is that at least once out of every five times I pull on the shade to raise it, it snaps up and the entire shade falls out of the hardware and crashes down. I've already broken several things that were on the windowsill and have now had to remove everything from the sill. I tried pulling one of the little pins on each end of the shade out a bit, assuming that it just needed a little more length to stay in the slots. No luck. I'm afraid the shade is going to end up breaking the window at some point, and I'm tired of having it crash down every time I want to see out the window. Do you have any advice for me? Both pins do fit inside the hardware, so I'm just not sure what the problem is. Should I just take it down, fill in the holes, and try to find some other solution? Here are some pics, if they help. I had no idea this was going to be such a pain in the neck...I figured nothing could be easier to mount than a roller shade. Sheesh.

[Heather]

It may be because you don't have the ends of the rod into the "holders" enough, and it looks like those are Ikea blinds (mine are similar) and I was looking at the Ikea Fans website for info and installation advice. Here's the site: http://www.ikeafans.com/forums/assembly-installation/15918-how-install-ikea-roman-blinds.html Hope that helps in any way!

[shabbychick]

Thanks, Heather. The roller shade is actually from Home Depot, and so is the mounting hardware. I can't figure out what the problem is unless I had the shade a little bit too short. The pins seem to fit into the hardware okay when I put it up, but the action of the shade snapping up seems to snap the pin out of its holder. I'm almost ready to just drape a sheet over a tension rod and forget the roller shade.

I checked out the Ikea link you sent me, but it looks like they're dealing with Roman shades over there, which was kind of what I really wanted in the first place before I settled for the roller shade. I'm going to have to repair the wall, though, before I put any more holes in it for any reason. :(

[ChapterTwo]

I bought shades for what was my son's room, here, and the same thing happened. Whenever one of us tried to raise or lower the shade, the whole thing came flying down.

I remembered an old trick my mother used to use for that type of problem. She'd use a fork, and stick the tine behind that sort of "plug" where the pin comes from, and pry it out a little, away from the shade. (I'm guessing a small screwdriver might do it too.) It makes for a little tighter fit. I don't know if I'm explaining that well enough.

My little "end disc" is white plastic (not from IKEA), and I see yours is metal. I don't know if that makes a difference. Good luck with it!

[shabbychick]

Thanks. I'll give it a try and see what happens. The worst that can probably happen is that the pin will come out, which is probably no more of a problem than the whole shade falling down. And when it hits you, it hurts!

[ChapterTwo]

Thanks. I'll give it a try and see what happens. The worst that can probably happen is that the pin will come out, which is probably no more of a problem than the whole shade falling down. And when it hits you, it hurts!


I wish I was there to show you what I mean...hard to describe it. Put the fork tine under the entire silver thing, gently...and sort of pry it farther from the wooden dowel the shade is on. I think it's meant to have a little bit of "play" in it, to adjust the size.

Speaking of things not fitting, shabbychick...I FINALLY got around to picking up some new Venetian blinds for my "new-to-me" house...I even brought the old one with me, because I was afraid I would get the wrong size. Need I go on? The woman measured them and...the new shades are an inch too small. So, because of our Blue Laws, the store is closed tomorrow, so I have to wait 'til Monday to return them. :(

[shabbychick]

Oh, dear, I'm sorry to hear about that! You'd think she could get it right with the old blind right there. I don't think I'd appreciate being in a state with blue laws since Sunday is one of the only days I can get out and do anything. I do remember the old days, though, when grocery stores all closed at 9 p.m. I appreciate a 24 hour culture when I have to make an emergency run to the store for a bottle of Advil in the middle of the night or something, though.

Good luck with the blind!

[ChapterTwo]

Our new governor is a tyrant and I don't much appreciate anything he's doing (cuts for the poor and for protecting our environment, extreme education cuts, raising public transportation fares and cutting service, etc., etc.). However the one thing he has spoken about that makes sense to me is repealing the Blue Laws. With stores closed on Sunday, residents of our county spend their money in neighboring counties, which are open.

As you said, shabbychick, our world is different now and people need daily access, and the Blue Laws are inconsistent and antiquated.

[shabbychick]

Chapter Two, I tried that trick you told me about pulling out the pin a bit on the roller shade, and it works a treat! The pin is attached to a plastic thing that fits inside the dowel. I pried it out just a bit, and now the shade seems to work just fine. I'm being gentle with it, just in case, but so far it has stayed where it belongs. Thanks for the advice!!

[ChapterTwo]

Chapter Two, I tried that trick you told me about pulling out the pin a bit on the roller shade, and it works a treat!

I'm so glad it worked for you, shabbychick. It's one of my Mom's tricks and as we know...Mothers know best! ;)

[ericsmith]

The pins seem to fit into the hardware when I put in place, but the action of the shadow seems to have the snap pin holder. I'm almost ready for anything wrapped in a sheet in a tension bar and forget the roller shutter.

[Rory Bremner]

I had some of these in my dining room. I took them down when I was re-staining the window frames and had a hell of a job putting them back up. So, into the bin they went!!! Installers make it look so easy.