Knowledge Hub
Getting ready for new blinds or curtains is mostly about making the opening ready and keeping everyone working from the same plan. Tell us about unfinished floors, fresh paint, changed window handles or other trades before the appointment. Small changes around a window can affect how a made-to-measure product fits.
This checklist helps you prepare for the conversation. Your written quote, booking and any instructions for your job determine the work included.
First, check which visit is booked
A measure and quote is about choosing a product and working out the proposal. A check measure, when needed, confirms the details required to make or fit it. Installation is the fitting appointment. Some jobs need more than one stage, especially if supporting work must happen before the final size can be established.
A check-measure appointment is not an installation booking. If you are arranging time off or coordinating a builder, confirm the purpose of the visit, the openings involved and the current appointment details.
Before the final measure: tell us what will change
| Work around the opening | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| New carpet, tiles or timber flooring | The finished floor level affects curtain clearance |
| Plasterboard, bulkheads or cornices | The finished space can be smaller than the framing shown on plans |
| Replacement windows, handles or doors | New hardware can change operating clearance and fixing positions |
| Painting or wall repairs | Surface readiness and access need coordinating |
| Electrical work for motorisation | Power and controls must suit the selected motor |
| Posts, packing or other support work | The fixing surface needs to be ready for the proposed product |
Send updated plans or photos when something changes. A quick message saying “the handles are different now” is more useful before manufacture than on installation day. Do not use your own deductions from a plan as the final manufacturing size.
For curtains, discuss where the fabric will sit when open as well as the finished drop. Our curtain guide explains headings, fullness and stacking space.
Make access straightforward
Clear small furniture, ornaments and everyday items from the window area and the route through the home. Let us know in advance about heavy furniture that cannot be moved, high stairwells, narrow stairs, access codes, parking restrictions or a lift booking.
You do not need to climb, dismantle fittings or move something heavy on your own to prepare. Explain the access issue so the work can be planned. Arrange for children and pets to stay clear of the work area during the visit.
Agree who handles the old furnishings
Check whether removal and disposal are included. Do not assume an installer will take down every old track, remove electrical equipment or repair and repaint old fixing holes as part of fitting the new product.
If you want to reuse an existing track, blind or bracket, raise it before the order is finalised. Its condition and compatibility need checking. Keep the agreed scope with the quote so it is easy to refer to.
Coordinate painting and electrical work
Tell us if paint is fresh or other work is still underway. Follow the paint supplier’s advice on curing and the agreed sequence for your job; there is no single waiting period that suits every coating and site.
For motorised blinds or tracks, confirm who provides the electrical work and who sets up the controls. Give the electrician the selected motor’s specification. Our battery versus hardwired guide covers charging and service access as well as power.
If building work slips, contact us before the appointment. A preferred date, a production estimate and a confirmed fitting appointment are different things.
At handover: try the product yourself
Before the installer leaves, ask to see:
- Normal opening and closing, including any locks or restraints.
- The controls and groups for motorised products.
- Where charging takes place, if relevant.
- The care instructions and any weather-related operating limits.
- How to identify the product when asking for help later.
Keep the order details and instructions together. If something catches, looks damaged or does not operate as demonstrated, use our repairs and service page rather than forcing it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to remove my curtains before the appointment?
Only if that has been agreed and it can be done safely. Confirm removal arrangements first, especially for heavy curtains, high tracks or motorised fittings.
Can the final measure happen before my new floor is laid?
Tell us the stage of the work. Whether a reliable final measure is possible depends on the product and the information available about the finished opening. Do not assume a floor allowance will suit every curtain or blind.
Can I change the colour or fabric at check measure?
Contact the sales team as soon as you want a change. Ask whether it can still be made, whether it affects the price or timing, and obtain an updated written specification. A technical visit should not be treated as an automatic opportunity to change an order already in production.
What if I will not be home?
Discuss access and who can make decisions before the visit. Do not assume a key or an unattended property is an agreed access arrangement.
For an existing order, contact the team with your order reference. If you are still choosing products, book a free measure and quote.
