Daily Home Renovation Tips

Right from the first article Part 1 - The Need in our series on our installation of our exterior solar blinds we have had several comments and emails.

One of the emails asked how easy or difficult it was to remove the solar blind from the window frame. The manufacturer’s web site contains a nice FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on different aspects of the product as well as on the fastners themselves.

Now, we actually needed to remove the cap from the top of several of the fasteners because we noticed that one of the solar blinds was ‘wavy’. What do I mean by ‘wavy’? Well, take a look at the picture below where from the inside you see what looks like two 45 degree waves in the solar screen.

Next is what this looks like from the outside.

I had noticed them after my initial installation attempt, but did not have the time to do anything about them for a week or so. Actually, it took all of 10 minutes to fix.

I used a simply flat screwdriver to remove the caps off of many of the fastners. How? Well, by simply pressing the screw driver between the cap and the mesh and pried it off. It was easier than I thought it was going to be.

Then I simply removed the mesh from the female part of the non-capped fastners and pulled the solar blind tighter. This did leave a small hole in the mesh from where the female fastener used to be. Notice, however, it is not a tear; rather, it is simply an opening that will I am sure close back in time (and if it doesn’t it will be hidden, at least in my case by the fastening cap that is yet to go on top.

As I was doing this I then replaced the solar screen on top of the female fasteners and then replaced the caps thereon.

Here is a picture from the outside of the same solar blind with the waves now removed.

And, this one from the inside providing a much clearer view now that the two waves are gone, even during a rain storm! Heck, even our family dog likes it!

It really took no time at all for all this, perhaps 10 minutes in total if that much. I guess this solar blind product really is E Z (sorry about the bad pun, I couldn’t resist!). 

To continue with this series of articles about exterior solar blinds, simply select this link to Part 9.