Curtain rod and blind installation: measuring, fixing and cord safety

Inside fit or face fit?

An inside-fit blind sits within the window recess and looks neat, but the recess needs enough depth for the brackets and the window handles must not get in the way. Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the recess and use the smallest figure; measure the drop at both sides.

A face-fit blind or a curtain rod goes on the wall or architrave above and beyond the window. It blocks more light at the edges and hides an uneven recess. For curtains, a rod that extends past the frame lets the curtains stack clear of the glass when open.

What the brackets fix into

The fixing depends on what is above the window. A timber architrave or the window frame itself takes ordinary screws. Plasterboard above a window usually has a timber lintel or framing behind it; fix into that rather than relying on the sheet. Brick and rendered walls need a masonry drill bit and wall plugs sized for the bracket.

Long rods and heavy blockout curtains put a lot of load on the end brackets, so add a centre support on wide windows. If the wall material is unknown and the house was built before 1990, check it is not fibro that may contain asbestos before drilling; the NSW Government advises not to drill suspected asbestos.

Motorised blinds that need a new power point or hard-wired connection involve electrical wiring work, which needs a licensed electrician in NSW.

The cord safety rules for installers

Product Safety Australia says installers of blinds, curtains and window fittings must comply with the Competition and Consumer (Corded Internal Window Coverings) Safety Standard 2014. Under it, a corded covering must be installed so that “a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 mm or longer at less than 1,600 mm above floor level”.

• Install to the instructions on the packaging, and use any cord-safety components they specify.
• A cord cleat may not be installed lower than 1,600 mm above the floor.
• Cord guides lower than 1,600 mm must stay firmly attached under load and keep the cord from forming a loop.
• Do not remove the warning labels or swing tags.
• The installer attaches a tag with their name and contact details.

Even if you install a blind yourself, follow the same cord-safety steps. Keep cots, beds and furniture away from blind and curtain cords.

Blinds and curtains in a rental

NSW lists “installing or replacing an internal window covering” (it names curtains and removable blinds) and “installing cleats or cord guides to secure blind or curtain cords” among the minor changes a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. You still need to ask, and unless the landlord agrees to pay, the tenant usually pays.

If the landlord’s existing blinds are broken, that is a repair to report to the agent. NSW Fair Trading lists faded curtains or frayed cords as fair wear and tear, and missing or torn curtains as damage. In a strata building, the by-laws may also cover window coverings seen from outside.

Published installation prices

Airtasker publishes a combined task range for shelves and curtain rods. It is a national task total, not an hourly rate, and the blind or rod itself is extra.

For a quote, list each window with its width, the product and whether it is inside or face fit, and keep the brackets and instructions together. The same visit can often cover shelves and picture hanging; the TV mounting guide covers fixings for heavier items.