Canvasland · DIY outdoor blinds
Measuring guide and worksheet
Take this outside with a tape measure. Fill in a row for each blind, then type the numbers into the price tool at canvasland.co.nz/diy-blinds. Questions: +64 6 368 7930.
First, where does each blind fit?
Either way, the width you give us is the finished size of the blind: measure to the outside edges of where you want it. The side tracks are centred on the blind when you fit it, so a few millimetres either way is taken up there.
How to measure
- Decide where each blind fits: inside the posts, or past them on the face of the posts. Circle it on the sheet.
- Width: measure to the outside edges of where you want the finished blind, once along the top and once along the bottom. Write both down.
- You'll type in both widths, top and bottom. Openings are rarely square, and we make the blind to suit.
- Drop: measure from where the top track will fix, down to where you want the blind to finish, on the left side and the right side. Write both down.
- Put a level on the top of the opening, where the track will go. Tick the box on the sheet once it's level. If it isn't, ring us before you order.
- Everything in millimetres. A blind 2.4 m wide is 2400. Don't round up.
- Take a photo of the whole opening with the tape or an A4 sheet in the shot. You'll attach one photo per blind when you order.
The photo
- Stand back far enough to get the whole opening in, posts and all.
- Daylight, not flash. Straight on, not from an angle.
- If something is in the way, a downpipe, a light, a step in the floor, get it in the photo and mention it in that blind's notes.
Sizes we make: width 600–4200 mm, drop 600–3000 mm, up to 4 blinds per order. Bigger, or more? Ring us.
Worksheet
One row per blind. Circle your choices; write the measurements in millimetres.
| Blind | Fits | Width top | Width bottom | Drop left | Drop right | Top level | Fabric | Screws to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ○ Inside the posts○ Past the posts | mm | mm | mm | mm | ☐ | ○ Clear PVC○ Sunscreen mesh | ○ Timber○ Steel or aluminium○ Brick, block or concrete |
| 2 | ○ Inside the posts○ Past the posts | mm | mm | mm | mm | ☐ | ○ Clear PVC○ Sunscreen mesh | ○ Timber○ Steel or aluminium○ Brick, block or concrete |
| 3 | ○ Inside the posts○ Past the posts | mm | mm | mm | mm | ☐ | ○ Clear PVC○ Sunscreen mesh | ○ Timber○ Steel or aluminium○ Brick, block or concrete |
| 4 | ○ Inside the posts○ Past the posts | mm | mm | mm | mm | ☐ | ○ Clear PVC○ Sunscreen mesh | ○ Timber○ Steel or aluminium○ Brick, block or concrete |
Blind 1: notes and extras
Doorway zip? powder-coated track? 50 × 50 aluminium posts? Anything in the way?
Blind 2: notes and extras
Doorway zip? powder-coated track? 50 × 50 aluminium posts? Anything in the way?
Blind 3: notes and extras
Doorway zip? powder-coated track? 50 × 50 aluminium posts? Anything in the way?
Blind 4: notes and extras
Doorway zip? powder-coated track? 50 × 50 aluminium posts? Anything in the way?
When it arrives: fitting, in six
- Fix the top aluminium C-track across the top of the opening. Between posts, put in one centre screw only for now: once both ends are screwed off there's no way to slide the blind in.
- Slide the blind's roped top edge into the track from one end. Then straighten the track up, level, and screw it off working from the middle out.
- Slide a side track onto each roped side edge of the blind.
- Centre the side tracks so the blind sits taut, not tight. Too tight and the zips won't run.
- Screw the side tracks to the posts or wall.
- Unzip, roll the blind up by hand and hold it with the rolling clips.
Big blinds need two people: one to feed the rope into the track, one to take the weight. Kit: the blind, top and side aluminium C-track, rolling clips and screws. You bring a drill and a level.
Canvasland, Levin. +64 6 368 7930 · canvasland.co.nz/diy-blinds · Made to size means no returns on a cut blind. If your numbers and photo don't agree, we ring you before we cut.