Whether you are moving into a new house or want to spice up your home with a blind replacement, it can be daunting to think of the time, effort, and cost it would take to complete such a project. Some frugal homeowners may be wondering if it is cheaper to install their own blinds. To guide you to the right solution based on your unique skill, requirements, and budget, we have designed a pro and cons list on whether DIY blind installation is the right choice for you.
Thought Vs. The Reality in DIY Blind Installation
I Can Show Pride & Satisfaction in My Work
Pro: Homeowners who consider themselves savvy DIY masters may enjoy the pride and satisfaction that comes with DIY blind installation. If they complete the installation well, they can boast to their friends, family, and neighbors about their talent and skill, as well as get a deep sense of satisfaction every time they look up their blinds.
Con: Of course, there is a flip side to the coin. Say that the homeowner completes the installation poorly, such as chipping the wall, making a hole in the wrong spot, setting the blinds up crooked, or any other myriad of accidents that can easily happen, they will always notice. While they may not boast about a job well done to their peers, they will still think of their mistakes every time they look up.
I Will Learn New Skills
Pro: Any homeowner will tell you that designing and managing a home comes with a steep learning curve. Even experienced homeowners encounter new skills years or even decades later that they should know. If you are fond of learning everything about being a home craftsman, then a blind installation is a lovely chance to learn a new skill.
Con: Unfortunately, most homeowners must also balance a heavy schedule of work, family, chores, and somewhat of a social life. They certainly don’t want to spend all of their time working on their house and learning such new skills if it holds little interest to them. In this case, it is better to save that time and brain space for something else and leave the installation to the pros.
Installation Can Happen When I Want
Pro: As a busy homeowner, you may not want to take time off work or from your day-to-day life to wait around an installer’s schedule. Instead, you can perform the blind installation yourself whenever it suits you, whether on the weekend, after work, or at 2 a.m. when you can’t sleep. You could even perform it in chunks and just leave the rest of the materials sitting out until you have time to address it again.
Con: Time seems to be a shortage everyone perpetually suffers. If you are completing a DIY blind installation for the first time, it is recommended to set aside the better part of a day to complete it…and that’s for a single room. Doing the whole house could take days, forcing you to leave pieces of your project sitting out in an unsightly and sometimes dangerous manner.
When performing DIY projects, it is always wise to analyze the cost-benefit. Is it worth the time away from your family and friends to do this? Alternatively, could you make more money during this time at work than it would be to hire someone to complete the project?
There are Enormous Cost Savings
Pro: Yes, you can save a good chunk of money by completing the project yourself. If you are on a tiny budget or only have a single blind installation to finish, this may be the time to try your hand.
Con: There is a severe caveat to the above; you can have decent cost savings IF everything goes perfectly. A single slip of the hand could result in hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars of damage. Unfortunately, so much can go wrong when unfamiliar with the trade. You could:
- Measure your windows incorrectly
- Order the wrong blind size, color, or type
- Damage your blinds, windows, walls, or framing during the installation
Any of the above could result in more time and money than if you had hired a professional to complete the blind installation for you, AND you don’t have a warranty to fall back on.
Should I DIY By Blind Installation?
In total, for the right project and the right people, a DIY blind installation is possible. We recommend that you be confident in your skills, have all the necessary tools to complete the project already on hand, and have the time and patience to complete the project without getting frustrated.
However, if you have any doubts, lack of interest, little time, and zero passion about the topic, it would be in the best interest of you, your blinds, and your house to hire a trained professional to get it done quickly and efficiently.
Do It Right: Blind Installation by The Blind Guy
Do you want to save time, hassle, and money and receive a beautifully completed blind installation? At The Blind Guy of Tri-Cities, we sell and install window coverings for home and business owners in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas. To get a quote on your blind installation, please complete our contact form or give us a call today!
