Blinds, Curtains and Window Treatments: what a handyman does
A handyman can hang curtain rods, blinds and shades you have bought, fastened into studs or the right anchors and set level. We can also help make existing cords safer. Custom drapery fabrication, measuring-and-ordering from a dealer, and hardwired motorized shades are for a window treatment dealer or a licensed electrician.
Jobs we take on
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- Install curtain rods and brackets into studs or with anchors rated for the drapery weight
- Mount blinds and shades inside or outside the window frame and set them level
- Hang heavy lined drapery on a center-supported rod
- Install tension devices on looped bead chains or nylon cords
- Mount cord cleats or cord winders high on the wall, out of a child's reach
- Replace a bracket that pulled out of the wall and patch the damaged spot
- Remove old blinds or rods and fill the screw holes before repainting
- Rehang a blind or shade that has come loose from its brackets
Signs it is time to call
- A curtain rod is sagging or has pulled out of the wall, taking drywall with it
- Blinds hang crooked even after you adjust the cords
- Corded blinds or shades are in a room where a child or toddler sleeps or plays
- A crib, bed or climbable furniture sits close to a window with a cord
- The blinds are old and have a loose inner cord that can form a loop
What is not a handyman job
Custom drapery, Roman shades and other made-to-measure treatments are made by a window treatment dealer or workroom. Hardwired motorized shades need new wiring from a licensed electrician. Replacing the window itself goes to a window contractor. If a cord problem cannot be fixed with a safety device, replacing the product with a cordless one is the safer answer.
Plumbing, electrical and roofing go to licensed independent contractors.
What a visit looks like
- Please have the treatment, rod and hardware with you so we can check that the brackets and fasteners suit the weight.
- We measure and mark the height and level before drilling, and confirm the placement with you.
- Where children live or visit, tell us so cord safety is planned in from the start.
- Dust and any patching of old holes are cleaned up before we leave.
Common questions
Are cordless blinds really safer?
Yes. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit, and says that about once a month a child dies from window cord strangulation. It lists pull cords, looped chains, Roman shade inner cords and roll-up blind loops as hazards. Moving cribs and beds away from windows also helps.
Can older blinds be made safer?
Partly. CPSC says most blinds sold before November 2000 have inner cords that can form a loop, and the Window Covering Safety Council offers a free repair kit. The kit does not address dangling pull cords. Tension devices help with looped chains, and replacing old corded blinds with cordless ones is what CPSC recommends.
Why does my curtain rod keep pulling out of the wall?
Usually the brackets are held by small plastic anchors, which suit light items under about 25 pounds. A long rod with lined drapes weighs more than that. Fastening into a stud, or using toggle or molly anchors, holds better, and an extra center bracket takes load off the ends of a long span.
Do you measure and order blinds?
We install what you have bought. For made-to-measure blinds, shades and drapery, a window treatment dealer measures and orders so the fit is theirs to stand behind. If you are unsure whether to mount inside or outside the frame, we can look at the window and talk through how each one would sit.