Can my existing blinds be motorised?
Motorised blinds are no longer a luxury, and you may not need to replace what you have. Many existing roller and vertical blinds can be retrofitted with a motor — the question is whether yours is a good candidate.
What can be retrofitted
Chain-operated roller blinds are the easiest to convert: a motor replaces the mechanism inside the existing tube. Verticals and some romans can be motorised too. The main limits are the tube diameter and the size and weight of the blind — very small or very large blinds sometimes need a different approach.
Battery, wired or solar
A rechargeable battery motor needs no wiring and charges every few months via USB. A wired mains motor is silent and never needs charging but requires a fused spur nearby. Some retrofit motors even take a small solar panel on the glass.
When replacing is the better value
If the fabric is tired, the blind is an awkward size, or you want app and voice control across the whole house, a new motorised blind with a smart hub is often the smarter spend. We will tell you honestly which route saves you money at the measure-up.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to motorise or replace a blind?
Retrofitting a motor to a sound blind is usually cheaper than a new motorised blind. If the fabric is worn or the size is awkward, replacing can be better value.
Do motorised blinds need wiring?
Not necessarily — rechargeable battery motors need no wiring and last months per charge. Wired mains motors are silent but need a nearby power supply.
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