Tips to Installing Top Mount Window Blinds in a Cement Block House

Marking the Rail Location

• The first major step in installing top mount window blinds in a cement block house window is the same first step required with any other window type, which is marking where the holes need to be drilled to attach the blind rail. To do this, remove the blinds from the rail, which can generally be done by releasing clips or unscrewing small screws on the ends of the rail, and hold the rail against the top of the cement block window. Situate the rail toward the front of the window frame and use a pencil to mark where all of the screw holes hit.

Making the Holes

• Once you know where the holes must go to accommodate the blind rail, remove the rail from the window frame and make these holes in the cement block frame. In most instances, the directions provided with the blinds tell you how large of a bit to use to make pilot holes for the blinds, but if this information does not come with the blinds, use a drill bit just slightly smaller than the screws provided with the blinds. Make sure to use a masonry bit to get through the cement.

Anchoring

• When it comes to installing top mount window blinds in a cement block house, the most essential difference between the cement installation and a standard wood or drywall installation is the need for anchoring. Screws alone do not provide the support necessary to hold the rails in place in cement. Instead, install a masonry anchor into the pilot hole prior to screwing into the holes. Masonry anchors can be tapped into pilot holes with a hammer.

Installing

• Once you place masonry anchors into the window frame of a cement block house, you can install the rail for top mount blinds as usual. Simply hold the rail back up into place so that the screw holes line up with the holes in the anchors that you placed, and secure the rail with the screws that came with the blinds. With the rail secured, lift the top of the blinds into the rail and secure the blinds into the rail with the clips or screws on the rail’s ends.