How to Hang Blinds on Steel French Door

A metal French door is common, and some building codes require metal doors on outside walls. While they can be beautiful to look at, the homeowner faces a dilemma when she wants to hang blinds on the door. Previously, the only option to hang the blinds was to drill holes into the metal door. Unlike wood door holes, holes in metal doors are permanent. An alternative to drilling holes in the metal door is to install the blinds using magnets. A savvy home handyman can build a magnetic mounting board and hang the blinds successfully.

1-by-2 board, cut to the length of the blind, less 1/4 inch
3/4-inch fornster bit
3/4-inch rare earth magnets
3/4-inch flat washers
Electric drill
Blind hardware
Screws for blind hardware
Double-sided tape
Duct tape
Rubber-coated gripper fabric

Instructions

- 1
  Read the instructions for installation of the blinds. Familiarize yourself with the components of the mounting system. The magnetic headrail that you are going to build will accept the blind headrail on one side and attach to the door by magnets on the other. Typically, the magnetic headrail is a constructed of a 1-by-2 inch board. Ensure that there is enough room so that the hardware that comes with the blind can be mounted onto one of the wide sides of the 1-by-2 board. Cut the 1-by-2 board the same length as the blind headrail, minus 1/4 inch.
- 2
  Mark the placement of the hardware screws on one side of the board, according to the instructions that come with the blind. This is the side that will have the magnets installed. It is necessary to mark the screw placement on the magnet side to ensure the magnets and screws do not collide when you install the screws with the blind hardware. The blind hardware will be mounted on the opposite side.
- 3
  Draw a line perpendicular to the long edge of the magnet side of the 1-by-2 board, 1 inch from the long edge of the board. On this line, indicate a magnet placement every 2 inches, adjusting to accommodate the hardware screws. Place three magnets as close together as possible at the end that will correspond to the blind pull cords.
- 4
  Pre-drill the holes for the magnets and washers using a fornster bit. This bit cuts a hole with a flat inside bottom. Insert a washer into the hole and insert a magnet onto the washer. Do not try to force the magnets into the drilled holes by hammering, as they could shatter. If the hole is too small, make the hole a bit larger by re-drilling, using sides of the bit to enlarge the hole slightly. Stick a 3-inch piece of duct tape over this magnet to hold it in place. These magnets are very strong and can easily "jump" across the 2-inch distance between them on the headrail. Taping them down with a long piece of duct tape will help prevent this. Continue drilling holes and placing the washers and magnets.
- 5
  Cover the magnet side of the board with double-sided tape and cover the tape with rubber-mesh gripper fabric.
- 6
  Install the hardware on the opposite side of the board, per the manufacturer instructions.
- 7
  Position the board on the door just above the glass molding. The glass molding helps keep the board in place.
- 8
  Install the blind on the hardware, per the manufacturer instructions.

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