● Integral Blinds / Essex
Integral blinds.
Sealed in the glass.
Blinds that live between the panes of your bifold doors, patio doors and windows. They never gather dust, there are no cords to worry about, and they never get in the way when the doors fold back.
From £195 per pane · 6 colours · Manual or motorised · FENSA registered
FENSA
Registered installer
10-Year
Insurance-backed guarantee
25+ Years
Fitting Essex homes
4.9★
Google reviews
● Price up your blinds
● Instant quote
Step 1 / 3
First up, what are you looking at?
0
Dusting, ever
0
Cords or chains
6
Slat colours
1
Fixed, itemised price
● Why integral blinds
The best blinds for bifold doors are the ones you never have to touch
/ 01
Never need dusting
The slats sit sealed inside the double glazed unit, so dust, grease and kitchen splashes simply can't reach them. No wiping, no washing, ever.
/ 02
No cords, child & pet safe
There are no dangling cords or chains, which removes a real hazard for young children and stops pets chewing or tangling them.
/ 03
Doors fold freely
Normal blinds catch, bend and rattle when bifold or French doors open. Integral blinds move with the glass, so the doors fold back exactly as they should.
/ 04
Privacy at the slide of a finger
Tilt the slats for privacy while still letting light in, or drop them fully in the evening. Perfect for kitchens, bathrooms and street-facing rooms.
/ 05
Cooler rooms in summer
Closed slats reflect strong sun before it heats the room, a big help in south-facing extensions and garden rooms with large glass areas.
/ 06
Allergy friendly
Because they never collect dust, pollen or pet hair, integral blinds are a great choice for asthma and allergy sufferers.
● How they work
A blind built into your double glazing
The blind is made inside the sealed glass unit at the factory, then fitted into your frame like any other pane. The unit is still argon filled and A-rated, so you lose nothing on warmth. Choose how you want to control it:
Magnetic slider
Most popularA neat slider on the edge of the glass raises, lowers and tilts the blind through a magnet. No holes in the unit, nothing to break.
Tilt only
SimplestThe blind stays down and you simply tilt the slats open or closed. The cleanest look for doors and smaller windows.
Motorised
PremiumRechargeable or solar-powered motors with a wall switch or remote. Ideal for tall bifolds, high windows and roof lanterns.
● Where they fit
Windows with built in blinds, and doors too
Integral blinds can be added to almost anything we glaze, in uPVC or aluminium. Add them when you order new doors or windows, or ask us about swapping the glass in the frames you already have.
● Compare
Integral blinds vs ordinary bifold blinds
| Integral blinds | Frame-fitted blinds | Curtains / roller | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gathers dust | Never | Yes | Yes |
| Cords or chains | None | Usually none | Often |
| Gets in the way of folding doors | Never | Sometimes | Yes |
| Can be bent or damaged | No, sealed in glass | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning | Just the glass | Slats by hand | Slats by hand |
| Looks | Invisible when raised | Visible frame | Bulky |
● Prices
How much do integral blinds cost?
| Integral blind added to a new window, manual | From £195 per pane |
| Sliding patio door, 2 panes, manual | From £495 |
| 3 panel bifold doors, manual | From £750 |
| Motorised integral blind | From £395 per pane |
| Retrofit: new sealed unit with blind, in your existing frame | From £325 per pane |
| Slat colours: white, silver, grey, anthracite, cream, black | Included |
Guide prices for the blind upgrade, on top of the door or window. Your exact price depends on glass size and control type, and is fixed after a free survey. Planning bifolds too? See our bifold doors cost guide.
● Questions answered
Integral blinds FAQs
What are integral blinds?
Integral blinds are venetian blinds built inside a sealed double glazed unit, between the two panes of glass. You control them with a magnetic slider on the edge of the glass or a small motor, so the blind itself is never touched, never gets dusty and can't be damaged.
Do integral blinds block out light?
They block most light when fully closed and are excellent for privacy and cutting glare, but they are not a total blackout. A little light gets through between the slats and around the edges, similar to a good quality venetian blind.
Can integral blinds be fitted to my existing bifold or patio doors?
Often, yes. If your frames are in good condition we can replace the glass units with new sealed units that have the blinds built in. We check the frame depth and glass size at a free survey and tell you straight away if it's possible.
Can I have integral blinds in uPVC bifold doors?
Yes. Integral blinds work in both uPVC and aluminium bifold doors, sliding patio doors, French doors and windows. They are fitted as part of the glass, so the frame material makes little difference.
Do integral blinds affect energy efficiency?
No, the units are still argon filled and A-rated. In summer, closing the slats actually reflects sun away and keeps rooms cooler, which is a big bonus in glass extensions.
What happens if a blind stops working?
Integral blinds are very reliable because nothing can knock or tangle them. If one ever fails, the sealed unit is replaced and the frame stays as it is. Every unit we fit is covered by our guarantee.
Can manual integral blinds be changed to motorised later?
Not usually, because the motor is built into the sealed unit. If you think you may want motorised blinds, especially on tall doors or hard-to-reach windows, it's best to choose them from the start.
How much do integral blinds cost?
As a guide, adding integral blinds to a new window starts from around £195 per pane, a 3 panel bifold set from around £750 and motorised blinds from around £395 per pane. We give you a fixed, itemised price after a free survey.
Integral blinds fitted across Essex
Our own team surveys and fits integral blinds, bifold doors and windows in every Essex town, including: