Blinds in glass – a convenient alternative to separately fitted roller blinds and Venetian blinds?

In the traditional approach the window is chosen first and the shading is matched to it afterwards. The roller blind or Venetian blind is then a separate component that may require guide rails, a box, a cassette, a drive and additional installation. The LuxComfort™ system combines the blind with the insulating glass unit. The window and the shading are designed as one solution and arrive on site as an integrated product.

This means fewer components to coordinate and no need to fit additional shading next to the window. The approach can be used both when building a house and when replacing windows in a flat. It works particularly well where a consistent look of the windows, fewer visible components and everyday ease of use matter.

One solution instead of several separate components

Separately fitted roller blinds and Venetian blinds can limit the inflow of light effectively, but they require additional components and installation work. Depending on the solution chosen, these include cassettes, guide rails, brackets, a drive and a control installation.

With internal shading, its effect on the look of the room and the space next to the window also has to be taken into account. External roller blinds and Venetian blinds can sit well with the building, but they remain exposed to wind, rain, snow, dirt and changing temperatures. Over time they need cleaning, maintenance or servicing.

In the LuxComfort™ system the blind sits inside the insulating glass unit. It takes up no space next to the window, needs no additional fitting to the wall or ceiling and stays protected against accidental damage. The light-control function is integrated with the glazing.

Ease of use and protection of the mechanism

Boxes, guide rails and cassettes can affect the look of the windows and of the whole building. With several or a dozen or so windows they become a permanent part of their surroundings. A blind integrated with the insulating glass unit stays hidden inside the glazing. It does not require any additional components to be installed next to the window and keeps the form of the whole solution simple. The benefit is visible from the inside too. The blind does not limit usable space and does not need to be fitted to the wall or ceiling.

This solution may be particularly interesting in modern houses, flats with large glazed areas and wherever a tidy look of the windows matters.

Protection of the mechanism and fewer everyday chores

Shading fitted on the outside is exposed to the weather and to dirt. For windows on higher floors, cleaning, maintaining or servicing it can be difficult. In the LuxComfort™ system the blind is protected inside the insulating glass unit. It has no direct contact with rain, snow, wind or the people using the room. This reduces everyday cleaning and lowers the risk of accidentally damaging the slats. The blind is controlled from inside the room. There is no need to open the window or reach for shading fitted next to it.

Three ways to control the blind

LuxComfort™ can be operated in three ways, depending on the user's needs.

• Control at the window – this is the simplest option. The user walks up to the window and controls the blind with a button.
• Remote control – a remote lets you operate one or many blinds from a chosen spot, for example from the sofa. This solution works well when the user wants to control the shading without walking up to each window.
• Control via HubComfort™ – HubComfort™ connects the system to the Wi-Fi network and the HomeComfort™ app. This allows the user to control the blind from a mobile device – wherever they are.

The app can be used to adjust the position of the blind, the amount of light and the level of privacy. HubComfort™ and the HomeComfort™ app are used to control the LuxComfort™ system.

It is not always about complete blackout

Controlling light does not have to mean covering the window completely. Many rooms need daylight, but not direct glare. At other times it matters more to keep privacy without cutting yourself off from the surroundings entirely.

A blind lets you adapt conditions to the situation. You can limit the amount of light, change its direction or screen the interior from view from outside. That is more flexible than choosing only between an uncovered and a fully covered window.

External shading may have the advantage where the priority is maximum protection against intense sunlight before the radiation even reaches the pane. LuxComfort™, on the other hand, may be a good choice where aesthetics, ease of use, protection of the mechanism and integration of the shading with the window are equally important.

What about the price?

The price of a blind alone cannot be reliably compared with the price of a complete window fitted with an integrated blind. The calculation has to take in the whole system, including:

• the insulating glass unit and the window,
• the type of shading,
• the box or cassettes,
• guide rails,
• drive and control,
• installation,
• later cleaning and maintenance.

LuxComfort™ is ordered as a single solution. The owner of a house or flat does not have to coordinate separate deliveries of the window and the shading, or fit a blind to finished glazing.

In simple projects an external roller blind may turn out to be the better option on price. However, when replacing windows, with large glazed areas or in a demanding project, it is worth considering not only the purchase price but also installation, ease of use and later upkeep of the whole system.

Do separately fitted roller blinds and Venetian blinds still make sense?

External roller blinds and Venetian blinds can still be the right choice when maximum solar protection, complete blackout or fitting shading without replacing the existing insulating glass unit matters most. Internal shading has its uses too. It can be matched to finished windows and room arrangements, although it takes up space next to the window and requires regular cleaning and maintenance.

LuxComfort™ answers the same needs in a different way. The blind is part of the insulating glass unit, stays protected inside the glazing and can be operated with a button, a remote control or the HomeComfort™ app connected to HubComfort™. So the point is not to replace all roller blinds and Venetian blinds with one solution. It is an additional option that can be considered as early as the window selection stage. LuxComfort™ shows that controlling light and privacy does not have to mean another component fitted next to the window. The blind can be integrated with the glazing, and it can be operated exactly as the user prefers – with a button, a remote control or an app.