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Blind installation on sliding door with transom window

4558 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  JulieAnn P
Hi guys, looking for some help in how people install vertical blinds on sliding doors that have a transom window above.

The sliding door is 7ft wide, so I don't think it would be ok to hand the blinds by the extremities only. Is it ok to drill the window frame? We want to install the blinds in between the transom window and the sliding door.

Thank you!

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the extremities only.
Absolutely do not do this! Vertical blinds need a support every 3 foot as a minimum. One way blinds need extra support on the stack end, where they are when opened.


Vertical blinds are heavy.



Most door units are vinyl now and mounting to the space between is not secure enough. It may well damage the door and or hurt people when it falls.


If the transom and the door are separate units and there is framed structure between the 2 then it would be okay. Ask the builder.


Otherwise you have no choice other than to go over the transom on the wall and into structure.
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If the transom and the door are separate units and there is framed structure between the 2 then it would be okay. Ask the builder.
Unfortunately they are not separate, I was on site when they installed the sliding door/transom and it came in as a single unit from the manufacturer. I'm positive there's no framing between them, unfortunately.

I'm going to look for different alternatives to the vertical blinds, in order to allow light in from the transom window... thanks for the quick reply!
I’d be very surprised if there was nothing in the space between doors top and bottom of window to attach to. That space looks like 7-8”.....and not likely it is all just hollow vinyl....or whatever the interior finish is. Read the specifications taped to the glass panel in your pix....and check with the installer. But as stated doing both extremities only wuold be a bad idea. One other idea would be to just cover that in-between space with a box and install the blinds in that. Google wooden box valance for blinds sliding doors or the like for pix
If you install another frame that can stand the weight, metal angle or such, extruded aluminum(?), screw this into the house frame, not into the door material, and install the blind on the new? Dedicated valance hides both?
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I assume you do not want to cover the transom with blinds? Because that would be the easy button.

Otherwise, I'd mount a 7' flat bar across the entire doorway as blinds support.
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A 2" x 2" x 1/8" piece of angle iron, supported only at the ends will hold quite a bit of weight. Paint it wall color.
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So I thought in drilling holes at the aluminum cover and fitting a jack nut every 3 feet. Before doing anything, I contacted the sliding door manufacturer and they pointed out that drilling the mullion (that's what they call it) would void the warranty. Also that they never tested it under those circumstances, so there's no guarantee it would be leak-free. That space between transom and door really is hollow.

Therefore we are either going with the extruded aluminum/angle iron method, fixed by the extremities for support, or we are just settling for sheer drapes and call it a day.

thanks for all the help to everyone!
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Hi guys, looking for some help in how people install vertical blinds on sliding doors that have a transom window above.

The sliding door is 7ft wide, so I don't think it would be ok to hand the blinds by the extremities only. Is it ok to drill the window frame? We want to install the blinds in between the transom window and the sliding door.

Thank you!
yes,
you are right, you can't do this.blinds are in heavyweight. they need to support. door width is larger so it is not possible.
take a builder help
Hi guys, looking for some help in how people install vertical blinds on sliding doors that have a transom window above.

The sliding door is 7ft wide, so I don't think it would be ok to hand the blinds by the extremities only. Is it ok to drill the window frame? We want to install the blinds in between the transom window and the sliding door.

Thank you!
Personally, I'd just install a alidimg door with the blinds built in to the door.
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