I have been asking the same question in another thread here:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/windows/msg0523452525750.html

I wish window dealers would TELL US about the possible problem installing blinds with these new type of windows when we order. Not everyone wants curtains in their kitchen.

In this thread a person was told by the window dealer that blinds would not work with certain types of new windows:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/windows/msg1213470720129.html

There has to be some sort of solution..............

The problem is that most of the nicer treatments are for installing "inside" the window frame (that I've seen). That's a problem if you have no where to mount these things. All I have is moulding around what now is a flush mounted replacement window. My guess is the only solution is to go to the outside mounting, but that creates another problem for me because of possible clearances.

I can tell this is a well-traveled forum. Geessshhh!

bud, I agree window dealers and builders should warn people. In this house we built 5 years ago, we have vinyl windows and there is ample room...but we hate these windows.
In the house we are going to have built now, we have decided to do 2x6 walls. On another forum, I was told to still order the windows for 2x4 walls or we would have the same problem. I am going to call Marvin and see for sure.

Yep, I'm in a confused state, for sure. The only place the mount is over the window or on the top of the window moulding, and I can't decide which is gonna look worse. Geessshhh!! I like the new windows, but they leave little in the way of decorating options, for sure.

Mounting them to the casing is a pretty easy process and can be shimmed to hang the blind in a manner that is square to the wall. There are also some offset brackets that will allow to convert what is considered and outside mount to an inside fit.

WindowsonWashington - I don't understand how that helps with the problem discussed in this thread of new windows not having enough room, enough depth - i.e. the new windows' interior casing is too shallow to allow the space for the blind's bracket to be hung. I have posted about this issue before, and have not seen a solution other than to forego blinds hung on the inside of the frame.

I looked up offset brackets but cannot understand how these would work. I'm not thrilled with having to attach the brackets that I have to the molding around the windows but it seems like this is my only reasonable option. And I may have to order wider blinds (possibly?).

I would not attach anything to the window itself. I would do an exterior mount if they do not make an offset bracket.

We had to mount blinds on the trim around the window, not what I wanted to do but there was no other option and didn't want them mounted above the trim. It has worked fine, my only complaint is the clearance issue then for regular curtain rods mounted to the walls above or outside window frames so most of my windows don't have any drapes.

I have seen some blinds that attach with a tension rod for inside mounting when you don't want to drill holes. Not sure how much space is needed for them, but if its something like cellular blinds this may be an option.

Thanks for everyone's input. I think I will do a test drive, so to speak, and try to figure out how to shim the brackets on the window molding.

I just researched blinds on tension rods. I guess you just buy a tension rod and run it through the hole in the top rod of the blind. I don't know if my new windows will allow enough room to install mini blinds this way, but it may be an option for other people.

We have this exact same problem. We were never told by the company owner when we ordered the windows that they would be thicker than the new ones. Similarly the installer never mentioned this or the fact that our blinds would likely not fit back in. Now we have maybe 1 inch on the inside which is not enough to mount our existing blinds (some of which we just got a few months ago before we knew we needed new windows)

Any solution ideas would be greatly appreciated. We cannot be the first people who have wood blinds that replaced builder basic vinyl windows with a nicer vinyl window.

1" should be enough to pick up the framing of the opening and get the bracket to bolt in. Depending on the blind, they make extension brackets as well. How about a picture of the blind and bracket?

I just ran into the same problem; the only solution I see to reinstall 2" blinds is to remove the trim and fur out 1" and reinstall. Not the solution I was hoping for. Ugh!

Was anyone able to come up with a solution? Post pics if you have them please.

One way to get a bit better fit. Drill two new screw holes in the top back-side of the plastic blind holders supplied. There are no screw holes there. Use screws to attach this plastic holder up, to the top, inside trim That covers the vinyl face. Go up through the bottom of the 1/2 inch wood trim that is used to finish the window installation. Thus you do not attach through the vinyl. This allows the blind to set back a little farther to look better.

I just came across the same issue...I followed the advice from above and drilled new holes in the corner of the bracket; works great! Thanks for the idea!!!

I like what you did.. but like my window trim is not flat.. it is gradually tilted inward toward the inside of the window.. So would I have trouble keeping it at a 90 degree angel from the window/wall surface?

oh my gosh. How is there not a solution to this problem? I've just had windows replaced and tried to re-hang my blinds. How did I not know about this issue? And after all these years, is there really not an easy fix?

Same issue here with replacement vinyl double hung windows. Nothing is ever simple!

I have the same issue you are all having and it's so frustrating to realize this after the fact. We had a window installed where there was not an existing window and the contractor did not leave enough room for any kind of window treatment. It is flush with the wall and ridiculous. We have a modern house and I use the solar shades from The Shade Store which look really nice and seamless once installed. I have no idea what I will do now. I was hoping to find a solution in this forum.

Has anyone found a solution to this?? Wondering if mounting the blinds to the vinyl window casing would work or if that would just cause more problems 🥴

instill have my temporary paper blinds up because I can not figure out what to do?! I had my mind set in cellular shades but not sure how this will be possible. My new windows are flush with the wall!

Post pictures. You should NOT be screwing into the window in any capacity.

The only acceptable solution I've found is to drill into the vinyl casing and installed the inside mount blind that way. We have Atrium vinyl windows and this will void the warranty. But with only 1 year of warranty left, I'm not gonna worry about it.

Had I realized this upfront, I would have done a better job on my homework and would have chosen a different vinyl window mfg. Window World in my area will allow you to drill and mount on the vinyl casing without voiding the warranty. But that is 20/20 hindsight.

So a couple days ago we finally got tired of living in a fish bowl and ordered blinds for the recently renovated first floor.

My house is early an early 1960's brick home. I replaced the windows last week and had the same problem finding mini blinds that fit. I did, eventually, find that Hampton Bay mini blinds fit perfectly and were very easy to install.

As an update, we had the blinds professionally installed and the installers did NOT drill into the replacement windows. Instead, they put the screws right into the overhead piece of trim right above the window and the blinds installed without issue.

I should have thought to taken a picture of how they did it.

Pictures please!!

Same issue for us! remodeling a home we just moved into and bought awesome windows but zero ability to reinstall all the beautiful wood blinds! In tears because we are out money for window coverings and could not donate the blinds to Habitat because of the cords. They went into a dumpster!!

They make offset brackets and they could have been surface mounted to the trim in most cases.

WE FOUND A SOLUTION!

My husband drilled new holes in the bracket further back starting with 1/16" and going to 5/32" in 32" increments. The brackets are made of spring steel and do not drill like a normal piece of metal. You can also use a step drill bit if you have one. The new holes were just enough to catch on the trim. We pushed the bracket against the window casing to get as much clearance as possible.

Just know we trashed 5 drill bits doing this and completely broke one, but replacing drill bits was still cheaper than putting up all new trim that was thicker to accommodate the brackets.

Window World in SC actually lied to us prior to our purchase of 13 new vinyl windows. I asked the sales girl about reusing our existing custom blinds and she said "should be no problem at all" . 2 years later we are still using temporary cellular blinds to cover the windows. They adhere to the top inside and are lightweight but not long lasting.

We just installed new Pella windows as a replacement for all our older original windows in the house. I have the same problem as the original poster. When mounting to the wood frame around the window, there are wide spaces where no blind covers the window and the blind sticks out at an uncomfortable distance. It’s like not having blinds up at all and the blind suddenly is too small for the space allowed. I may try the extension rod idea, but I believe these blinds are too heavy for that type installation. Beware when buying new windows and expecting your blinds to just pop right on the new install. Ask prior to purchasing.