Here at Sleepy Time Tracks our focus is always on how to block light coming in through window blinds, and shades. Our original L-Shaped Tracks have already helped thousands of people block the light along the sides of their blackout blinds, honeycomb shades, and more.
But to be painfully honest, if there is one area of improvement for our tracks, it was with Outside-Mount Roller Shades.
Problems with Outside Mount Roller Shades
Outside mount roller shades pose unique problems.
- In terms of light-leaking through the gaps are generally wider which lets more light in.
- In terms of privacy, prying eyes can see through the gaps.
- In terms of aesthetics often times the edges curl up.
Customers using these types of outside mounts tend to go through the trouble of finding a way to fix the problem such as using expensive curtains or taping something like a vertical blind slat on the edge so that it overlaps and covers the gaps.
Using curtains can change the entire look of a room and covering the gaps with other materials seems a bit tacky.
So we went to work on coming up with a solution for Outside-Mount Roller Shades.
Developing a Solution for Roller Shades with Outside Mounts
From what I’ve seen working in this industry for nearly 30 years is that most suppliers of window treatments do not offer a solution for outside mount applications.
The products out there are channels designed specifically for their inside-mount roller shades. These channels are made from metal and mounted to your wall with screws. They are difficult for the average homeowner to trim to size, and in many cases, require an expensive installer visit to have them mounted. Plus they are sold to work only with the manufacturer’s brand of shade products.
The bottom line is that nobody out there was making an after-market application for outside mount roller shades that could be installed by a homeowner. Plus when we dug a little deeper, the products being offered were made in China, but still carried a hefty price tag.
So when we were developing a solution we knew we needed to stick with our core principles of :
- Do-It-Yourself Installations
- Can be used in most outside-mount applications
- Material must be light, durable and easy to trim to length
- Must be made in the USA
- Must be affordable to the average consumer
- Must be backed by our 100% Guarantee
The Solution – Sleepy Time Track Roller Shade Side Channel
Many months and prototypes later we finally came up with a workable idea. It’s an idea we’ve been sitting on for while, but held off on pulling the trigger until now. We held off while our customers tested the new prototypes, and part of the testing was to make sure they could be used with the majority of existing roller blind applications.
We’re very happy to announce that the results are in! Our new U-Channels for outside mount roller shades passed our customers in-home testing with flying colors.
The first innovated solution for outside mounted roller shades – our roller shade side channel:
- Works on doors or windows
- Effectively blocks sun light
- Elegant design
- No more peeping Tom’s
- Easy to install
- Affordable
- Made in the USA
- Backed by our 100% Guarantee
- Patent Pending
What you get and how to install
- U-Channels come as a set of two
- They come in either 60″ or 72″ lengths
- They are designed to be trimmed on site with a pair of utility scissors or tin snips.
- They come in either a Removable (magnetic) or Permanent (special foam tape) version.
- Removable version uses magnetic tape to attach to your wall or trim and can be removed and reinstalled at your convenience.
- Permanent version uses a special foam tape to attach to your wall or trim. What makes it special is the adhesive we use. The side that is stuck to the channel is permanent and is not removable but the side that attaches to your wall is much more forgiving. It can be removed with little to no damage.
Sleepy Time Tracks have helped thousands of people across America, Canada, Europe and Australia get better sleep.
LOVE IT OR SEND IT BACK
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Questions? Look Here.
What do you mean by Channel?
The channel is a recessed pathway for the shades edge to follow as it opens and closes. The closer the shades edge to the back wall of the channel the more light can be blocked. I drew this to illustrate what I mean.
What's the difference between these Channels and your L-Tracks?
Our new U-Channel Strips are designed to work best with Outside Mount Roller Shades. Our L-Tracks are for most other blinds & shades.
Can I remove the channels without damaging my wall
The magnetic or removable version uses a very strong adhesive designed to withstand various temperature changes and will damage your wall when removing. For best results heat with a blow dryer first. The foam tape or permanent version you can remove with little to no damage to your wall. In either case you cannot restick them once removed.
What colors do the channels come in?
They are avalible in white with black on the inside to absorb light or black /black.
Can I paint the channels any color I want?
Absolutely Yes! You can paint them any color to match the decor.
Why is a single channel shipped as two pieces?
The side channels are ship in two pieces which require a little assembly. We do this because it is so much eaiser to trim to size.
How long will it the channels take to install
Plan on about 30 mins, but mostly like it will only take 15-20 minutes. You’ll need a pencil and some tin snips or kitchen shears. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW TO SEE HOW TO INSTALL