Questions re. blind installation and finishing

Residents are reminded that blinds can only be installed over our new windows by a Strata approved contractor. Three have now been approved by your Residential Committee for blind re-installation.  Cityscape Maintenance Services (contact Tony Dohaniuk at (778) 385-1976) and JJK Developments (contact Jason Kump at jjkdevelopments@shaw.ca) were approved earlier this year (see pacpoint2.ca/2021/04/29/window-blind-re-installation/). Shine-A-Blind (contact Peter Rode at 604-455-9974 or online at shineablind.ca) was added just this week. All three have been instructed on how to install without puncturing the rainscreen or voiding the window warranty. Both Cityscape and Shine-A-Blind can also supply new blinds.

What if we do not want to use one of the Strata approved contractors to install our blinds?

Residents are free to use their own contractor to reinstall blinds provided the strata lot owner agrees to signing an indemnity agreement and to a post-installation inspection. This is especially pertinent for owners wishing to replace their existing blinds with new ones, since Cityscape Maintenance Services (Tony Dohaniuk), who has taken down many of the blinds in the building, will not install new blinds purchased from a third party. An inspection will typically cost about $100 per unit, and is dependent on the number of blinds and ease of inspection. To facilitate access, we ask owners to not install the facia (decorative cover) over their newly installed blinds until after the inspection.

How difficult can it be to properly install blinds?

Nothing should be attached to the windows, so as to not void the warranty.

Special care must be taken when attaching blinds to the metal Cover Caps above the newly installed windows to avoid puncturing the rainscreen membrane (refer to details below).

METHOD A
Existing blinds may be rehung using this method, using screws and structural silicone, though it is not as secure as METHOD B, below. New window coverings should only be hung using METHOD B.

• Structural silicone should be used to secure the mounting hardware to the underside of the metal cover cap.
• Mounting screws must not exceed 5/8” in length.
• The shaft of the screws must fall within 1/2” of the outside vertical face of the Cover Cap.
• Nothing should penetrate the bottom (horizontal) face of the Cover Cap beyond 1/2” of the side (vertical) Cover Cap face.

METHOD B
Recommended installation for new window coverings, and for more secure reinstallation of existing blinds.

• Structural silicone should be used to secure a 3/4″ x 3″ wood strip to the full length of the underside of the metal cover cap.
• Mounting screws securing the wood strip to the cover cap must not exceed 1-1/4” in length.
• The shaft of the screws must fall within 1/2” of the outside vertical face of the Cover Cap.
• Nothing should penetrate the bottom (horizontal) face of the Cover Cap beyond 1/2” of the side (vertical) Cover Cap face.
• Blind hardware can then be mounted to the wood strip using maximum 3/4″ long wood screws.

Who is responsible for painting and final finishing after windows have been installed?

Owners are responsible for their own painting and final finishing. Our contract with JJK, the company responsible for drywall finishing and trim after window installation, is only to finish to a “paint-ready state”. This is because units do not all have the same wall finishing (e.g. different colours, wallpaper).

What recourse do I have if I am not happy with the window installation or the quality of the finishing?

There is a process for dealing with both window and finishing deficiencies. Owners should email Cam Caruthers at cam.carruthers@fsresidential.com. He will then make arrangements for an inspection of the work and possible remedies.