Controls

Manual vs Solar Blinds for Hard-to-Reach Roof Windows

The right control option is mostly a question of reach. If you can comfortably touch the blind, manual is usually the sensible choice. If you cannot, solar changes how the window is used day to day.

Manual operation and the telescopic pole

A manual blind is moved by hand using the handle on the bottom bar. For a window you can reach standing up, that is all there is to it.

Where the window is higher — a stairwell, a vaulted ceiling, a window above a bed — a telescopic pole extends your reach so the blind can still be operated manually without climbing.

How the solar option works

The solar motorised upgrade replaces the handle with a small motor powered by a rechargeable battery. A compact solar panel on the blind keeps that battery topped up from the daylight coming through the window, so there is no wiring and no electrician.

An optional remote-control add-on is available separately; confirm the current option in the configurator when you order.

When solar is worth it

Solar earns its place when the window is genuinely awkward: high above a landing, over a stairwell, behind furniture, or in a room where the blind gets moved several times a day. It is also worth considering where reaching the window means standing on something.

For a window you can reach easily, manual is simpler, faster to produce and has less to go wrong.

Lead times — standard versus solar

Manual blinds are made and delivered in 3 working days depending on your fabric, frame colour and control option. Solar and motorised blinds take longer to produce: 10 working days.

Your cart shows the estimated delivery window for the exact blind you have configured before you check out.

Fitting either option

Both control options fit the same way, using the fixings supplied with the blind. Our installation guide and videos walk through it step by step.

Common questions

Does a solar blind need wiring?

No. The solar motorised upgrade runs on a rechargeable battery that is charged by a small solar panel on the blind, so no mains wiring or electrician is needed.

Is a remote control part of the solar blind?

The remote control is a separate optional add-on rather than part of the blind itself. Confirm the current option in the configurator when you order.

How much longer do solar blinds take?

Manual blinds are estimated at 3 working days and solar or motorised blinds at 10 working days. Your cart shows the estimate for your exact configuration before checkout.

Can I operate a high manual blind without a ladder?

Yes — a telescopic pole extends your reach so a high manual blind can be raised and lowered from floor level.

Keep exploring

VELUX® is a registered trademark of VKR Holding A/S. Bizzy Blinds is an independent supplier of aftermarket blinds compatible with VELUX roof windows and is not affiliated with VELUX.