
Roller Blinds - Urbanshade and Skye thermal fabric ranges
Urbanshade Birch (3902)
..."Our popular Urbanshade thermal roller blinds range is a 100% Polyester block out fabric with an acrylic suede backing. A great feature of the Urbanshade roller blind range is its thermal insulation properties. Blinds crafted from this range offer excellent thermal insulation as it is one of the heaviest weight fabrics available. The Urbanshade range is available in ten fashionable colours to suit any décor! It’s a soft and supple fabric that presents beautifully on any window within your home".
Testimonial
We have hung the blinds and they look really nice. Many thanks for your prompt and friendly service.
I will definitely be wanting to purchase from Rods and Blinds Direct again in the near future as we work our way through renovating our home.
Once again many thanks from a very happy customer. Kind regards.
Measuring Guide
- How do I measure for blinds?
It’s something that we get asked how to do all the time, so you will be happy to know our easy-to-follow guide has all your bases covered. Here’s everything you need to know for our New Zealand windows.
- Reach for your metal tape measure - its the very best tool for the job.
- You only need to know the width and the drop (length) - its that easy.
- You will need to select between the three options for fitting...
1) Measuring for Inside Fitting Blinds
- Step 1: Measure the width of the inside of the frame; across the top, bottom and middle. Write down the smallest of the three measurements.
- Step 2: Measure the drop (length) of the inside of the frame across the left, middle and right. Write down the smallest of the three.
- Step 3: Check that you have enough clear space inside the window to mount the blind. you will need 60 mm for a single roller blind and 100 mm for a double roller blind.
- Step 4: When ordering your blind, select the “inside (Frame)” option.
- Step 5: When ordering your blind, select “front roll” option. This means that the fabric will roll off the front of the roll to avoid any latches, or other hardware inside the frame.
Important Tip for Inside Fitting Roller Blinds
Take into account that you are measuring for the placement of the brackets, not the width of the fabric. On a roller blind, the fabric will be approximately 32 mm narrower than the width you order (to allow for the operating mechanism and brackets). Remember to take no deductions off the width and height measurements, but to record the exact size in the width and height boxes on our website.2) Measuring for Outside Fitting Blinds:
- Step 1: Measure the outside of your window recess from one side to the other. You should be starting and finishing where you want the outside edges of the brackets to be.
- Top Tip: For best results allow your blind to overlap the edges of the recess by at least 50 mm on each side. - ensuring that you have enough space to accommodate the suggested overlap.
- Step 2: Measure your recess from top to bottom, starting from where you want the brackets to be and ending where you want the bottom of the blind to be.
- Step 3: When ordering your blinds, select the “outside” fit option.
- Step 4: When ordering your blinds, select back roll. This means that the fabric will roll off the back of the roll to ensure the fabric stays close to the architrave for maximum privacy and light control.
3) Measuring for Blinds to be Mounted on an Architrave
- Step 1: Measure across from outside edge of architrave to outside edge of architrave. Again, you should be starting and finishing where you want the outside edge of the brackets to be this will be your width measurement
- Step 2: Measure from the top to the bottom of your archtrave, this will be where your blind brackets sits at the top and where the bottom of your blind finishes - this will be your height measurement.
- Step 3: When ordering your blinds select the “Architrave” fit option.
- Step 4: When ordering your blinds select the “back” roll option. This means the fabric will roll off the back of the roll to ensure the fabric stays close to the architrave for maximum privacy, light control and better insulation.
Important Tip Architrave Roller Blinds
Take into account that you are measuring for the placement of the brackets, not the width of the fabric. On a roller blind, the fabric will be approximately 32 mm narrower than the width you order (to allow for the operating mechanism and brackets).
The old adage 'Measure Twice, Cut Once' holds true even today. To help you correctly measure and specify the design of your Blinds, Curtain rods, Venetian Blinds and Ready Made Curtains, we have prepared the following guide. Please see below for some of the more commonly asked questions, if you need more information please call or email us. Click on each title to read more - Which way should my blinds roll?
There are two ways your roller blinds may roll - either front roll or back roll.
Front Roll
This is where the fabric rolls off the front of the blind. This is the usual way a blind will roll when it is fitted inside the frame. We recommend this way for nearly all applications - especially if your window has aluminium window joinery.
Back Roll
This is where the blind rolls off the back of the blind. This is the usual way a blind will roll when it is exact or fitted on the outside of the frame. - Can we link roller blinds in the same window?
Yes, it is possible to link blinds in the same window. Please see specific questions below and refer to our linked blind page.
FAQs
- How long will my order take to be delivered?
We usually take between seven to twelve working days to process orders for sunscreen blinds, blackout roller blinds, venetian blinds, curtain rods and tracks and ready made curtains. If there is a delay ,you will be notified at time of placing your order. If you require your order by a certain date, please let us know and we will do our best to meet your deadline.
On our Easy-Fit curtain track range , we have same day dispatch on your order. As long as we receive your order by 1pm it will be dispathed that day . Delivery is usually the next day for most North Island customers and three days for most of the South Island. Our three day dispatch blinds will be sent within three working days. - My window is wider than the maximum width?
This is quite a common problem. Your window will require two blinds. Please contact us or phone us on 0800 763 748 so we can discuss the best options with you.
- What is three day dispatch?
Three day dispatch means that this particular item will be dispatched within three full working days of receiving your payment. Orders that consist of both three day dispatch and standard delivery products will all be processed at the standard delivery times.
Reviews

Easy online ordering and process to follow. Look fantastic.
Posted on 22nd September 2020 by Gaelene from Takanini
Second time I have ordered roller blinds and have been very happy with them. Very fast all round from ordering to delivery also were packed with care. :-)
Posted on 3rd June 2020 by Judy from Ngaruawahia
Excellent roller blind, great fabric and it looks in place. Thanks to all the team..
Posted on 2nd June 2020 by Patrick from Lower Hutt
I ordered 4 sets of blinds and will be ordering more as we renovate the rest of our house. The product quality, service and correspondence was fantastic. I was surprised our delivery arrived prior to the lockdown. Rods and Blinds obviously went above and beyond to get them out in time.
Posted on 1st April 2020 by Trish from Christchurch
Great communication and blinds fit perfect!
Posted on 16th February 2020 by Matt from Auckland
Love the new roller blinds ... will be back for more!
Sean I learnt so much about roller blinds from talking with you; your personalized service was awesome ... see you again :-)
Thanks so much.

Staff very pleasant and a prompt service from ordering to receiving blinds Am very very pleased with the thermal blinds we received
Posted on 6th July 2019 by Adrienne from Wanganui
Thank you very much. The blinds look great, are very good value for money, and when there was a delay, you let me know. you also credited me with the special discount at the time, when I missed inputting it at the time of the order. Excellent service, and I will recommend.
Posted on 9th June 2019 by Rosemary from Masterton
great service as usual
Posted on 14th May 2019 by David from Christchurch
Easy ordering, good price, quick delivery, easy to install and great quality!
Posted on 26th February 2019 by Jennifer from AucklandThe samples allowed us to chose the perfect blind for us. Once we measured our window (using the great instructions Rods & Blinds gave us) our blinds arrived in less then a week and fit our window perfectly! Would definitely use again!
Posted on 30th July 2018 by Grace from WellingtonThis is the 2nd batch of blinds I bought from Rods and Blinds They’re really good quality roller blinds and I’m very happy with them. The 1st batch are still working and looking new even after a few years.
Posted on 11th March 2018 by J from Palmerston NorthI have just (easily) installed, all on my own, my 2.4m wide roller blind- crystal clear and fool-proof instructions, the beautifully-made and reasonably-priced blind fits perfectly! Thrilled, only wish I had got it sooner, it makes such a difference in my west-facing kitchen on these scorching summer afternoon. Thank you!
Posted on 2nd March 2018 by Fleur from HamiltonSo pleased with all our Blinds! Great customer service. When I rang they seemed to want to help. Excellent web site for ordering. Definitely recommend Rods and Blinds and will be using them again soon!
Posted on 1st November 2017 by Karen from AucklandHave ordered four times now. Three of these orders I have had issues with. PBT will not deliver large blinds via rural delivery - this needs to be told to clients ordering. Even though we have paid $15 foreign rural delivery, we have had to pick up orders ourselves. Also, no one ever replies to emails or phonecalls. I believe the three day dispatch is bollocks,
Posted on 26th October 2017 by Chris from Matamata