How to hang outdoor blind securely?

[Koatrexy]

Well I thought I had used the perfect thing to hang my Windoware Outdoor blind from the bottom of my balcony to give privacy to the covered area underneath. Yes, these cable ties will fit through those three screw-sized holes and wrap around balcony bars and the blind will hang beautifully.

Which it did for four days.

It is now hanging by the one remaining cable tie which, naturally, is holding strong and refusing to snap like its comrades.

What would be best instead do you think?  Thin chain or something like that? Something that will last outside for longer. Much longer would be great. My DIY knowledge ended at cable ties, I’m afraid.  
Thoughts appreciated. 

[KatieC]

Hi @Koatrexy,

First, let me extend a warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community! It is wonderful you have joined and thank you for asking about securing your outdoor blinds. 

Our resident DIY expert @EricL will be online later this afternoon, but let me tag in a few of our Workshop members @Jewelleryrescue, @TedBear, and @Remarka6le  to see if they have suggestions. To help with the best advice possible, would you please post some photos of your window and blinds? 

Feel free to ask the community home improvement questions at any time, we are always here to help.

Katie

[EricL]

Hello @Koatrexy 

Allow me to welcome you as well to the Bunnings Workshop community. Your suggestion of using chains to hang the blind is actually a good idea. However, would it be possible for you to post a photo of the area where you are hanging the outdoor blind. This will give our members a chance to assess the mounting area. We can then make recommendations on possible ways to hang your blind.

For the meantime, I suggest getting a Stanley Knife and cutting the remaining cable tie so that the blind will not accidentally fall and hurt someone. 

Please make sure to wear personal protection such as gloves and goggles when working on the blind.

If you need a hand posting the photos, please let me know.

Eric

[Koatrexy]

Blind to hang from bottom of balconyThe outdoor blindThe final cable tie. Still hanging on.

Thank you to both of you for your kind welcome.  Please see photos, attached, will go and cut the remaining cable tie.

[Koatrexy]

Hi Katie, photos now attached on message below yours.

many thanks,

from 

Katy

ps

Great Name!

[TedBear]

Hi @Koatrexy,  hopefully no damage was done from the cable ties failure.  They aren't good for anything that moves around and tend to fail eventually in sunlight, even in static loads.

You are correct about using chain and you attach it to the blind with D Shackles such as those linked to below

https://www.bunnings.com.au/products/tools/heavy-lifting-equipment/bow-shackles

I haven't got one of your blinds so I don't know what size shackles you need,  but it has to be a size that goes through the supports in the blind and through the chain as well. 

It could be a good idea to look at getting some clear tubing to feed the chain through, so that it doesn't make marks on the edge of the concrete and the railings.

Maybe @EricL will have access to the information on the actual  blind fittings.

[EricL]

Hello @Koatrexy 

Thank you for posting pictures of your outdoor blind. It's great that you've received excellent advice from @TedBear. If you're not keen on drilling into the concrete surface, then using chain is the way to go. I suggest having a look at the galvanized chain available at the store. 

I don't recommend using overly thick chain as it will be difficult to wrap around the steel rail and will not fit into the "D" shackle. There are many sizes available, and I suggest having a look when you pass by the store. I also suggest looking carefully at the size of the mounting spot of the outdoor blind rail. 

I recommend getting a bolt cutter so that you can easily cut the chain.

Please make sure to use personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a dust mask when working on the chain assembly.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[TedBear]

Hi again @Koatrexy 

You mentioned that the holes in the blind are "screw size", so you may need to feed something screw size through them first, in order to have something suitable for the D shackles to go through.

Without seeing the blind and its support holes.... perhaps these eye-bolts would be suitable for adapting the blinds' mountings for use with chain and shackles.  (There are other sizes available.)

https://www.bunnings.com.au/taskmaster-6-x-50-x-14mm-316-stainless-steel-eye-bolt-2-pack_p0237977

[Dave-1]

@Koatrexy 

I was just scrolling through the photos you posted and had an idea. 

Could you attach the top of the blind to some timber (treated for outside) Then using some U style bolts actually fasten the piece of timber across the bottom of your handrail in several places?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?q=U+bolts&sort=BoostOrder&page=1

Something along these type of U bolts I was thinking. With the bolts going through the timber.

Dave