How to Replace Roller Blind Fabric – Step-by-Step Guide
Replacing the fabric on an existing roller blind can be a practical alternative to replacing the complete blind.
If your roller tube, brackets and control mechanism are still in good working order, you can often remove the old roller blind fabric and fit new fabric to the existing tube.
For a competent DIYer, replacing roller blind fabric is quite achievable, but accuracy is important. The most important part of the job is making sure the new fabric is cut completely square and fitted squarely to the roller tube.
This guide explains how to do it.
What you'll need
Depending on your existing roller blind and the method you choose, you may need:
Replacement roller blind fabric
Tape measure
Large fabric scissors or a very sharp utility/Stanley knife
Long straight edge
Good-quality 10–12 mm double-sided tape
Self-adhesive Mylar tape for a slotted roller tube
Stapler and small hammer if using the stapled Mylar method
Sewing machine if making a traditional bottom-bar pocket
Clean, flat working area
1. Remove the roller blind
Take the complete blind down from its brackets and place it on a large, clean and flat working surface.
This isn't really a job for the coffee table. You need enough space to lay the fabric out properly, measure accurately and keep everything square and clean.
Before dismantling the blind, it can also be useful to note which way the fabric rolls from the tube.
2. Remove the old roller blind fabric
There are two common ways fabric may be attached to a roller tube.
Slotted roller tube
If the fabric is fitted into a slot in the tube, removal is normally straightforward. The existing fabric and fixing strip can simply be slid out of the end of the tube.
Fabric attached with adhesive
If the fabric has been taped directly to the tube, carefully peel it away.
It's important to remove all remnants of the old fabric and adhesive from the roller tube.
Don't leave bumps, pieces of material or old adhesive underneath the new fabric. An uneven surface can affect the way the new fabric rolls and contribute to the blind telescoping or tracking towards one side.
3. Measure the new roller blind fabric
Rather than relying entirely on the dimensions of the old fabric, measure the existing roller tube.
Old blind fabric can potentially shrink or distort over time, and measuring the tube also allows you to maximise the available fabric coverage.
As a useful general guide, the finished fabric width on many conventional roller blinds is approximately 35 mm narrower than the overall bracket-to-bracket blind width.
However, systems vary, so check your particular blind before cutting.
How much fabric should you allow for the drop?
As a general rule, allow approximately:
Finished blind drop + 300 mm
The additional material provides fabric for the wrap around the roller tube and allowance for forming the bottom hem or pocket.
It's much better to have a little excess material at this stage than discover you've cut the fabric too short.
4. Mark and cut the replacement fabric
This is probably the most important stage of the entire job.
The replacement fabric needs to be cut accurately and, above all, completely square.
A large pair of sharp fabric scissors is often the simplest option for a DIY installation. Try to make each cut as long and continuous as possible rather than making lots of small cuts that can leave a jagged edge.
Alternatively, a very sharp utility or Stanley knife can produce an excellent straight cut when carefully run against a long straight edge.
Take appropriate care when using any sharp cutting tool.
Measure carefully before making the final cut.
Why being square matters
If the fabric isn't square, the blind is unlikely to roll evenly.
This is different from a correctly made blind that merely needs a small tracking adjustment. Tracking tricks cannot compensate for fabric that has fundamentally been cut or fitted out of square.
Taking extra time at this stage can save a great deal of frustration later.
5. Attach the new fabric to the roller tube
The best method depends upon the type of roller tube you're reusing.
For a slotted roller tube
For a slotted tube, our preferred method is self-adhesive Mylar tape.
Attach the fabric carefully and squarely to the Mylar tape. For additional security, the Mylar can also be stapled to the fabric using an ordinary desk stapler at approximately 150 mm (6 inch) intervals.
The staples can then be gently tapped flat with a small hammer before the Mylar and fabric are slid into the roller-tube slot.
Flattening the staples is important so they don't create unnecessary raised points as the fabric rolls around the tube.
For a non-slotted roller tube
If your tube isn't slotted, or you don't want to use the Mylar method, a good-quality 10–12 mm double-sided adhesive tape can be used to attach the fabric directly to the tube.
Again, getting the fabric square to the tube is critical.
Don't assume you can straighten it later if it is attached at an angle.
6. Fit the roller blind bottom bar
A traditional roller blind bottom bar is normally fitted inside a sewn fabric pocket.
Allow approximately 100 mm of fabric for this. Mark the fabric 100 mm from the bottom, fold it back to form a pocket approximately 50 mm deep, and machine-sew close to the marked line.
The bottom bar can then be inserted into the finished pocket.
A simpler DIY alternative
If you don't have access to a sewing machine, another option is to use a suitable bottom bar that can be attached to the back of the fabric using Mylar tape, in a similar manner to the attachment at the roller tube.
This can make replacing roller blind fabric considerably easier for someone working at home.
7. Roll the fabric onto the tube
Once everything is attached, carefully roll the fabric onto the tube.
Keep an eye on both edges as you do this. The layers should remain aligned rather than gradually moving towards one end of the tube.
If the fabric immediately starts travelling substantially sideways, stop and check that it has been cut square and attached squarely to the tube.
Don't continue rolling in the hope that it will correct itself.
8. Refit and test the roller blind
Refit the blind into its brackets and operate it slowly through several complete cycles.
Check that:
The blind raises and lowers smoothly.
The fabric remains centred.
The bottom bar hangs level.
The fabric doesn't rub against the brackets or mechanism.
The fabric rolls evenly onto the tube.
What if my roller blind rolls to one side?
A roller blind gradually travelling sideways as it rolls is often described as telescoping.
If the fabric is square and correctly fitted but the blind has a small tendency to track towards one side, a simple adjustment can often correct it.
Lower the blind and place a small piece of tape underneath the fabric at the opposite end of the roller tube to the direction in which the fabric is travelling.
The small increase in diameter created by the tape can encourage the fabric back towards the centre.
Only make small adjustments and test the blind after each one.
Tape won't fix badly fitted fabric
This distinction is important.
The tape technique is useful for fine tracking adjustment. It isn't a solution for fabric that has been cut out of square or attached crookedly to the roller tube.
If the tracking problem is substantial, check the fabric and its attachment before trying to compensate with additional tape.
Is replacing roller blind fabric a DIY job?
For someone who is reasonably competent at DIY, yes.
The actual roller-blind mechanism is relatively simple. The challenge is working accurately with a large piece of fabric.
Smaller blinds are naturally easier to work with than very large ones, and having a large, clean, open working area makes a considerable difference.
If you're comfortable measuring accurately, cutting fabric and working methodically, replacing the fabric can be an effective way to give an existing roller blind a completely new appearance without replacing perfectly serviceable components.
Replacement roller blind fabric and parts
Blind Parts Hub supplies roller blind fabric by the metre, together with many of the components needed to repair or refurbish an existing roller blind.
Depending on your project, you can replace just the fabric or combine it with a new mechanism, chain, tube, bottom bar or other components.
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