New Windows in Your Cedar Rapids Home? When to Measure for Blinds

Wait until the new windows are in before you measure. Old blinds often don't fit new frames, because window sizes and frame depths can change. Plan it in four stages. Decide what to keep before install day. Measure after install. Order for the most-used rooms first. Then finish the rest. The same order works whether your new windows came after storm damage, a remodel or a new build.

Here's how each stage works, and what to ask along the way.

Why do so many Cedar Rapids-area homes have new windows?

There are a few reasons. Some homes replaced windows after storm damage. Some owners update an older house by choice. And a lot of homes are brand new.

For many families here, the derecho of August 10, 2020 is still fresh. The Gazette reported straight-line winds of 100 to 130 mph across the metro. They lasted 30 to 45 minutes. The paper says the storm damaged every block in Cedar Rapids. Marion, Hiawatha, Robins and Ely were hit too. A year later, hundreds of homes were still waiting on repairs. For some homes, new windows were part of the fix.

New construction adds to the count. Linn County issued permits for 694 new housing units in 2023. That jumped to 1,024 in 2024. In 2025 it was 941. Every one of those homes needs window coverings too.

Whatever the reason, you end up with the same question. What happens to the blinds?

Can I reuse my old blinds on new windows?

Sometimes. Don't count on it, though. A new window is often a little different in size from the old one, even when it fills the same opening. The frame depth can change too. A blind that fit inside the old frame may now be too deep or the wrong width.

Reuse works best when:

• The new window is the same size, within a fraction of an inch.
• The old covering was outside mounted on the wall or trim. Then frame depth doesn't matter.
• The covering is in good shape and you still like it.

Here's how the options compare.

Not sure? Keep the old blinds until the new windows are in. Then hold them up and see. It costs nothing to check.

What should I do before the windows go in?

Get ready the week before install. A little planning now saves a scramble later.

1. Take down the old coverings. Do it yourself, or ask the installer if they will. Label each one with its room and window.
2. Keep the hardware. Bag the brackets and screws with the blind.
3. Decide what to reuse. Mark those blinds as maybe keep.
4. Note which rooms need privacy right away. Bedrooms and bathrooms usually top the list.
5. Think about what you'd like to change. New windows are a good time to switch from blinds to shades. It's also a good time to add room darkening in a bedroom.

Don't order anything yet. You'll measure once the new windows are in.

Talk with your window installer too. Ask three things. Will the new windows be the same size as the old ones? Will the inside trim change? Who's putting the trim back on? The answers tell you how likely your old blinds are to fit. They also tell you when the frames will be ready to measure.

Keeping some old blinds? Clean them before they go into storage. Dust wipes off much easier now than after a month in the garage. Store them flat and dry in their labeled bags.

Why wait to measure until after install?

Because the final size isn't known until the window is in the wall. Installers often adjust the opening. Shims, foam and new trim can change the inside size by a fraction of an inch. That's enough to make an inside-mount shade too tight. It can also leave a gap.

Measure after:

• The window is set and sealed.
• The inside trim is on.
• Any paint or stain on the trim is dry.

Measure the width of each window at the top, middle and bottom. Measure the height at the left, center and right. Use the smallest numbers for an inside mount.

Work in inches, to the nearest eighth. Write each set of numbers on a quick sketch of the room. Mark where each window sits. Got more than a few windows? A room-by-room list keeps you from mixing up two that look alike. When in doubt, have someone who measures every day do it. A small mistake on a custom order is hard to fix.

How do I check frame depth for an inside mount?

Measure from the glass to the front edge of the frame. If something sticks out past the glass, start from that instead. That's your usable depth.

Look for things that get in the way:

• Crank handles on casement and awning windows.
• Window locks on double-hung windows.
• Alarm sensors on the frame.
• Tilt latches at the top of the sash.

Is the depth shallow? An inside mount may stick out past the frame and look unfinished. On a shallow frame, mounting on the trim or the wall above usually looks cleaner.

Write each depth down with the window's name. "Kitchen sink, 2 and 1/4 inches" is easy to read later. "Window 3" is not.

What if the new windows are a different size or shape?

Then you'll want new coverings for those windows. It's also a good chance to rethink how the room works.

Common changes after a window replacement:

• A bigger window. More light means more glare. A light-filtering shade softens it.
• A smaller window. Less light. Pick a covering that clears the glass fully when open.
• Casements instead of double-hungs. Crank handles may limit inside mounts.
• A picture window that doesn't open. One wide shade works well here.
• A new shape, like an arch or angle. These usually need a custom covering. Ask about options.

Each window may need its own answer. That's normal.

A size change can also shift the look of the whole wall. Say one window in a room gets bigger and its neighbor stays the same. Matching coverings help them read as a set. Use the same fabric and color on both. From inside, your eye sees a calm row. From the street, the house looks finished, not patched.

Which rooms should get coverings first?

Start where privacy and sleep matter most. Then do the rooms you use most.

A good order:

1. Bedrooms. For sleep and privacy.
2. Bathrooms. For privacy.
3. The main living room. It's where you spend most of your time.
4. The kitchen. Glare on the counters gets old fast.
5. Everything else. Guest rooms, stair windows and the basement can wait.

Example timeline (made up): the windows go in on a Monday. That weekend, the homeowner measures every window. Bedroom and bathroom coverings get ordered first. The living room and kitchen come next. Spare rooms come last. This is only an example. Your timing depends on the products you pick.

Getting new windows in late fall? They often feel tighter than the old ones. A snug covering at night can make the room feel even cozier. The U.S. Department of Energy looked at this too. Researchers tested cellular shades in a test home in Knoxville, Tennessee, over a winter. Then they ran the results through an energy model. The model showed savings of up to 20% on heating energy, compared with no shades. That's an "up to" number for one model home. Your results will depend on your house.

What can I do for privacy in the meantime?

Keep it simple and temporary. A few options:

• Paper or fabric shades that stick to the frame. They go up and come down easily.
• Your old blinds, if they fit well enough for now.
• A sheet or blanket on a tension rod in a bedroom, just for a few nights.

Avoid anything that leaves glue or tape on new frames. Ask your window installer what's safe on your new windows.

Think about where you'll sleep, too. Does a bedroom face a streetlight or the morning sun? It may be easier to sleep in another room for a few nights than to fight a bare window. Temporary fixes are meant to be short. The sooner you measure, the sooner they come down.

How do new windows change light in a room?

New windows often let in more light than the old ones. Frames can be slimmer. Glass can be clearer. The old cloudy panes are gone. A room that felt dim may suddenly feel bright. That can change what you want at the window.

What to watch for:

• More glare on TVs and screens. A light-filtering shade helps.
• More early light in bedrooms. Room darkening may now make sense.
• Different privacy at night. Clear glass can show more from outside when the lights are on.

Live with the new windows for a few days before you decide. Notice when the light bothers you and when it doesn't.

Check each room three times: first thing in the morning, mid-afternoon and after dark with the lamps on. Morning shows which bedrooms get early sun. Afternoon shows glare on screens and counters. Evening shows how much people outside can see. Jot a quick note for each room. Something like "glare on the TV at 3 p.m." works fine. Those notes make the next step easier. They tell you if a room needs softer light, more darkness or more privacy.

Also notice what you like. Many people find they enjoy a brighter room. If that's you, pick a light-filtering fabric you can leave down most of the day. It may suit you better than a heavy one you'll always want open.

What should I ask before I order?

Run through these questions before you order coverings for new windows:

1. Is every window installed and trimmed?
2. Did I measure width, height and depth for every window?
3. Which old coverings can I reuse, if any?
4. Which rooms need coverings first?
5. Do any windows have handles, locks or sensors in the way?
6. Do I want to change styles now that the windows are new?
7. With kids or pets at home, should every shade be cordless?

Color comes next. Our guide to testing fabric samples in gray late-fall light walks through it step by step. Own a house on one of Marion's historic streets? Read how Pucker Street homes compare with new north side houses before you pick a style. Corporate's full shade lineup is a handy browse. The permit numbers above come from Linn County building permit data posted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The shade study is in the Department of Energy's cellular shades fact sheet.

Window installer on the calendar? Call Budget Blinds of Marion once the trim is up. We'll measure every opening. Book your free consultation.

Kevin Sill is CFO and co-owner of the family-owned Budget Blinds franchises serving the Cedar Rapids and Marion area.