Window Field Guide · Pre-War & Post-War Apartments

Pre-war apartment windows: mount depth, materials, and what landlords reorder

Pre-war and early post-war apartments rarely share one window module. Jambs are shallow, plaster is uneven, and patio sliders want a different treatment than narrow bedroom openings. This guide maps mounting methods by blind type — not a generic city landing page.

Common in: New York City · Northern New Jersey · Connecticut

Quick answer

What maintenance teams and owners usually standardize on:

  • 1" vinyl mini on bedrooms and baths — often outside mount when depth is under 1½"
  • 3.5" vertical on patio sliders — 78" × 84" and 68" × 84" reorder sizes
  • 2" faux wood where you want a cleaner line in living rooms (check depth first)
  • Measure width at three heights; use narrowest for inside mount
  • We ship nationwide — professional install available in Dallas–Fort Worth only
  • Ships nationwide from Texas
  • Custom cut to measured size
  • Mini, vertical & faux wood lines
  • Mount notes by material

Why pre-war openings fight off-the-shelf blinds

Buildings from the 1920s–1950s in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and older Jersey waterfront stock often mix tall narrow double-hungs, shallow steel or wood lintels, and masonry returns that are out of square. Big-box sizes assume suburban depth and square openings.

  • Inside-mount depth often runs 1"–2" — too shallow for 2" faux wood without an outside mount or extension brackets
  • Bedroom openings frequently land in the 24"–36" width band — vinyl mini is the default turnover SKU
  • Patio sliders in converted or post-war wings need vertical track mount, not the same brackets as minis
  • Co-op and condo boards may restrict visible hardware from the street — confirm before ordering outside mount
  • Window guards (required in many NYC units with children) must remain operable — blinds cannot block guard release

Products Northeast apartments reorder most

Vinyl mini leads turnover volume in dense apartment markets. Vertical covers sliders; faux wood upgrades living rooms when depth allows.

1" vinyl mini blinds

The workhorse for bedroom and bath turns — cordless, white, custom width. Most shipped orders to the Northeast use vinyl mini on multiple openings per unit.

Shop vinyl mini blinds
1 inch cordless vinyl mini blinds on a bedroom window
Close-up of vinyl mini blind slats and headrail
Vinyl mini blinds installed in an apartment unit
White vinyl mini blinds — standard turnover color
Cordless vinyl mini blinds on a dark trim opening

3.5" vertical blinds

Standard for patio sliders — stocked 68×84 and 78×84 reorder sizes for property programs.

Shop vertical blinds
White vertical blinds on a patio slider
Vertical blind track and vane package

2" faux wood blinds

Step-up finish for living rooms when frame depth supports inside mount or trim allows outside mount.

Shop faux wood blinds
Cordless 2 inch faux wood blind — white

Typical opening → blind size

These are typical reorder widths for shipped orders — always measure each opening. Links go to size pages where we publish retail pricing.

Opening (approx.)Order sizeRoom
26"–30"25.5"–29.5"Small bedroom / bath
34"–36"33.5"–35.5"Primary bedroom
68" × 84" slider68" × 84" verticalPatio door
78" × 84" slider78" × 84" verticalWide patio door

Mounting by material & situation

Mounting method depends on material and frame depth — not the borough. Use the sections below before you assume inside mount will fit.

1" vinyl mini blinds

View product line →

Lightest headrail — best default for narrow pre-war bedrooms and bath turns. Cordless lift is standard on our vinyl line.

  • Inside mount — adequate depth (1" or more clear)

    Measure opening width at top, middle, bottom; use the narrowest. Measure height left, center, right; use the longest. Report exact opening size — the factory deducts about ½" width for clearance. Brackets screw into the wood or metal jamb at the top corners.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1" clear depth in the frame
    Hardware:
    Included box brackets; #6 or #8 screws into solid jamb

  • Outside mount — shallow or uneven plaster jambs

    Pro often used

    When the frame is too shallow or out of square, mount on the trim or wall above the opening. Add 1½"–2" overlap per side for privacy. This is the most common pre-war workaround when depth is under 1½".

    Min depth:
    N/A — mounts on face of trim or wall
    Hardware:
    Extended box brackets or spacer blocks if trim is proud of the wall

  • Metal lintel / steel subframe (common in post-war wings)

    Pro often used

    Pre-drill metal with a bit sized for your screw shank. Use anchors if the drill bit spins in thin gauge. Avoid overtightening — strip the pilot hole and the bracket will not hold.

    Hardware:
    Self-tapping metal screws or appropriate masonry/metal anchors

2" faux wood blinds

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Heavier slats and a deeper headrail — better finish for living rooms when the frame can support it.

  • Inside mount — standard depth

    Requires more return depth than vinyl mini. Confirm at least 1½"–2½" of flat mounting surface inside the frame before ordering inside mount.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1½"–2½" (product-dependent)
    Hardware:
    Heavier brackets; longer screws into solid wood recommended

  • Outside mount on decorative trim

    Pro often used

    When pre-war moldings leave almost no jamb depth, outside mount on the flat trim face is typical. Account for protruding sill or radiator cover below.

3.5" vertical blinds

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Patio sliders and wide glass — track mounts to ceiling or wall above the opening.

  • Ceiling / soffit mount

    Pro often used

    Track screws into the ceiling or bulkhead above the slider. Verify you are hitting structure — hollow soffits need toggle or wing anchors rated for the track load.

    Hardware:
    Track clips supplied; use anchors appropriate to substrate

  • Face mount above the frame

    Pro often used

    When the ceiling line is uneven, face-mount the track on the wall above the door. Keep the stack side clear of handle traffic.

When to hire a pro in NYC-area buildings

Many co-op boards, management companies, and out-of-state landlords use a local installer for turnover work — especially outside mount on plaster, metal lintels, and ceiling-mounted verticals. We custom-cut and ship blinds nationwide; in-home installation is available in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro only. If you are ordering for a New York property, budget for a handyman or window-treatment installer who knows your building's rules. Send them our measuring guide and the exact SKU list so they mount what you already paid for.

Frequently asked questions

Can I inside-mount 2" faux wood in a pre-war apartment?

Only if you have roughly 1½"–2½" of clear depth in the frame for the headrail and brackets. Many pre-war jambs are too shallow — outside mount on the trim is the usual fix. Measure depth before choosing faux wood over vinyl mini.

Do you install in New York City?

We install in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro and ship custom-cut blinds nationwide. NYC landlords and PMs typically hire a local installer for turnover work; we supply the sized product and SKU list.

What vertical size fits a standard apartment patio slider?

68" × 84" and 78" × 84" are the most common reorder pairs for multifamily sliders. Measure the glass width and height — do not assume every building uses the same slider module.

Will blinds interfere with NYC window guards?

Treatments must not block guard release or inspection. Outside mount and shorter drop lengths are sometimes required. Confirm with your building's super or management before ordering.

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