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- Wood Blinds – What kind of wood is the slat made of? Basswood or any North American hardwood is considered the best wood for blinds. Basswood is also available from Asia. Some blinds are made of Ramin wood (also, usually from Asia). This wood is not well-suited for blinds because it is not a stable wood. As it dries, it has a tendency to warp. Wood blinds are lighter than faux wood blinds, so you will have fewer cords running through the width of the wood blind than you will on faux wood blinds.
- Faux Wood Blinds – made of P.V.C. (poly vinyl chloride) have no qualitative difference between brands if one is considering the P.V.C. material only. The price variation, if not due to the retailer’s markup, is sometimes due to the quality of the finish. The finish on some faux wood blinds is so beautiful, one thinks he is looking at the grains of a woodblind. (Our faux wood Trends) Faux wood blinds with painted finishes rather than stained finishes do not appear different from wood blinds. Only by looking at the sides of the blinds can one tell he is looking at wood instead of faux wood. (The color on faux wood blinds runs through the entire slat and the stains on faux wood blinds also affect the color of the sides of the slat; whereas on wood blinds, you will see raw wood on the side of the slat.) However, some manufacturers paint or stain the ends of wood slats, thus eliminating this difference.
- Composite Blinds – Some faux wood blinds are made of a composite. (Our Premium Faux Wood Blind) This means that there are wood particles mixed with the P.V.C. before the product is extruded into a slat. This gives a little more stability to the slat rather like adding starch to a shirt.
- Samples – Good on-line retailers should offer samples for shoppers to see what the finish looks like so shoppers don’t have to rely on the color they see on their p.c. monitor. Some times there is a cost for these samples because the manufacturer charges the retailer for them. This is generally a pass-through cost and is often rebated to the shopper when he orders products from the retailer.
- Headrails – for wood blinds and faux wood blinds should be made of metal. Some manufacturers use plastic. Stay away from these. These do not offer the strength needed for the weight of the blinds and do not tolerate heavy useage. The roller for roller shades should also be metal and the headrail for Roman shades should be made of wood.
- Woven Woods – also known as bamboo shades, are made of a wide variety of materials: rope, strips of bamboo, woven fibers, reeds and grasses, etc. Loosely woven patterns should be purchased with edge binding to prevent the weave from unraveling with repeated use. These shades are often heavy and therefore have a tendency to stretch. Edge binding will help keep the shade from becoming too long for you window. If privacy or light are a concern, there are privacy linings and blackout linings available for your shades. These linings will also help reduce the stretching of the shades. However, part of the beauty of woven woods is the way light filters into the room through the patterns in the weave. This feature is eliminated by adding a lining to the shade.
- Solar Shades – Phifer SheerWeave screening materials are made PVC-coated fiberglass yarns and are an excellent product for windows receiving direct sun. These filter from 94% to 99% of UV rays from the sun, thereby reducing your energy use and keeping your home cooler in the summer. Bu eliminating UV rays, you also reduce fading on floors and furniture. These material is made as roller shades and sliding panels.
- Sliding Panels – both solar screen material and woven woods are available in Sliding Panels. This product is great for patio doors and can also be used as a room divider. The metal track attaches to the ceiling or wall and the panels slide behind each other much like the operation of sliding doors. These panels should come with edge binding, and the number of panels is directly related to the width of the area you are covering. You can choose panels that open either from the side or from the center.
- Cellular Shades – are made of cells sewn in a pattern resembling an egg carton. The shades can be made with single cells or double cells. When raised, these cells fold flat. These shades allow filtered light into your room and are a much softer look than blinds. They are made in a variety of fabric colors. For windows where privacy or light is a concern, these shades are available with room darkening and blackout options. They are also made in specialty sizes for sky lights, arches, circles and hexagon shaped windows.
- Miscellaneous considerations – cord lengths and control placement; measuring and installation instructions. Some windows are located in a vaulted ceiling walls, staircase, or on a two-story wall. In these circumstances, you will want to consider your cord length. You do not want to get out a step stool or ladder to reach your cord. Order a cord long enough to reach with the shade or blind is in the down position. Order cord cleats to wrap the excess cord around when the blind or shade is in the raised position. Most manufacturers put the lift cord on the right side of the blind and the tilters on the left side of the blind. If you are left-handed, this might not be the best placement. Furniture in the room might also be a consideration in lift cord placement. Sometimes furniture makes access to one side of the shade or blind difficult to reach. A good on-line shopping site should also offer measuring and installation instructions. Because products being sold are custom made to your specifications, there is usually a no-return policy for customer error. Take the time to read these instructions so you measure correctly for the type of installation you choose for your window coverings. You will find that you measure differently for inside-mount installations than you do for outside-mount installations. Also, because installation instructions are usually not mailed with your purchase, these instructions should be available on line. Read them and call if you have questions or concerns. The data listed in this ten-point inventory should be found on a good on-line retail site. Knowing what your needs are, your style and product preference and what to look for in a quality-made product and a quality retail web site should make your on-line window covering purchase painless.
– What kind of wood is the slat made of? Basswood or any North American hardwood is considered the best wood for blinds. Basswood is also available from Asia. Some blinds are made of Ramin wood (also, usually from Asia). This wood is not well-suited for blinds because it is not a stable wood. As it dries, it has a tendency to warp. Wood blinds are lighter than faux wood blinds, so you will have fewer cords running through the width of the wood blind than you will on faux wood blinds.Brought to you by: Ace Fast Blinds
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