Judith Persit wonders:


American windows come in all sizes and shapes. This is even more comon these days with modern architectural styling which is looking towards opening up buildings, maximizing light and heat, and creating views over wide expanses. Windows are being developed ever wider and ever higher, and are even being used in a larger percentage of the wall space in the home and in the workplace. Vertical blinds also have to adapt, with their design and shape developing to match the increasing demands of the designers of the huge windows, both in size and in tensile strength.

The challenges facing the suppliers and dealers of vertical blinds today is that not only must the blinds be tall enough, or wide enough, to cope with covering windows of all sizes and shapes, but vertical blinds must work in exactly the same efficient manner as those which cover normal, standard sized windows. If they did not, clients and consumers would be unhappy, and select alternative products. It is for this reason that, increasingly, vertical blinds made from fabrics are gaining popularity, because of the flexibility in terms of maximum size possible, and in general strength. Windows that are very tall require vertical blinds that hang straight, cover the window completely at both sides, and reduce light pollution around the edges to a minimum. It is also necessary to consider the weight of the vertical blinds – since a very heavy material hanging down a tall window will exert considerably more vertical pull on the mechanism and on the material at the top of the blind than on shorter, more standard sized windows.

Fabric is an important and valuable material since is has an inherent flexibility caused by the cross weaving of the threads. When high quality fabric is used to manufacture vertical blinds, the blinds are provided with a flexibility which will allow the material to hang and give if the height is unusually long.

With plastic materials, this natural flexibility tendency is not always available, and as such, the rigidness can cause the material to begin to deform and buckle, tearing at the top of the slats and causing permanent damage. The buckling which can occur will result in considerable light escape around the edges of the blind, and will cause the vertical blinds to appear to age long before their time. In quality fabric blinds, however, the slats will give and flex naturally, reducing the pressure on the material at the top and causing the fabric to regain its shape and last longer.

On the other hand, PVC vertical blinds will be generally heavier in weight, and cause more of the natural pull than fabric blinds will do. This is a significant drawback,, since the weight of the fabric vertical blinds causes the material to hang more snugly in the window frame, and fit more exactly to the size of the window glass. This can even extend to the times when the window may be ajar, or even fully open, and a gentle breeze may enter the room. A PVC blind will blow and move in the wind, causing significant light pollution which may be unbearable if the workplace uses computer monitors which are required to be placed in an environment where light pollution is not an issue. PVC blinds also make noises when banging, which is certainly not desirable. Fabric based vertical blinds will hang much more steadily in a breeze, and continue to filter the light and serve their purpose because of the extra weight.

Fabric vertical blinds can be manufactured to extremely tall requirements, as well as to very wide ones. The material can be manufactured to the exact measurements required, and sewn to size. Many plastic based products either come in standard sizes or are limited to near standard sizes. Consider that a roll of fabric comes our at 300 feet long, and a piece of PVC is only 6 feet long. You can se the potential here, right? For particularly tall or unusually wide window settings, when looking for vertical blinds, it is highly recommended that, if you are looking for quality and a lifetime of lasting beauty, you choose woven fabric as the material of choice. Fabric vertical blinds also are ideal for those unusual windows such as sliding doors or windows which open using catches. It is important in these cases that the catches or handles be easily accessible.

If windows are particularly large, consider motorizing the blinds. Motorization systems are increasingly affordable, and can make a consumer’s life much more pleasant. Imagine siting comfortably in your easy chain and controlling the blinds which are installed so high, that they are over your head. This is when vertical blinds really show their worth.

David Brooks wonders:


If you think about it, there are probably very few homes, apartments or condominiums without some kind of window covering. And, yet, this ubiquitous household item seems to fly under just about everyone’s radar – that is until we need them.

Window treatments are not a sexy topic, let’s face. But, we all need them and I believe they are underrated and under-appreciated. It is also my experience that there is a lot of confusion about blinds or shades. There seems to be so many choices, colors, sizes, and functions. Then there are other issues like, how to measure your windows and how to install them. For the uninitiated, I imagine that selecting, purchasing and installing blinds can seem like a real pain. So people turn to professionals and end up spending much more than is necessary. This article is intended to address the most common questions and confusion points, help you get past them, be more satisfied with your purchase and hopefully even save you some money.

One of the most common areas of confusion exists in measuring, specifically height versus width versus depth. So which is which? The height of a blind or shade is how tall it is when it is fully covering the window, normally the long vertical axis of a window (up and down). A simpler way to think of this is the part of the window shade that moves up and down. This doesn’t hold true for window shutters. The width of a blind or shade is the horizontal axis of the window (side to side) and the depth is the space between the window casing and the actual window. A simple way to visualize depth is to imagine where you’d put a pie to cool in the window. All these measurements are extremely important because they will determine the finished look of the installed window treatment, as well as the functionality. 

Another common issue that comes up is less about confusion but more about satisfaction, and that is ordering samples. Most window treatments retailers offer free samples so that you can see for yourself whether or not the blind, shade or shutter is the right color and how it might look in your window. This is generally a must and will reduce or eliminate any unwanted surprises.    

The next common issue is, once people receive their blinds, they don’t take the time to read the instructions. Most of the manufacturers have gone to considerable effort to help you with your new purchase.  I know – reading instructions can be a real drag but it is generally necessary and can often help you avoid common mistakes.

Narrowing your options will help avoid the next area of confusion. Here are some basic discovery questions that you should ask yourself before you start your process. Do you want the blind or shade to add insulation to your window? If so, consider cellular shades, or other shades with an insulating liner. Also, there are types of shutters that offer insulation. How much light do you want in your room? Do you want room darkening, blackout, or light filtering?  If you want to preserve your view even when the shade is closed, consider sheer shades or solar screens. If you want room darkening, the choices are vast, from mini blinds to shutters to pleated and cellular shades. If you want true room darkening, consider roller shades or other shades with a blackout liner. You just need to know what you want in advance so you are not surprised when you install your windows.

The next two areas of confusion are measuring and installing. Measuring your blinds is easy. My advice is to go to You Tube and search for “measuring for blinds and shades.” There are numerous helpful and simple videos that will walk you through the process. It only takes a few minutes.  Installing window treatments also seems to get a bad rap. But it is much easier than you think. I was told once that if you can hang a mirror than you can install blinds. Again, I advice that you read the instructions that come with your purchase and make sure you have a few very basic tools like a screwdriver, preferably an electric screwdriver, to save your wrists. All the other parts come from the manufacturer.  There are also videos on the internet that will help guide you through this process.

The last issue and point of confusion is understanding the available options. The most common option is top down/bottom up. This is a privacy option common for bathroom and bedroom windows, wherein the shade can be closed but you can let the top portion of the window down so that you let in light but people can peer into your room. Or, you can lift the bottom portion up when you just want to let in light. This is a common option for all types of shades liked pleated shades and roman shades.