Vertical Blinds

2023 Author: Douglas Hoggarth | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 11:23

According to tradition, the stress in the words of the French language is placed on the last syllable. The word jalousie (shutters, curtains made of parallel plates) is no exception. I am ashamed to admit, but I have always pronounced “jAlusi” without a shadow of a doubt - with an accent on the first syllable. But the point, of course, is not stress. In the end, this is not the most important thing. The main thing is to understand: how to choose them correctly? The encyclopedic dictionary says: "Blinds are hung to protect from sunlight, precipitation, dust, to regulate air or heat flows."

Having appeared here not so long ago, this type of "curtain" has managed to gain tremendous popularity. Moreover, the blinds have much more possibilities than ordinary curtains and tulle. After all, thin curtains do not protect from the sun, but heavy and dense ones block the air access and create pitch darkness in the room. And the blinds provide even illumination. One of my friends is always lamenting that on a small country terrace, all the windows of which are hung with light curtains, from each gust of wind the fabric rises and tries to either wrap her head or get into a bowl of soup.

So, all these problems would not exist if there were blinds on the windows. Or, for example, take the kitchen. Gasmen and firefighters strongly advise not to hang curtains near the stove: God forbid, they will catch fire! What if you buy blinds for the kitchen? In my opinion, this is the way out. Just a question: which is better?

What are they?

Diagram of vertical blinds

As I found out, there are vertical, horizontal, roller blinds (roller blinds) and protective (roller shutters).

The main element of all blinds (except for roller blinds) are lamellas, that is, strips of material (fabric, plastic, metal, wood). On vertical blinds they are located vertically, on horizontal ones, respectively, horizontally. Lamellas of protective roller shutters are connected into a continuous sheet wound on a shaft. Roller blinds are made according to the same principle, only from a single piece of fabric or small wooden slats.

On reflection, I decided: I like vertical blinds more. How do they work?

Vertical blinds consist of the following main "parts": cornice, runners, weights, connecting chain, control chain and control rope.

The cornice is the load-bearing part to which the slats are attached. It is usually made from aluminum. Rarely, but there are plastic curtain rods. I do not recommend purchasing them: they can bend under the weight of the lamellas, and the rotating parts inside will deform the plastic over time. As a result, the mechanism will jam.

Runners are devices that, on one side, cling to the cornice and move along it, and on the other, slats are suspended from them. The smooth operation of the vertical blinds mechanism primarily depends on the quality of the runners. As far as I could find out, runners are made only of plastic. But the runners are not the same. Even a tiny burr can disrupt the smooth movement of the lamellas, and then the blinds will constantly jam, move with great difficulty and very soon may break. So, when placing an order at the firm, with partiality ask the seller where the runners and other details of the blinds come from.

Weights - inserted into the lower part of the lamellas so that they do not swing from the wind and hang evenly.

The main components of vertical blinds: cornice with chain and control rope and fabric slats

Connecting Chain - As the name suggests, connects the lamellas at the bottom. As a rule, fabric lamellas are connected with a plastic chain through which a fishing line is threaded. Manufacturers assure that these chains are very durable. But this, of course, does not mean that they need to be pulled mercilessly. Of course, I prefer metal "chains" (if only because dirt is not so noticeable on them and in general they are somehow more reliable). But they are mainly equipped with plastic and metal blinds. Moreover, the metal makes the structure heavier and more expensive.

The same applies to the control chain, which hangs down the side of the cornice and rotates the sipes 180 °. These chains are also mostly plastic (although they used to be made of metal as well).

There is also a control rope - it is used to move and move the lamellas.

A large number of companies are engaged in the production of components for blinds, from Belarusian, Polish, Korean and ending with Israeli, German and Dutch. Israeli and Dutch products enjoy a good reputation. Although its price is naturally higher. But it's not a sin to pay for quality. Therefore, when ordering blinds, take an interest in where the components are made, and do not flatter yourself with cheap prices - the avaricious pays twice. But, as they explained to me, the quality of the blinds depends only 50% on the quality of the parts and 50% on the conscientiousness of the company that assembles the mechanism.

Let's do the calculations

You can open and close the blinds using the remote control

How much do vertical blinds cost on average? For example, fabric. Let's take an average static window 1.8 m high and 1.5 m wide. Let's say we decided to hang the blinds not inside the window opening, but like ordinary curtains, fixing them on the wall above the window. This means that you need to add another 15 cm to the width and height so that they go over the edge of the window. Then:

the width of the product will be 1.5 + 2 x 0.15 = 1.8 m;

product height - 1.8 + 2 x 0.15 = 2.1 m;

total area of the product - 1.8 x 2.1 = 3.78 sq. m.

Choosing fabric blinds at an average price of $ 15 per square meter, we get 15 x 3.78 = $ 56.7.

The work of an installer costs an average of 10 - 15% of the total price of blinds, that is, in our case, about $ 7. However, there is also a lower price limit for the installation. Whatever small window you have and the cheapest lamella material, you will still be charged at least 150-200 rubles.

Total: the total cost of the blinds with the installation is 56.7 + 7 = $ 63.7.

Measurement services are usually free of charge. But if you hang the blinds yourself, then the company gives a guarantee only for the product. And if the blinds were installed by the master, then the warranty period applies to both the blinds and the installation.

Lamella material

Lamellas of vertical blinds come in two sizes: "European" - 127 mm wide - and "American" - 89 mm.

Our advice: for large windows and as interior partitions, it is better to use blinds with wide slats, for small openings - with narrow ones.

Usually the lamellas of vertical blinds are made of fabric or plastic, less often of wood or aluminum.

Fabric blinds

The lamella fabric is of different density, color, texture.

Photo: samples of fabrics with jacquard weave

In our country, fabric blinds are the most popular. Apparently, it's a matter of habit and love for all kinds of curtains and curtains. Fabric slats are different in density, color, texture, but most often they are made of polyester - a durable material that practically does not fade in the sun and is easy to clean.

Adherents of everything natural can be recommended slats made of cotton fabrics. Just keep in mind that after several cleanings, the impregnation will gradually peel off and the fabric may become hooked.

Lamella fabrics presented on our market are produced in France, Belgium, Spain, USA, England, Poland, China, Ukraine and Belarus. Of course, domestic fabrics are cheaper than imported ones. But there were times when unscrupulous sellers passed off cheap Chinese fabric for expensive French. In order to avoid such a fraud, I advise you to deal only with well-known companies that have been working on the market for a long time, who will undertake all the obligations of warranty service.

When making a choice between inexpensive non-woven materials ($ 8-10 / sq. M.) Or exquisite jacquard fabrics with intricate weaving ($ 20-40 / sq. M.), You need to pay attention to the density of the material.

Our advice. The greater the density of the fabric, the longer the lamella will retain its presentation: it does not deform, does not warp, does not stretch.

Although the higher the density, the higher the price, naturally. Non-woven fabric is cheaper than woven fabric, but it does not tolerate moisture well and gets dirty faster. It should be borne in mind that printed fabrics are cheaper, but fade faster in the sun. If the pattern is woven into fabric (jacquard weave), it is more durable.

Where there are increased requirements for fire safety (for example, in the kitchen), it is best to hang blinds made of fiberglass, which does not burn in a fire, but as if baked, does not smoke and does not emit harmful substances. Fiberglass does not need to be treated with dust-repellent impregnations, unlike conventional fabrics, which at the production stage are necessarily covered with moisture-proof and antistatic compounds (this, however, does not apply to the cheapest materials - $ 5 / m2 each).

Plastic blinds

The main advantage of plastic blinds: they do not bend “to spite the winds” and keep their shape well, unlike fabric blinds. But the disadvantages of plastic blinds directly depend on the price. The cheapest (at $ 14 per square meter) are rather fragile and not too resistant to temperature extremes: under the bright rays of the sun, they heat up and begin to turn yellow. Blinds made of good quality plastic are devoid of these drawbacks, but they cost from $ 20 / sq.m. Usually they are bought in offices, and at home they are hung in the kitchen or on glazed loggias. These blinds are easy to clean and do not accumulate static electricity.

Wooden blinds

This is quite an expensive pleasure ($ 66-130 per sq.m.). But they also have a lot of advantages: the material is natural, environmentally friendly, durable. As a rule, these are durable light woods (canadian linden, cork), processed using a special technology. The vertical lamella of wooden blinds consists of many thin strips of wood, connected by threads into a canvas. It is very easy to care for these blinds - just vacuuming is enough.

Metal blinds

They are quite rare on sale: they are used mainly in production facilities. These blinds are easy to clean, not exposed to sunlight and are covered with heat-resistant enamel. True, they say that even with a slight wind, they thunder (clatter). And this, you see, not everyone will like it. Price - about $ 30 per square meter with a lamella width of 89 mm.

What should be considered when buying?

Blinds mounting options:

outside the window opening (left)

and inside the window opening (right)

Before buying blinds in general and vertical blinds in particular, you need to decide exactly how you will hang them. There are several options here.

Option one: blinds are attached to the window opening.

In this case, the room seems larger, but the window sill will be occupied by lamellas and your favorite flowers will have to be moved to another place - after all, the lamellas should turn freely.

Option two: blinds are overlapped.

Most often - to the wall above the window (like a cornice for conventional curtains) or to the ceiling.

Then the window opening is completely closed and flowers can be left on the window.

In any case, before buying, we advise you to carefully see if flower pots (and other "foreign objects" on the windowsills) will interfere with the opening and closing of the blinds and the rotation of the slats (windowsill, batteries, etc.).

And further. The most important thing is when ordering blinds, correctly calculate their so-called overall dimensions. How to do it?

First. If you decide to hang blinds inside the window opening, subtract two centimeters from the opening height so that the slats do not lie on the window sill.

Second. If you want to attach the blinds to the wall above the window, it is better that they are slightly wider and go over the border of the window by fifteen centimeters.

Third. The distance between the floor and the blinds should be at least 5 cm. And one more important question that needs to be decided before placing an order - in which direction will the blinds open and close? There are four options for the movement of the slats when closing the blinds:

1. the lamellas move in the direction opposite to the control rope;

2. the slats move towards the control rope;

3. the lamellae move apart in both directions from the center;

4. the slats move towards the center.

And keep in mind: the right choice is dictated not only by your tastes and preferences, but also by "production necessity". For example, be sure to pay attention to whether the assembled lamellas will get in the way when you want to open the window.

Well, these recommendations are perhaps the most important thing to choose the right vertical blinds. Having decided on the dimensions, installation and opening options, you can order. The lead time depends on the volume and complexity of the work. But on average, it takes a day.

Common mistakes when ordering blinds

Alexander Kalashnikov, Deputy General Director of Osvald:

- The most common mistake, or rather negligence, is when people confuse width with height. This happens if a person takes measurements on their own. And although our order form says in black and white: width ___, length ___, customers still manage to enter width instead of length and vice versa. Only after coming home and putting ready-made blinds to the window, the buyer realizes that he was mistaken, and returns to us again. If it is possible to fix something, we, of course, do it. For example, we add several lamellas, and the client pays extra for them. If nothing can be fixed, you have to fulfill the order again and, of course, pay again. So be extremely careful when filling out the documents.

Another rather "popular" mistake: a person wants to hang blinds inside the window opening, but forgets to subtract 1.5 - 2 cm from the opening height. As a result, the cornice is simply not included there, and the alteration entails additional difficulties and costs.

Therefore, we advise you not to refuse a specialist visit to your home. A professional will competently remove the dimensions, tell you which blinds are best to choose, and then install them. In this case, he is fully responsible for his work during the entire warranty period, and you only accept it.

Blinds care

The higher the density of the fabric, the longer the lamella will retain its appearance: it will not deform, will not stretch

How to keep the blinds "in shape"? How to make them last long and look perfect? The easiest way is to maintain plastic and metal blinds. It is enough just to periodically wipe them with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water or powder, and metal can even be rubbed with a brush. Wooden blinds are wiped with a rag and cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. The threads that hold the wooden parts together are treated with dust and moisture-repellent impregnation, so they don't even care about cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner. Only dry clean is suitable for glass fabric blinds.

Fabric blinds are the most difficult to maintain. But inevitably after about a year (it all depends on the quality of the impregnation and where they hang) they will have to be cleaned. If you decide to get down to business on your own, the flag is in your hands. First you need to remove the lower chain and remove the weights, then remove the slats from the runners. This procedure is similar to removing hooks from curtains. Each lamella is rolled into a roll (in order to better maintain its shape, you can tie the lamella in gauze) and dipped in soapy water or water with powder. Do not rub the lamellas under any circumstances, but just let them lie down. After the dirt has left, the lamellas are removed and hung in place while still wet. Under their weight and the weight of the weights, they straighten and dry out. If the fabric is not very high quality, thin, then after such a procedure it can stretch along the edges and lose its shape. Therefore, when buying fabric blinds, you should not chase cheapness.

One firm told me this story. When they were just starting to work, a lady came to them and bought light thin fabric blinds. Without hesitation, the sellers advised her to wash them when they get dirty. A year later, she removed the slats from the cornice and, without removing the weights and other plastic parts, washed it in the washing machine. After such a barbaric procedure, it was simply painful to look at the lamellas - they were warped and completely lost their shape. Now a sample of each fabric lamella is experimentally washed by hand, dried and watched by the company's employees. To know exactly how it will look after washing.

However, this procedure seemed to me very complicated and time-consuming. I reasoned like this: if fabric blinds are so popular, then there must certainly be companies that professionally clean them. I had to sit down at the phone. Almost everywhere I called, they heard something about these companies. They told me: yes, there really are such companies and some of the clients even used their services, but no one could name either phone numbers or addresses. And yet I was lucky. I found. Two firms. True, in the first one they immediately warned that they were cleaning the blinds on an industrial scale. If the area of blinds in your office is more than 30 square meters, then a team of brave craftsmen with chemicals and special equipment will come to you and quickly clean everything. The cost of this service is 40 rubles per square meter. The second company carries out individual orders. On a call, a person arrives, removes the blinds, takes them away and returns them clean two days later. Price - $ 2 per sq.m. I liked this option more. At least you don't have to breathe any nasty stuff. But alas, a bitter disappointment overtook me. It turned out that the minimum area of fabric that a company will undertake to clean is not less than 25 square meters! Naturally, my window area is much smaller. How to be? As they hinted to me, there is a way out. You pay $ 50 and at least 1 meter will be cleaned for you. So decide what you prefer - do the laundry yourself or part with fifty dollars.that the minimum area of fabric that the company will undertake to clean is not less than 25 sq. m! Naturally, my window area is much smaller. How to be? As they hinted to me, there is a way out. You pay $ 50 - and they will clean at least 1 meter for you. So decide what you prefer - do the laundry yourself or part with fifty dollars.that the minimum area of fabric that the company will undertake to clean is not less than 25 sq. m! Naturally, my window area is much smaller. How to be? As they hinted to me, there is a way out. You pay $ 50 and at least 1 meter will be cleaned for you. So decide what you prefer - do the laundry yourself or part with fifty dollars.

Good is not cheap

As a rule, the component parts of the blinds are made of plastic. Except for the curtain rods (which are mostly made of aluminum), the inside of the weights, and the bottom chain for plastic and metal blinds.

The quality of parts is different for different companies, and the operation of the entire mechanism largely depends on it. Along with foreign companies that have been specializing in the production of components for blinds for many years, many domestic companies have appeared that have established their own production. After all, it is quite simple to make stamped plastic elements, and the price is much lower than that of imported ones. But alas, the quality is often poor.

How to understand whether you have been supplied with a good mechanism or not? It is imperative to check how the blinds "behave" when the finished order is delivered to you. If the parts are of high quality, the runners do not creak when cornering, do not jam, the lamellas open and close smoothly. The smoother, the longer the blinds will last. If something does not suit you, be sure to tell the master about it. He is obliged to either correct the defect on the spot, if possible, or to redo your order.

Still, it is difficult for a layman to figure out whether good details were installed in the blinds or not. Therefore, for greater confidence, we advise you to place an order in a well-known company that has proven itself well. Such firms work with reliable suppliers of fabrics and components. And their specialists will serve you during the entire warranty period. By the way, it is different for different companies - from six months to 18 months.

Useful Tips

The position of the lamellas when closing and opening the blinds. With the "correct" option, the lamella should be perpendicular to the window

Before moving the slats, they need to be turned perpendicular to the window. If this is not done, the mechanism will fail much faster.

Finding out the cost of blinds at the company, be sure to ask what it includes. It is very likely that the low price is only the price of the lamellas themselves, and not a complete set of components (cornice, runners, weights, controls). So for everything else you will have to pay separately.

If something happens to the blinds (they do not close, the slats do not turn or stick), do not try to fix the malfunction yourself, do not pull the control rope with force. Better call the company where you bought the blinds. They will definitely tell you what to do. The less the situation is started, the easier it is to fix it.

When choosing the material of the blinds, it is imperative to take into account in which room they will hang. For the bathroom and kitchen, plastic blinds are best suited - they are not afraid of moisture and are easy to clean. For the kitchen, you can also recommend blinds made of fiberglass, which does not support combustion. But for the living room or bedroom, fabric blinds are quite suitable, and even with some delights.

Exclusive

Multi-textured blinds create the illusion of heavy curtains hanging over light curtains

Now that we know what materials vertical blinds are made of, how to take care of them, how to correctly measure, we want something unusual. To make the room not only comfortable, but also beautiful, non-standard. There is something interesting here.

First, curly plastic blinds. Their lamellas are made in the form of waves, zigzags, etc. The sun's rays, refracting in these blinds, create bizarre combinations of light and shadow in the room. Secondly, multi-textured blinds. They are made like this: a pattern of lamellas of a different color and texture is applied to the lamellas of one color. Thus, the illusion of heavy curtains hanging over light curtains is created, and whatever you want. There are many options. For example, fabric is glued to a plastic lamella or fabric is sewn to fabric. Thirdly, vertical blinds decorated with tulle have recently appeared. It also looks pretty original.

If you are not a fan of newfangled tricks, you can limit yourself to installing a decorative cornice ($ 2 - $ 5 per running meter). Usually it is made white to blend in with the ceiling. But you can insert a strip of fabric into it in the same color as the lamella. For wooden blinds - accordingly, wooden cornices.

Another important detail. It turns out that you can control the blinds not only by pulling the strings. This simple process lends itself to automation. A mechanism with a motor is attached to the curtain rod of the blinds, which reacts to the signal coming from the remote control and follows the "instructions" of the owner. But for this you need to plan in advance, even at the stage of repair, an outlet at the window. After all, the wires running through the entire room clearly do not decorate the interior. If the electric drive is powered by batteries (accumulator), they will have to be changed or recharged quite often. But the main thing is that this device will immediately increase the price of blinds several times. The cheapest remote control mechanism costs about $ 100. So I decided that it would be easy for me to pull the string.

In general, think for yourself, decide for yourself what to give preference to: inexpensive curtains or luxurious lambrequins, simple blinds or curly-multi-textured; install the control panel or pull the string in the old fashioned way.