Windows come in many shapes and sizes, and as we have seen increasingly lately, with modern architectural designs looking at opening up buildings, maximizing light and heat, and creating views over wide vistas, windows are being developed ever wider and ever higher, and more numerous, both in the home and in the workplace. Blinds also must 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 purveyors of vertical blinds today is that they must consider that not only must the blind be tall enough, or wide enough, to contend with difficulties with covering windows of all sizes and shapes, but the vertical blinds must work in exactly the same efficient manner as those which cover normal, standard sized windows. It is for this reason that, increasingly, vertical blinds made from fabrics are gaining popularity, because of the flexibility of maximum size possible, and as commonly considered strength. Very tall or highly unique windows that are very big require vertical blinds that hang straight, cover the window completely at both sides, and reduce light around the edges to a minimum. It is also important to consider the weight of the vertical blinds ? since a very heavy plastic 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 a valuable material since is has an inherent flexibility in physics caused by the interweaving of the strings and threads. When fabric is used to manufacture vertical blinds, they are provided with a flexibility which will allow the material to hang and give if the height is unusually long.

With PVC or plastic materials, the natural tendency to flex is not always available, and as such, can cause the material to begin to deform and buckle, tearing at the top of the sheet and causing permanent damage. The buckling which can occur will result in considerable light pollution round the edges of the blind, and will cause the vertical blinds to appear old before their time. The fabric blinds, however, 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 built in grand sizes in height, and also to very wide ones. The slats can be manufactured to the exact measurements required, and built to size for the tallest of windows. PVC based products either come in only standard sizes or are limited to the largest pieces that can be made in raw materials. There is no splicing, as the melts would be hideous. 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 based 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.