Since the early 1980’s, vertical blinds have been a very popular way to dress windows and doors in the US. Because of their functionality and because vertical blind louvers freely hang from their track mechanism, these louvers can be fabricated from different types of materials such as fabrics, screens or rigid PVC. In the early days of vertical blinds, louvers were interconnected via a clip and chain in the case of fabric or screen materials or via a #6 chain that connected the PVC louvers through a keyhole punch in the vanes. As the product evolved over the years, this “interconnecting" has been discontinued as unnecessary and perhaps unsightly.
Due to the fact, as previously mentioned, that vertical blinds louvers are free hanging and able to sway, noise is a factor to be considered whenever a purchasing decision is being made. If vertical blinds fabricated of PVC are used to block light or control radiant heat from entering a room, the consumer must remember that PVC louvers swaying against one another will create a bothersome sound which may prevent you from a good night’s sleep if moved by the moving force of air from your air conditioning vent.
Due to these concerns with vertical blinds with PVC louvers, vertical blinds with fabric louvers are not only an excellent choice but their popularity has proven that this benefit is desired by many consumers. Additionally, fabric vertical blinds are available in hundreds of patterns and colors not available in PVC. Consumers should also be aware of the different quality levels of fabric louvers that will ultimately affect the way they hang, longevity, translucency factors and the ease of cleaning. High quality fabrics will always hang straight, last many years and can be easily cleaned with soapy water and damped dry projecting a sharp appearance regardless of their age.
Most of the vertical blinds fabric louvers are manufactured using two basis methods that are weaving and stitch bonding. These two types of fabrics are very different in feel and appearance and I will elaborate on the difference in the following paragraphs.
Stitch bonded fabrics are manufactured in a process with fibers which are compressed and then stitched through. Sometimes the stitching, which is there in part to hold the material together, is designed in a certain style in order to create a pattern. These patterns are usually linear, running the length of the fabric. Stitch bonded fabrics, for those who may not know are often used as curtain liners in draperies, and while these materials usually are not as heavy as the type used in vertical blinds, they do reflect the way the fabric is manufactured. They are usually much lower in cost than woven fabric vertical blinds.
Conversely, woven fabrics are traditionally manufactured using high-end, fast weaving equipment that presses one thread down while inserting the next thread into place at very high rates of speed and with great accuracy. This process enhances the durability of the fabric over time thus the reason why it is used to manufacture fabric clothing of all types. One of the additional benefits of this process is the production of many of many more styles and patterns when compared to stitch bonding. Regarding vertical blinds, woven fabrics, albeit more expensive, do project a finer appearance and will look “new" much longer that stitch bonded fabrics.
Based on the aforementioned facts, you can now make a right decision when choosing vertical blinds fabric louvers. The less expensive stitch bond with a limited selection of patterns and colors or the richer looking woven fabric, albeit more expensive, with a larger selection of patterns, colors and styles. Your decision will affect the appearance of the specific space for years to come and a little higher initial cost may make a big difference. Invest wisely in your vertical blinds.
Replacement Slats For Vertical Blinds
When planning a set for a show, be it a movie or a television show, every set designer will come across the opportunity to select window treatments. This is a situation where several important challenges must be met. The window treatments must fit with the application of the set, to show a true reality of who would have selected these products for the target location. Blinds should not increase the noise level on a production. The products usually are desired to be attractive, and durable. Finally, one would like the blinds to arrive quickly, when working last minute with tight deadlines can make it difficult to know in advance what is required.
A set should reflect the stylings of the environment and the occupants. One who is selecting for a hospital set should consider for a different decor when compared to an office suite. A great element of fabric vertical blinds is that they are capable of being used in both such settings. The selection will often relate to the size of the window blinds and the proximity of the window treatments to the surrounding items. An example is that an office suite, and keep in mind we are only using that as an example, may have the vertical blinds immediately next to the desk of the occupants, while a hospital will often have a space in front of the blinds. This allows for more of the vertical blinds to be visible, but also keep in mind that often office occupants wish to have large looking and grand appearances, so the larger height of the windows can be covered well by vertical blinds.
Often a set designer will try to save money by using a lower cost PVC vertical blind. While it is true that many vertical blinds from PVC are looking increasingly like fabric, it is not always true that the cost is significantly less. As oil prices have risen world wide, so too have the prices for PVC vertical blinds. In addition to this, consider that noises on the set can disturb production, and PVC blinds can be loud. For this end alone, fabric vertical blinds can be an excellent choice. They are extremely quiet, and will actually help to dampen extraneous noises.
Unless one is designing a low rent set, attractive designs are often required. This is a chance to showcase your talent as a designer. Fabric vertical blinds offer such a large range of colors and designs, that a set planner can feel confident that there will be a successful appearance. While the past plan would have been to select a close color, with the increasingly high quality of replay equipment, the patterns are more important, so high quality vertical blinds will help to make the scene.
While the sets are sometimes reused, often the products will be moved and bumped often. Vertical blinds tracks are high above the action, protecting them from much damage. At the same time, quality fabric vertical blinds will be safe from some of the banging of the set fixtures. If extreme wear is expected, one can order extra fabric vanes, and can also remove the vertical blinds slats when needed. However, consider that the removal should not be too regular so as to not put extreme wear on parts.
Unlike large drapes, vertical blinds can be produced quickly. Even as a custom design, fabric vertical blinds can be processed and produced in a matter of two weeks, usually, and sometimes a little faster. This quick production can help when working with the quick and tight deadlines that are so common in your business.
So, when selecting window treatments for a set, consider the versatility, attractiveness, low noise levels, and ease of receiving vertical blinds as your solution. Fabric vertical blinds also, by the way, have the ability to change the colors without much difficulty, so should this project end, the set plans can continue on forward. Fabric vertical blinds are a great window treatment choice for set designers looking for quality blinds.
Judith Persit has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Interior Design and Home Management. Judith Persit is certified as an interior decorator and gets her from blindsfactorydirect.com at. Judith Persit's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.
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