Whether you are selecting drapery, drapery rods, vertical-blinds, or mini-blinds as your window coverings, one important consideration is the product durability you are willing to accept. It is true you do not necessarily have to forfeit durability for price. When you purchase a budget or economically priced product, you should realistically appraise the probable life span it may endure. Usually, if the product is made with inferior parts or components, your window covering will have a relatively limited life span.
Draperies
One primary factor to consider when purchasing draperies is whether you will dry-clean them or can they be washed separately in a regular washing machine.
A good choice in fabric composition is a cotton/polyester blend. Cotton has long been known for its durability and aesthetic qualities (it hangs beautifully). Its sole drawback, however, is its tendency to incur some shrinkage during cleaning. These shrinkage problems can be significantly alleviated when polyester is blended in with the cotton. This makes for a very stable product.
A cotton/polyester combination is also resistant to sun rot or discoloration.
This fabric sometimes comes available with backing which provides added insulation in the winter months and for privacy.
Drapery Rods
When purchasing drapery rods, few customers realize that the major drapery rod manufacturers offer several grades of rods with varying qualities. For example, when you ask for a rod, did you know that most rod manufacturers feature rods ranging from lightweight economy models to a heavy duty durable style, which is particularly suitable for rental unit situations. A good strong drapery rod will provide you with many years of maintenance-free usage, especially when regularily using your blinds.
Mini-Blinds
Since a mini-blind is an entirely mechanical operation, you want to make sure you are buying a durable product that will withstand repeated and sometimes harsh usage. Remember, if one small part of your blind breaks down, you usually end up replacing the whole blind. It is difficult and extremely costly to have someone come out just to restore your blind or repair a slat or two. Here are a few things to look for:
Slats: This is probably the most important part of your mini-blind. A thin or inferior slat will bend, crimp and be susceptible to overall damage.
Make sure you are getting an extra thick slat like .008 or .0095 gauge thick only. Don't be misled into believing that .006 gauge is just as strong as .008 or .009 gauge. If you believe that then you should believe 6 pounds is just as heavy as 8 or 9 1/2 pounds. Many retailers, as well as wholesalers, carry a thinner slat to save on shipping costs, but will sell it as a superior choice. Even nationally known and recognizable blind companies all tend to offer thinner slats that are more applicable to light residential usage. Be sure, therefore, to invest in blinds that are specially constructed to take a beating.
Head Rails: Make sure you get a strong heavy all-steel 1 1/2" head rail at the top of your blind. Smaller head rails will usually indicate that less concern or attention has been paid to the mechanical operation housed in the head rail; that is, larger head rails allow the manufacturer to use larger and better mechanical components. This is important. As mentioned before, a blind is entirely mechanical; therefore, make sure the head rail is 1-1/2" wide and strong steel.
Mechanical Components: You want to select blinds with durable wear resistant metal mechanical components. Some manufacturers reduce their costs by using cheaper plastic mechanical parts in the head rail. This, however, usually results in more mechanical problems and less durability.
Lifetime Warranty: First, invest only in blinds that come with a Lifetime Warranty. What does lifetime mean? It should be for your life and as long as you own the blind. That means 10, 20 or 40 years from now, the manufacturer guarantees to repair or replace the blinds at no extra cost to you, should they not function properly due to either mechanical failure or workmanship.
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