Tips on choosing blinds

According to tradition, the emphasis in the words of the French language is put on the last syllable. No exception, and the word - jalousie (shutters, blinds of parallel plates). I am ashamed to admit, but I always without hesitation said "Well? Lyuzi" - with the accent on the first syllable. But that, of course, not stress. In the end, this is not the main thing. The main thing - to understand: how to choose the right? In the encyclopaedia is written like this: "Blinds hang for protection from sunlight, precipitation, dust, to regulate the air or heat flow.

Appearing with us not so long ago, this kind of "blind" managed to gain immense popularity. And at the blinds are much more likely than ordinary curtains and tulle. After the thin curtains do not protect from the sun, and the heavy and dense - stop the access of air and make the room pitch darkness. And blinds provide uniform illumination. A friend of mine always lamented that in a small villa terrace, all the windows that light curtains hung from every gust of wind lifted the fabric and strives to either wrap the head, or fall into the bowl of soup.

So, all these problems would not be if the windows were hung shutters. Or, for example, take the kitchen.Gasman and firefighters are strongly advised not to hang curtains close to the plate: God forbid, will catch fire!And what if we buy into the kitchen blinds? In my opinion, this is a way out. Only question: Which is better?

What are they?

How I managed to find out blinds are vertical, horizontal, roller (roller blinds) and protective (shutters).

The main element of all blinds (except roller) - lamella, ie the strip of material (fabric, plastic, metal, wood). The vertical blinds are located vertically on the horizontal, respectively, horizontally. Lamellae protective roller shutters are connected into a continuous sheet wound on the shaft. Roller blinds are made on the same principle, only from a single piece of tissue or a small wooden slats.

After some thought, decided: I like vertical blinds. How do they work?

Vertical blinds consist of the following major "parts": cornice, runners, weights, connecting chain, chain of command and control cords.

Cornice - bearing part, which carries the slats. Usually it is made of aluminum. Rarely, but there are plastic moldings. I do not advise to buy them: they can bend under the weight of blades, and inside the rotating parts eventually deform the plastic. As a result, the mechanism would jam.

Runners - devices that on the one hand clinging to the ledge and move on it and the other on the slats are suspended. It is the quality of runners in the first place depends on uninterrupted work of the mechanism of vertical blinds. As far as I found out, runners do only plastic. But runners runners alike. Even a tiny burr can disrupt the smooth movement of blades, and then the blinds will always seize up, move with great difficulty and very soon could ever break. So, when placing an order at the company, with a predilection question to the seller, where the "native" sliders and other details of blinds.

Weights - is inserted into the bottom of the blades so that they are not swayed in the wind, and hung straight.

Connecting chain - as the name implies, connects the slats at the bottom. Typically, textile slats of plastic chain link, through which prodernuta monofilament. Manufacturers claim that these chains are very strong. But this, of course, does not mean that they should be ruthlessly yank. I, of course, more to the soul, metal "chain" (at least, because they are not so noticeable dirt and generally they are somehow more reliable). But they are completed with mostly plastic and metal blinds. And besides, metal is burdening and costly construction.

The same applies to the chain of command, which hangs from the side eaves and slats rotates 180 °. These chains are also mostly made of plastic (although previously they were made from metal).

There is a rope control - it is moved and pushed the slats.

Production of components for the blind engaged in a large number of companies, from Belarusian, Polish, Korean and ending with the Israeli, Germanic and Dutch. The good reputation enjoyed the Israeli and Dutch products. While the price of it, naturally, higher. But money is not a sin and pay. Therefore, ordering blinds, ask where the manufactured parts, and do not flatter yourself with cheap prices - miser pays twice. But, as I explained, the quality of the blinds only 50% rests on the quality of parts and by 50% - of the integrity of the company, which collects mechanism.

Let us calculations

How much on average are vertical blinds? For example, tissue. Take srednestaticheskoe window height 1,8 m and a width of 1,5 m. For example, we have decided not to hang blinds inside the window opening, but as usual the curtains, to keep them on the wall above the window. So, you should add another 15 inches to the width and height, so they went over the edge of the window. Then:

width product will = 1,5 + 2 x 0.15 = 1.8 m;

elevation product = 1,8 + 2 x 0.15 = 2.1 m;

total area of product = 1.8 x 2.1 = 3.78 m

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

The wizard, installer is on average 10 - 15% of the total price of shutters, that is, in our case, about 7 $.However, there is a lower limit of the price of installation. Whatever you may be a small window and the least expensive material blades, with you still take a minimum of 150 - 200 rubles.

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

Services zamerschika usually free. But if you hang blinds themselves, the company guarantees only the product. And if the blinds installed master, the warranty period extends to the blind, and installation.

Slat Material

Slats of vertical blinds come in two sizes: the "European" - width 127 mm, and the "American" - 89 mm.

Our advice: for large windows and interior walls as better use venetian blinds with wide lamellae, small openings - with narrow.

Typically slats of vertical blinds made from fabric or plastic, at least - made of wood or aluminum.

Fabric blinds

In our country the most popular fabric blinds. Apparently, matter of habit and love all kinds of blinds and curtains. Fabric slats are different in density, color, texture, but most often they are made from polyester - a durable material that is virtually fade in the sun and is easily cleaned.

Adherents of all natural can recommend slats of cotton fabrics. Just keep in mind that after a few cleansing soak gradually slezet with them and the fabric can sit.

Fabrics for the slats, on our market, produced in France, Belgium, Spain, United States, Britain, Poland, China, Ukraine and Belarus. Of course, domestic fabric cheaper imports. But there have been cases where unscrupulous sellers were given a cheap Chinese fabric for an expensive French. To avoid such fraud advise you to deal only with reputable companies, long working in the market, which will assume all obligations under the warranty service.

Making the choice between inexpensive non-woven materials ($ 8-10 / m) or refined with a complex jacquard weave (of 20-40 $ / sq.m), you should pay attention to the density of the material.

Our advice. The greater the density of tissue, the longer the lamella will retain its appearance: not deformed, not twisted, do not pull.

Although the higher density, so, naturally, higher than the price. Non-woven material is cheaper fabric, but bad moves moisture faster and rubs. Must take into account the fact that the fabric with printed pattern is cheaper, but quickly fade in the sun. If the picture is woven in the fabric (Jacquard weave option), it is more durable.

Where there are increased requirements for fire safety (for example, in the kitchen), it is best to hang blinds from fiberglass, which is in the fire is not lit, as it were baked, not smoking and does not emit harmful substances. Fiberglass does not need to handle pyleottalkivayuschimi impregnations, unlike normal tissues, because they are at the stage of production must cover waterproof and antistatic compositions (this is true, does not deal with the cheapest materials for 5 $ / m2).

Plastic blinds

The main advantage of plastic blinds: they do not bend "to all the winds luck and keep good form, in contrast to the tissue. But the shortcomings of plastic blinds directly dependent on the price. The cheapest (at $ 14 per sq ft) - a rather fragile and not very resistant to extremes of temperature: under the bright rays of the sun, they heat up and begin to turn yellow. Blinds of good quality plastic deprived of these disadvantages, but then the cost from 20 $ / sq.m. Usually they are bought in offices and homes hang in the kitchen or on a glazed loggia.These blinds are cleaned well and do not accumulate static electricity.

Wooden blinds

It is quite expensive ($ 66-130 per sq ft). But then they have many advantages: the material is natural, environmentally friendly, durable. Typically, this is solid light wood (Canadian linden, cork tree), processed by special technology. Vertical wooden blinds lamella consists of many thin strips of wood, connected by threads of the canvas. Care for these blinds is very easy - simply vacuum it.

Metal blinds

There are rarely on sale: they are used mainly in industrial premises. These blinds are easy to care, not exposed to sunlight, and covered with heat-resistant paint. True, they say that even with a slight breeze, they rattle (clatter). And it will agree, not everyone will like it. Price - about $ 30 per sq m and a width of 89 mm slats.