Vertical Blinds

Product Overview

Vertical Blinds are an excellent example of elegance combined with practicality of use. Vertical Blinds are one of the oldest types of blinds, invented in Kansas City, USA, and are still popular due to its wide variety applications.

The construction of vertical blinds comprises of vertical slats hanging from a head rail. The slats are connected with a cord that runs through the headrail. Operating the cord will allow the operation of rotating the blades and also stacking them at either ends to open up the space completely.

Ideal application for Vertical Blinds is as follows:

1. For Large Windows: We often come across questions on the lines of what type of blinds are most suited for very large windows. The horizontal operation blinds like Roller Blinds, Roman Blinds and Venetian Blinds require one to lift up the entire blind to open or close. The mechanisms used on these blinds need to be robust to lift up this weight. Also, beyond a certain dimension, the horizontal blinds do not work and therefore are not available in extra-large size range. This is where the Vertical blinds are highly suitable due to the fact that the mechanism will still be highly durable no matter what the length or drop of the window. With most Vertical Blinds available in widths upto 6 metres and 5 metres in drop.

2. For Sliding Doors: Vertical Blinds have known to be the best type of window coverings for sliding doors. The main reasons for them being ideal for this applications is A) Easy to draw them open in the same direction as the sliding door, therefore lending convenience to access. B) Easy Access: With the option to open only how is required, vertically, doesn’t require one to open the entire blind to access the sliding door. Like with Roller Blinds, one needs to open the blind all the way to gain access. C) Fantastic Light and Privacy Control: With Vertical Blinds, you can tilt the slats or stack them as per your light and privacy requirement. Sliding Doors are excellent to let the sunshine in your home/office so it is advantageous to have the ability to control this. D)Access For Pets: If you require access for pets through the sliding door, vertical blinds without bottom chains are best suited.

3. Hard to Reach Places: Vertical Blinds are also a practical solution for difficult to reach windows. Request an extra-long cord or wand with the blinds for high windows.

Due to its purist and function focused appearance, vertical blinds are an ideal choice for offices and formal places. Due to its clean cuts, they are the first choice for corporate offices and medical facilities alike. Vertical blinds in neutral fabrics have mostly been installed in offices for some years now. However with the introduction of interesting patterned as well as colours, they are now widely used in residential applications as well.

With the more refined operating systems and advancement in the quality of the fabrics, the inherently vertical blinds are now one of the most popular kinds of blinds.

Different Types

Vertical Blinds are available in multiple slat widths. Namely, 89mm, 100mm and 127mm. Choose the right slat size after considering the following factors:

1. Total Width of the window: For smaller width windows, 89mm will be best suited whereas for wider windows, it makes sense to use a wider slat, eg 127mm. Adapting this rule will also lend a visually balanced and symmetric look to the window.

2. Type of the fabric: If you have chosen a patterned fabric, the wider slats will show off the design as intended. The narrower slat widths will cut down the impact of the pattern as compared to. Similarly, the plain fabrics will work well with any slat width.

3. Amount of Sunlight that falls on the window: For windows where the sun hits directly, it is advisable to go for wider slats as they will block the sunrays better due to the wider area.

4. Insulation requirements: If you live in an area with extreme temperatures and want your blinds to perform as insulators to keep the temperatures inside neutral, choose wider slats as they will allow less loss of heat/cold in comparison to narrower slats.

5. Sill Depth of the window/door if you are mounting the blinds on the inside of the window frame: Stating the obvious, the wider slats will require more space to rotate. Thus, if you are installing the vertical blinds on the inside of the window/door frame, make sure you have enough space for the blades to rotate/tilt. If the space isn’t enough, the operation of the blinds will be hindered by handles, winders etc. and thus affects the use.

6. Figure out how restricted your view the outside should be: The wider the slats, the lesser the number of slats on the given window. Less number of slats means less obstruction to the view outside when the slats are tilted. For better vision go for wider slats.

7. Budget/Price difference: As a rule of thumb, the wider slats vertical blinds are cheaper as compared to the narrower ones.

Materials Used

Vertical Blinds are available in a range of material types. Different material types are suited for varied application. The most common types of materials are as follows:

1. Fabrics: In today’s time, the fabric vertical blinds are the ones which are most easily available and are lend a style quotient to your interiors. The soft fabric look combines the practicality of blinds with the softness of curtains. Available as Blockout fabrics, Sheerview fabrics or Translucent fabrics. Due to its easy ability to control light and privacy due to its design, the Sheer and Translucent fabric do not serve their purpose. Thus, the blockout vertical blinds are the most popular ones in the market today.

2. Vinyl: Available as smooth or textured, Vinyl is used to manufacture vertical blinds.

3. Faux Wood: If you like the look of wood and the easy care advantage of Vinyl, Faux wood is the right type for you.

4. PVC: For complete light blockage, the PVC vertical blinds provide sufficient blockout. The hard blades are a feature of PVC vertical blinds.

Choose the right type of material to give your space a permanent face-lift!

Operation

The two choices of operations for Vertical Blinds is as follows:

1. Chain and Cord Operation: Operate the chain to tilt the slats at an angle to control light. Operate the cord to stack the slats together. You can also choose the colour of the chains and cords to co-ordinate with the fabric chosen. Do not forget to install the child safety device when opting this option.

2. Wand Operation: For a minimalist look, choose Wand Control. Rotate the wand to tilt the slats and slide or pull to bunch the slats. Choose a matching colour to blend the wand with the entire décor. Added advantage of being child safe.

Child Safety

Since the early 1990s at least 15 young Australian children have tragically died as a result of unfortunate strangulation incidents involving blinds cords and chains.

Australian Child Safety law requires all blinds retailers to supply child safety devices with all kinds of blinds which have loose cords and chains hanging. It is one’s own responsibility to make sure that the child safety cleat is installed and any loose cords/chains are wrapped. Warning Stickers supplied with the blinds should never be removed.