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The California Clip

6/29/2015

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So, what the heck is the California Clip, and why does it matter?  Great question. 

The California Clip is the best way we have seen to attach a wood or faux wood blind valance to a wood or faux wood blind.  Many of the big name manufacturers save a couple pennies per blind and use different variations of a plastic valance clip.  So, you need to know to be looking for it.  The thing about these plastic valance clips is that they are more prone to cracking or breaking - and then can be hard to replace - especially if the blind is years old - and the industry has changed up the style.  Planned obsolescence anyone?

Here are some of the specs:

  • The California Clips come pre-installed on the valance for fast and effortless installation.
  • California Clips are available for both inside and outside mount installations.
  • Valances for inside mount are manufacturer approximately 1" wider than the window opening and have standard 1/2” returns.
  • A return size of 3/4” can be requested.
  • Inside mounted blinds are to be installed with at least 1/4” of the headrail extruding from the window opening.
  • Outside mounted blinds have valances with standard returns of approximately 2-3/4” for all valance styles.

If the we can make it work, we always try and design our jobs with valances that have the California Clip.  There are some inside mount applications for which this clip will not work, however, most of the time, and with an educated consumer understanding the restrictions and advantages, we can make this much better, easier and more durable option work.

We would love to help you add California Clips to your wood and faux wood blind project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your project might cost check out our online wood and faux wood blind calculator.

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InLite Faux Wood Blinds

6/22/2015

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Here is a scenario for you.  Let's say you have a need to do an inexpensive clean-up of your window coverings.  Your budget is limited but your current blinds are just done.  What do you do?  You know full well that you generally get what you pay for - so, you are hesitant to buy the super cheap deals you see online or at your favorite box store.

What should you do?  Well, our suggestion would be to consider the InLite Faux Wood blind offered by Skandia Window Fashions.  Why?  Because in all of our years of handling the faux wood blinds, in our opinion, the best low cost option is the Skandia InLite Faux Wood.  We have sold and installed these blinds for many customers over the years and have had very few minor issues.  This is stunning given the price point of this offering.

Here are the specs:
  • Made from Extruded PVC - Slats, bottomrail and valance are extruded PVC with an added UV stabilizer. Will not crack, peel, warp or fade.
  • UV Rating - InLite™ faux wood blinds have a 500-hour UV rating.
  • Self-Extinguishing - InLite™ faux wood blinds are self-extinguishing and are safe for residential areas.
  • Traditional Look - The look and quality your customers desire and below the cost of wood blinds.
  • Three Color Options - Skandia offers three color options of White (#704), Antique White (#707), and Alabaster (#708) in a sleek gloss finish.
  • Environmentally Friendly - InLite™ faux wood blinds do not require the destruction of our forests for their production and all remnants are recyclable - not adding to our waste management problems.
  • Warranty - InLite™ blinds are backed by a 2-year warranty.

We would love to help you with an affordable quality option for your faux wood blind project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your project might cost check out our online wood and faux wood blind calculator.  For Inlite faux wood blinds you can reduce the calculator price by about 10%.
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Grandview Wood Blinds

6/15/2015

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We carry Skandia brand GrandView wood blinds and arches and we want to brag on them a bit.  These blinds bring out the best in a room with the sumptuous look and feel of real wood. Having handled many brands of blinds, we can honestly say that the Grandview blind is one of the best on the market.  They have a look and finish that just looks top of the line.  They are often confused for far more expensive Hunter Douglas wood blinds.

With today’s styles ranging from highly contemporary to all out country and every realm between, GrandView wood blinds and arches are at home with any style decor. Handcrafted of basswood, these blind and arches come in a variety of finishes and colors. From painted to stained there’s a finish guaranteed to work for your decor design. 

GrandView wood blinds have two valance options: the standard GrandView valance with a traditional style, or an upgraded valance with a contemporary look. The valance clips are hidden upon installation.  Another feature of this blind is the option of tape ladders. Tape ladders give the choice to make a statement by either subtly complementing the color and finish of the blind or adding contrast to the decor.  With the rectangular bottom rail, tape ladders are ensured a finished look and stay flat to the windowsill.  Controls can be specified as wand control or cord control. Certain applications can and will dictate which control option is to be used to ensure function ability and ease of operation. The wand control is of the same color wood. 

GrandView blinds are made with the low-profile head rail that takes up less space and helps eliminate unsightly light leakage.  The head rail is also narrower than the valance so less of the head rail is visible.  The ends of the wood slats are carefully painted with a double-pass technique with a color-matched paint. This technique grants the blind a tailored, furniture-quality finish.

We are always happy to provide Grandview wood blinds by Skandia Window Fashions.  The end product is always one that makes us feel good about the work that we do.  With that said, we would love to help you with your next wood blind project.  Also, for a quick idea of what your project might cost, please check out our online wood and faux wood blind cost calculator.
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Summertime Energy Efficiency and Wood or Faux Wood Blinds

6/8/2015

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Now that summer is here, we all look forward to vacations and long sunny days but not the excessive heat gain. This heat gain results in an uncomfortable home environment and rising utility bills. According to the US Department of Energy windows can account for 10% to 25% of your electric bill.

Before the latest innovations in glass, films, and coatings, over the last decade, a typical residential window with one or two layers of glazing allowed roughly 75- 85% of the solar energy to enter the home. During the summer, sunny windows make your air conditioner work two to three times harder. This has a negative impact on summertime comfort and cooling bills, especially in hot climates.

But turning down the thermostat or agonizing over R-value statistics is not the answer. R-values and shading coefficients are confusing and hard to understand.  We try to help our customers make good buying decisions by evaluating a window coverings energy efficiency based on the products material makeup, basic construction,
and proper usage.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy says that horizontal blinds transmit 5%, reflect 40% to 60%, and absorb 35% to 55% of radiant energy. Horizontal blinds are not be the most energy efficient window covering available, but when used correctly they can help in conserving electricity.

To maximize the energy efficiency of your wood or faux wood blinds think about following the rising and setting of the sun. During the summer season, horizontal blinds should be tilted completely closed in the upward direction, especially when direct sun is on your windows.  You will want to be sure to adjust your blinds through-out the day to keep those direct sun windows tilted closed in the upward direction. Once the sun sets, blinds can be adjusted to let the remaining light in until privacy is needed.

In fact, you might consider just tilting the all your wood or faux wood blinds up in the closed position during the hottest hours of the day.  This will do the most for summertime energy efficiency, but the trade off is less light during the day.

With that said, if energy efficiency is your top priority for your wood or faux wood blinds, then following this plan will result in energy savings.

We would love to work with you on your wood or faux wood blind project.  Also, please be sure to check out our online wood and faux wood blind cost estimator.

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Replacing Slats on a Wood or Faux Wood Blind

6/1/2015

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Sometimes a horizontal slat will become damaged and will need to be repaired. This always means inconvenience and expense and can often mean being without your blind for weeks while it is repaired. It
would be a great deal more pleasant to go ahead and do the repair yourself at home. It’s possible and extremely simple.

Here’s how:
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1. Remove the bottomrail plugs.







2. Under the plugs you will find the ladder and knotted lift cord. Push the ladder aside and pull the lift cord out and cut the knot.






3. Pull lift cord up through the slats to the slat that needs replacing. The damaged slat can then be slid out from the ladder and replaced with a new slat.






4. Rethread the lift cord back down through the slats making sure to weave the lift cord through the ladder rungs from right to left.







5. Push the lift cord through the bottomrail and retie the knot.







6. Stuff the lift cord and ladder back into the holes in the bottomrail and replace bottomrail plugs.
It's just that simple.

We would love to work with you on your next wood or faux wood blind project.  Also, please check out our online wood and faux wood blind cost calculator for an estimate of what your project might cost.
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