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The Valance on Your Wood and Faux Wood Blind Matters

11/24/2014

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The valance on a wood or faux wood blind is the finishing piece that goes across the top of the blind to hide the head rail - which contains all of the mechanisms.  The quality and features of the valance are often overlooked by most consumers but is a very important design feature.

For instance, one of the better design looks is a 3.5" decorative valance with returns on the side.  Additionally, your better fabricated blind will have metal clips.  The advantages of a better quality valance are that you get a little bit of a crown molding look across the top of the blind.  Additionally, the returns add some depth, which tends to improve the look of the blind and window.  Also, the decorative nature of the valance adds design interest and classic lines.  Finally, the better valances come with better hardware, which means the clips are less likely to fail, break and then be impossible to replace.

Consider that your low cost builder blind or big box bargain blind has none of this to offer and you can begin to see why local fabricators and retailers can provide some added value.  The typical bargain wood or faux wood blind has a flat valance with no returns.  Additionally, it generally comes with fairly low end plastic valance clips that either break or come lose with dusting.  Then you are left trying to find a replacement clip - which is next to impossible because their are 100's of different types of clips - and they change the clip size and shape every couple years.  At this point, customers must revert to Velcro strips and make due.

Just know you do have better options and remember the valance will tell you a lot about the quality and lasting beauty of the wood or faux wood blind you choose.  If you would like an estimate of what your project might cost, please check out our online wood and faux wood blind cost calculator.  We are here to help you with your project.
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Stained Wood Blinds

11/17/2014

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It is possible to get a stained wood blind in either an engineered faux wood or a stained basswood.  Because of the technology, stained looking engineered wood can be quite nice and affordable.  But honestly, and for my money, it is still hard to beat real stained wood.  Why?

Well, natural wood has imperfections and different densities.  This means that stains take on a life of their own depending on what is going on with a particular section of any given portion of the wood.  Plus real wood will have slight movement and texture that can not be replicated in a PVC wrapped product.

Also, our two favorite brands of wood blinds make some of the most beautiful stained wood blinds I have ever seen.  I personally like them better than any other brand I have seen and they are not the most expensive - they are mid range price.  Anyway, there is just just something warm and inviting about a natural stained product that technology has not yet been able to replicate.  They can come close, but for the discerning eye - wood is the way to go when wanting a stained product.

We would love the opportunity to consult with you on your wood blind project.  And, be sure to check out our online cost calculator for a rough estimate.

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Motorized Horizontal Tilt Systems for Wood and Faux Wood Blinds

11/10/2014

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Did you know that we can motorize your 2" and 2.5" wood and faux wood blind?  We can even motorize your 2" aluminum blind.  These sorts of window coverings are motorized for the tilt function, not the lift function.  People rarely lift their wood or faux wood blinds, but tilt them quite often.

So how does it work?  Generally, we would use a battery pack with 8ea AA Lithium batteries.  A radio frequency motor is programmed to a hand held remote that is used to operate the tilt function.  Honestly, this sort of application is used most often in hard to reach windows.

Most people buy wood blinds and faux wood blinds for their functional beauty and reasonable price.  To motorize a wood or faux wood blind adds anywhere from $250 to $400 per blind for the motor, and the remote can run another $100 to $150.  This could add up fast if you have many windows.  For this reason, this sort of motorization is generally only done on a couple hard to reach windows.

While motorization is increasingly popular - it is mostly used on blinds where the motor is used to raise and lower the blind - not tilt the louvers.  Never-the-less, it is available and for the rare project could really be a better option then a 12 foot cord hanging down in a stairwell - or having to get a ladder out to change the tilt on your high wood blind.

Don't forget, we provide an online wood and faux wood blind calculator so that you can get a quick estimate for your project.

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Wood Blinds with Holes, No Holes, or Cloth Tapes?

11/3/2014

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Typically, wood blinds come in three distinct privacy options.  The first, most popular, and least expensive is the blind with the route holes in the slats for the cords.  Another option is the routerless slat which has a grove in the back that holds the cord in place.  This eliminates the light gaps from the route holes when the blind is closed.  Finally, wood blinds can be made with cloth tapes.  These are solid or decorative cloth strips that run the length of the blind and provide a splash of style and with some light control when the blinds are closed.

The routerless option has found some traction in the market and typically adds about 20% to your cost with some vendors or approximately $40 per blind for others.  It is a different look with better light control but be careful because if the blind is raised or lowered unevenly, the slats might fall out.  It does not happen often, but we have seen it happen.

Budget conscience shoppers have moved away from the cloth tape option in recent years as it adds about $50 to $70 per blind, but for a very beautiful and unique look, it still remains a favorite amongst the designer crowd.

We would love to help you with your next project.  Visit our online cost estimator for a quick ballpark of your project costs.
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