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Comparing Real Wood Blinds to Faux Wood Blinds

12/29/2014

Everybody always asks, "What is the difference between wood blinds and faux wood blinds?" Here is a simple run down of the stuff that matters.

First, pay attention to the overall quality of either type of blind. If the price is very low there is probably a reason. Stick with a retailer / contractor with enough experience to offer the value product lines. The comparison does not matter, if we are not comparing apples to apples. So, with the understanding that we are talking about products that are the best quality for the best price, we are positioned to learn the difference between wood blinds and faux wood blinds.

Faux wood blinds are a vinyl or composite material that is formed to shape. The blinds are either painted some shade of white or are wrapped with a laminate stain look. The primary advantages are that they resist moisture well, they are less expensive then wood, and they are difficult to damage. The disadvantages are that they do not have the warmth of real wood, there are limited color choices, there are size constraints and size limitations, and they are heavier than wood.

Wood blinds are a real wood material that can be either painted or stained. While they are less perfect looking then faux wood, it is these real wood imperfections that give them there charm. They are lighter than faux wood blinds, but do cost more. Wood blinds come in more color and stain options - just like anything made from wood - like your dining room table.

So what is the bottom line:

If wanting basic white blinds - go with a faux wood blind - it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a white faux wood blind and a white real wood blind when looking at them side by side.
If wanting basic white blinds on windows over 72" in either direction - go with a real wood blind - the lighter weight makes the real wood blind work better and last longer.
If wanting a blind in a shower or area where you expect the blind to get wet or very moist - go with a faux wood - it will not absorb the water and will last a lot longer in wet windows.
If wanting a stain look for your blind - go with a real wood blind - while the faux wood blinds do look very nice - the extra cost for stained wood turns out to be well worth it, because, side by side, the rich texture and look is painfully obvious - in a major way.

With any luck, this article will give you a quick guide for making a good purchasing decision, as relates to faux wood blinds verses wood blinds.

We would love to help you with your faux wood blind or real wood blind project. Also, we have a developed an online wood and faux wood blind cost calculator to help you budget your project.

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The History of the Wood Blind

12/22/2014

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“…the newest invented Venetian Sun Blinds for Windows, on the best principles, stain’d to any colour, moves to any position, so as to give different lights, screens from the scorching rays of the sun, draws a cool air in hot weather, draws up as a curtain, and prevent being overlooked, and is the greatest preserver of furniture of anything of the kind ever invented…” -First known print ad for wood blinds, Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, 1767

Louvered wood blinds had their start in the mid to late 15th century in Europe. But it was in America, were the wood blind caught on as the colonists looked for ways to avoid the high taxes placed on drapery fabrics imported from England.

Wood blinds really started in ancient Egypt, where Pharaohs had blinds made of reeds, and in China, where they were made of bamboo. Some claim they were invented in Persia, brought to Venice, and from there to the world.

In one story, Thomas Jefferson was said to want wood blinds on each window in each house he owned. He was so impressed with them that he listed them in his will to be dispersed to beneficiaries. Jefferson was not alone; blinds were a very common feature in Colonial homes, and they were the window covering staple of the early American home.

As an interesting side note to history, the first wood blind ad was published by a man that Betsy Ross worked for. In fact, in all three of Betsy Ross's marriages - the men sold venetian blinds and Betsy worked in their shops. In addition to sewing the 1st American flag, Betsy may have made some of the 1st wood blinds. Both are still going strong today.

Today, wood blinds are available in a variety of colors and styles. From bamboo, to basswood, to premium hardwoods, to faux options, like vinyl, they are still one of the most popular window treatments available. Wonderfully versatile, affordable, simple, and sophisticated, wood blinds offer tremendous value – and a little bit of history right in your windows.

We would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project. Please check out our online cost calculator for a quick idea of what your project may cost.

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To Tilt or Not To Tilt, That is the Question

12/15/2014

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Let's do a basic breakdown of blinds as relates to light control. A few basic products let you tilt slats to control light, while other products use fabrics to block or filter light. You basic aluminum mini blind, your wood and faux wood blinds, and your shutters - all control light with tilting. Is there an advantage?

Of course, personal preference, window location, climate, and sun exposure all play a roll, but in the most basic sense, tilting is a bit more powerful then up or down. Why? Because tilting slats can create a variety of either openness or close down that single fabrics can not. The non-tilting blinds are either up or down. The tilting blinds are open, open by any percentage between 1% and 99%, are closed, or are up or down.

The 2" wood blind and faux wood blind is at the top of the value chain, in that they look good, provide the power of tilting, and are ultimately affordable - shutters compete - except the cost is much higher. So, if you want a little more control over the shadows and hues of your natural light throughout the day, and want it at a great price, then pick a wood or faux wood blind. It is the reason why you see this choice in so many homes.

We would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project. Please check out our online 2" wood and faux wood blind calculator for a quick price estimate for your project.

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Faux Wood Blinds for the High-End Apartment Complex

12/8/2014

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A shift is beginning in the commercial multifamily home industry. Apartment builders are moving away from vertical blinds and are moving toward faux wood blinds in their projects. Why? Well, two reasons. The dropping cost of Chinese made faux wood blinds coupled with a different design sensibility. The number one thing we hear from customers, "I hate verticals." Even a vertical on a slider is considered so 1980. Now, companies are able to buy "cut-down" faux wood blinds by the container and provide a basic throw away faux wood for your mid price apartment community.

From our perspective, this is the global economy finding the best "commoditized" price and is useful. However, rather than fight against this downward spiral of cut-down blinds, we are positioning ourselves to find those apartment communities that do not want to be quite as low end with their finishes. There is a niche market of nicer apartments, in good locations, that need to make the apartment feel less like an apartment and more like a home. This is where our local fabricator can really make a difference. With a much nicer product, and much longer warranty, we can add value to owners of these upper end projects - with higher rents and less turnover - not to mention less repair costs.

If you would like to spruce up your apartment project with a much nicer product at a fair price - and support local workers - then contact us for a quote from your take offs.

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Don't Melt Your Faux Wood Blinds

12/1/2014

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What did you say? Don't melt your faux wood blinds? Is that even possible? Sadly, yes - but it takes some effort. Here are just a few of the melt jobs we have seen.

Melt #1 - Arizona snowbird, one who lives in Arizona during the winter and returns to Minnesota, or some point north, for late Spring through early Fall. In this case, a snowbird closed up their house for the summer and decided to cut Styrofoam to fit each window - to control the heat inside the house. This process trapped the faux wood blind between the window and the Styrofoam. When they got back the following Fall, they found their blinds severely bend and twisted. Temperatures in their window pocket probably exceeded 200 degrees. Time for some new blinds.

Melt #2 - In another instance, some folks shut down their house for an extended vacation and did not leave any A/C running. It is not a good idea to let your house reach over 100 degrees on the inside. It is not good for your belongings or your house - and the window coverings are no exception. Leave you A/C set to 90 or 100 just to keep your personal affects from being ruined when gone for an extended vacation. Upon return, they found faux wood slats warped on several of the hottest windows.

Melt #3 - Foreclosures - No power and high heat equals twisted faux wood. They are guaranteed up to about 140 degrees. We have seen them survive up to 180 degrees - but after that expect warping, twisting and some of the most bizarre waves you can imagine. We have seen bunches of foreclosures with warped faux woods.

Melt #4 - Cleaning - Many online blogs will recommend cleaning your faux wood blinds in the tub or with a hose and then leaving them in the sun to dry. If you do that in a place like Arizona, where direct sunlight will cook an egg on the street, you can bet that your blinds will be melted. In fact, we have to be careful transporting faux woods in our pick-up trucks to ensure that they do not get too much direct sun on the way to the customer's home.

If you are mindful, faux wood blinds are a beautiful and affordable solution for your windows. But do be aware, extreme heat will return the PVC to its original molten form - it is what makes PVC products recyclable - just melt down and reform into something else.

We would love to work with you on your faux wood blind project. And, for a quick price estimate check out our online faux wood blind calculator.

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Comparing Real Wood Blinds to Faux Wood Blinds

The History of the Wood Blind

To Tilt or Not To Tilt, That is the Question

Faux Wood Blinds for the High-End Apartment Complex

Don't Melt Your Faux Wood Blinds

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