From the Floors Up

Six Signs It Is Time Replace Your Window Treatments

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When was the last time that you really took a close look at your window coverings? You will find that after some years, blinds, shades, and other types of window treatments start to become worn. Many homeowners switch out their window treatment after 7-10 years. If you cannot even remember the last time that you have upgraded your window solutions, you should inspect them for wear and tear. When window treatment becomes damage, they do not perform their primary function. Here are some signs that it is time to replace your window treatments:

Difficult to Operate

Are you finding that it is becoming increasingly difficult to raise or close your blinds? Over time the lifting mechanisms on blinds become damaged when the blinds stretch out and get too wide for the mechanism to support. When it becomes nearly impossible to operate your blinds, you can expect them to fall off of the window eventually. It is best to replace them as soon as possible.

Bent Slats

Exposure to heat and humidity over a prolonged period of time can cause the slats to warp and bend. It may even cause the slats to take on a wavy form. When your slats start to take on such an appearance, you should replace them as soon as possible because it sticks out like a sore thumb and will decrease the aesthetic value of your home.

Broken Slats

If you live in a home with children and pets, you can also expect your blinds to get bent out of shape eventually or even broken. In high traffic areas, your curtains and shades may even experience rips or tears. If this is in the case, you want to consider more durable window solutions.

Discolored Slats

So the slats are not looking as pearly white as they once did. If you have noticed that your blinds have a yellowish tint that it is impossible to get all the way clean, then it is definitely time for some new ones.

Not Meeting Your Needs

If your window coverings are no longer blocking out the sunlight or giving you the privacy you need, that means it is time to upgrade to something more functional.

Kid-Friendly

Blinds with long cords are a safety hazard for small children. If your window treatments are not safe for the children in your home, then you will have to upgrade to updated coverings with safety features.

We hope you found these tips helpful! Be sure to subscribe for more design tips and tricks.

Before You Order Window Coverings – 101

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$%#@! I measured and it still doesn’t fit! Sound familiar? Why is it that something so seemingly simple as hanging a window covering can be so dang complicated? Here is a quick list of tips to consider as you measure – BEFORE you purchase or order your window coverings. Yep, guesstimating isn’t going to work most of the time.

Keep in mind that each window covering is going to require different measurements.

Each window covering has its own installation process. If you don’t measure exactly, your covering may not function properly.

Each and every window must be measured. Don’t take shortcuts!

This seems like a no brainer but here it is anyway: An inside mounted window-covering houses the window covering inside the window casing.  An outside mounted window-covering fits around or outside the window casing.

Window sheers can be installed with an inside or outside mount depending on the window molding and sill construction. It’s the depth of a window casing that determines whether or not a window covering can be installed with an inside mount. It’s important to know if your window casings are level. If not this can be corrected by installing shims – thin wedge shaped pieces of material.

Normally sheers are mounted inside the window casing. Curtains are mounted outside and the last part to be installed over the curtains is the valance.

Then of course there are variations such as an inside/outside mount. In this case the mounting bracket and head rail are installed inside the window casing, but they are not fully recessed, meaning a portion of the head rail will not be completely flush with the face of the window.

So get out your tape measure and be as exact as possible!

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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