Window Blinds Glossary of terms;
A
Acorn:
Decorative pulls generally made of wood, brass, brushed steel or plastic and fitted to the end of cords.
Aluminum Blinds:
Horizontal blinds made out of aluminum, they are also referred to as "mini blinds," "macro blinds," or "micro blinds”. They are generally available in 15mm, 25mm, 35mm and 50mm slat sizes.
Allowance:
Deductions made by the factory off of a blind to ensure the blind fit a recessed window. Allowances are only made to 'Recess' specified blinds generally referred to as Recess allowance.,
B
Basswood:
A hardwood from a bass tree, typically grown in North America or China. Basswood is a high quality wood due to its resistance to warping.
Blackout blinds:
Blackout fabrics (also called block-outs) and liners, block outside light. Blackout blinds are the best choice for bedrooms, children's rooms, and media rooms.
Bottom Rail:
This is the horizontal piece of hardware that anchors the window covering at the bottom. Bottom rails are usually colour-coordinated to match the rest of the window covering. The bottom rail weighs the window covering down and keeps it hanging straight
Bunch:
The area in which the louvres of a vertical blind "bunch" when opened. Choosing a left bunch or a right bunch will determine which way the blind opens. If you order a left bunch, the louvres will "bunch" on the left side of the window when fully opened. Other options include split bunch, in which the blinds open from the middle, half bunching on the left and half to the right.
Brackets:
Installation parts that are mounted on to the window frame or wall and are used to attach and install the headrail of a window blind. Brackets can top fix into a lintel or face fix into the wall or frame.
Braid:
A decorative chord trim used on roller blinds.
C
Ceiling Mount:
An alternative mount for blinds in which the headrail is mounted (top fixed) to the lintel or to the ceiling.
Controls:
The mechanisms used to raise, lower and tilt a window shade. Controls are usually cords or wands. When ordering a product, you will be asked to specify which side the controls will be placed on.
Cord Cleats:
Used to prevent the cords of a window covering from pooling on the floor or window sill. Cord cleats are a safe solution to keep dangerous, dangling cords out of reach of children and pets.
D
Dual Control:
Dual control blinds have a cord to raise and lower the blind and either a cord or rod to tilt the slats
Drop
Refers to the vertical drop measurement of the blind in centimetres.
**Note: Each product has a unique minimum and maximum height, which may vary based on selected options.
E
Exact Size:
The blind is supplied exactly to the size that has been ordered, no allowances are made by the factory. Exact size is generally specified when mounting the blind outside the recess.
Extension Brackets:
For installations requiring additional space between the blind and the mounting surface, so that the blind will clear obstructions such as window handles or trims.
F
Fabric Turned:
Due to fabric limitations, some fabrics may have to be turned and cut in the opposite direction.
This is generally only available on plain fabrics.
H
Headrail:
The hardware at the top of the window blind that contains the mechanical operational parts.
Height:
Refers to the vertical measurement of the blind in centimetres.
**Note: Each product has a unique minimum and maximum height, which may vary based on selected options.
Hold-Down Brackets:
Brackets to fit the bottom rail of a Venetian blind to a window sill or the bottom of a door
I
Inside Mount:
A type of installation that refers to hanging a window treatment inside the window frame, so that it is recessed with the window.
J
Jacquard:
Jacquards are fabrics with an intricate woven in design.
L
Ladder cords:
Thin cords that are threaded through the slats to hold a Venetian blind together.
Ladder tapes:
Ladder tape – woven cotton tape offered in 19mm, 25mm and 38mm widths running vertically over the cords for a more decorative finish to a Venetian blind.
Length:
See "Height."
Lift:
The control, usually a cord or chain, that raises and lowers the blind.
Light Control:
All window shades act as a form of light control. Blinds that use slats or louvres provide the best light control as they have the ability to control the amount of light coming in.
Light Filtering:
A window shade that allows light in while the product is fully lowered. The more opaque a fabric is, the less light will be filtered into the room. Darker-coloured fabrics will filter out more light than lighter-coloured fabrics.
Lining:
Fabric liner forms the back part of a blind and allows for better privacy, light control and presentation of the blinds by limiting the light transmitting through the product. Lining is most commonly used for Roman Blinds..
Louvre:
Vertical fabric slats of a blind that are used to control the amount of light that goes through. Louvres are available in 89mm and 127mm sizes. See Vanes
M
Made to measure:
This means that our blinds are made to your own unique requirements.
Max Square metres:
The maximum area the blind measures in metres. Calculated by the width times the height.
Measurements:
The measurement should be given in the format Width x Height of the window. Measurements should be in centimetres and given to the nearest 0.1cm. Please see our measuring section for information on how to measure a window.
Mono Control:
Mono control blinds have a cord or rod which both raises and lowers the blind and tilts the slats
Mount:
Mount refers to whether the blind will be mounted within the window frame (inside mount) or on the wall surrounding the window (outside mount).
O
Opaque:
A non-reflective surface that is not transparent or translucent. Opaque is the best choice for bedrooms, children's rooms, home cinema and media rooms.
Outside Mount:
A type of installation that refers to hanging a window treatment on the wall surrounding the window, so that the window treatment overlaps slightly with the wall.
P
Privacy:
Refers to how much of a view is blocked when the window shade is fully closed. Sheer fabrics do not provide any degree of privacy, while blackout fabrics would be considered fully private.
Projection Brackets:
See "Extension Brackets".
R
Recess Size:
This is where a small clearance allowance is deducted off of the width in the manufacture of the blind. Deductions are generally made to Recess specified blinds so the shade hangs freely in the recess and does not catch the sides when raised or lowered. (Recess size is generally specified when mounting the blind inside the recess).
Returns:
The two "side" pieces of a valance that connect the front (main) part of the valance to the headrail Valance returns are only used on outside mounts for wooden blinds to cover the brackets or headrail at the sides see valance returns
Reverse Roll:
Roller blind option where the fabric rolls off the front of the shade, preventing the backside of the fabric from being seen and creating a more streamlined look. Idea option in conservatories for gaining extra clearance to avoid catching window handles.
Roller Blinds:
Blinds made of vinyl or fabric that is attached to a cylindrical roller that can be raised and lowered to cover a window.
Roman Blinds:
Window fabric blinds producing a horizontal pleated effect with a smooth covering over the window when down. They have a classic, elegant sophistication as they pull up in soft folds,
Room Darkening:
Decreases the amount of light passing through a shade to darken a room. For bedrooms or media rooms where light is a major concern, consider installing the blackout blind using an outside mount. Keep in mind that there is no window treatment that can completely black out a room, but it can reduce up to 99% of the light from passing through.
S
Scallop:
This refers to the shaped bottom of a roller blind where, on certain fabrics, you have the option to choose the finished shape of the blind See shape
Semi-Opaque:
Fabric that provides moderate light control, allowing images and shapes to be seen, but not details.
Shape:
See Scallop
Sheer:
A fabric that blocks very little light and maintains your view, but does not allow for privacy.
Sill:
The finishing piece at the bottom end of the window frame.
Skylight Blinds:
Window blinds designed to cover a skylight roof window. A skylight is a window in the ceiling allowing a view of the sky and are generally set at an angle requiring side profiles for the blind to fit perfectly.
Slats:
These are the horizontal strips of aluminium or wood that make up an aluminium, Wood Effect or Wooden Venetian blind.
An integral part of a horizontal blind that is used to control the amount of light that goes through by tilting the slats to an open or closed position..
Spacer Blocks:
Used to add extra depth to the headrail. Spacer blocks are fitted behind the mounting brackets to gain extra clearance to avoid obstructions such as window handles.
Spring Control (Softraise):
Spring conrol is a lift system option available with most roller blinds. It comes with a decorative pull which allows you to move the blind up and down without the use of a cord or chain. Spring Lift roller blind does not have unlimited stopping positions as it is controlled by a cog mechanism and as such the stopping positions available is limited to where the cog stops.
Stack:
The area in which the slats or vanes of a blind "stack" when opened. On vertical blinds, choosing a left stack or a right stack will determine which way the blind opens. If you order a left stack, the louvres will "stack" on the left side of the window when fully opened. Other stacks include split stack, in which the blinds open from the middle, half stacking on the left and half to the right. With horizontal blinds, "stack height" refers to the space at the top of the blind that is taken up by the slats when they are fully raised
Standard Roll:
An option when ordering roller blinds. The standard option for our roller blinds where the fabric rolls away from the room and falls closest to the window. see also Reverse roll.
Swivel Bracket:
Special brackets used for Venetian blinds and Roman blinds. Swivel brackets are used to ease installation and can be top fixed or faced fixed. The bracket hooks onto the headrail by locking the arm intothe close position.
T
Tapes;
Vertical strips of fabric that are used in conjunction with cords. Tapes are not threaded through the slats like cords; when the blinds are closed, the tapes will run straight down the front surface. Available on wood blinds, cloth tapes improve light control and privacy while adding a decorative accent.
Tilt:
The position (and mechanism, if applicable) of the control that tilts the slats of the blind open and closed. It is usually most convenient to have the tilt control and the lift control on opposite sides of the blind
V
Valance:
The decorative piece used as a finishing touch to hide the headrail of a window treatment. The valance typically matches the product.
Valance Returns
see returns
Vanes:
Vertical fabric slats of a blind that are used to control the amount of light that goes through. Vanes are available in 89mm and 127mm sizes. See Louvres
Velux Blinds:
Window blinds designed to cover a Velux skylight roof window only.
W
Wall Mount:
A type of installation for window blinds where the headrail is mounted on the wall surrounding the door or window.
Wand:
Detachable rod connected to the tilt mechanism of a Venetian blind that allows the slats to tilt in an open or close position.
Width:
Refers to the horizontal measurement of the blind in centimetres.
**Note: Each product has a unique minimum and maximum width, which may vary based on selected options.
Wooden Venetian Blinds:
Horizontal timber slats hanging from a metal headrail that can be raised and lowered using cord controls. Timber slats can be tilted to the desired position to adjust the level of light filtering through.
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