Product Charecteristics - Wood Venetian Blinds

Wood is a natural material, and as your blind is made using real wood, the slats are likely to exhibit their inherent characteristics such as knots and grain patterns.

Wood venetian blinds are heavier compared to blinds made from synthetic materials. You may find that raising wood venetian blinds requires some effort.

Absorption of moisture and subsequent drying of the wood over time may lead to slight warpage or twist. Therefore, it is not recommended to use wood venetian blinds in areas with high moisture levels.

Colors and finishes:

When it comes to stained finishes, natural shade variation can occur. Painted finishes may display minor imperfections on the surface, which are caused by the natural characteristics such as grain or knots in the wood.

The color of the slats will gradually fade, similar to any piece of wooden furniture exposed to direct sunlight. Minor defects on the headrail are considered acceptable since they are covered by the valance. Uncoated wood will be visible on the punched holes in the slats.

Light exclusion:

While wood venetian blinds provide a good degree of light exclusion, they are not designed to be blackout blinds. Some light may enter through the following areas:

• Slats: As the slats do not fully touch when tilted, there will always be some light filtering through. Expect larger gaps between fully tilted slats towards the bottom of the blind.

• Bottom rail: The bottom rail is typically supplied to rest on the windowsill, preventing the blind from swaying when the window is open and reducing the amount of light entering from underneath. However, this may limit the complete closure of the slats at the base, allowing some additional light to filter through.

• Sides/punch holes: A limited amount of light may also filter through the punched cord holes in the slats, as well as around the sides of the blind.

Please note that the amount of light coming through may vary across the entire blind

Fitting in a bay window:
- Gaps between neighboring blind headrails: When fitted in a bay window, there will be gaps where the neighboring blind headrails meet each other. The size of these gaps depends on factors such as the shape of the bay, window style, and blind system specifications. The gaps may be more noticeable when the slats are closed.
- Light gaps at the edge of the bay: Depending on the angle of the bay and the adjoining walls, there may be light gaps or potential loss of privacy at the edge of the bay.
Finished drop/length:
- Achieving exact size: Due to the fixed distances of the slat support rungs, it may not always be possible to achieve the exact size ordered. To prevent the blind from being too short, an extra slat may be added, resulting in a slightly longer drop than originally ordered.
Raised blinds:
- Horizontal alignment: When in the raised position, the blind may not raise perfectly horizontally. This can result in a slight bow on the bottom bar due to how the ladder/tapes fold between the slats and the weight of the product.
Slat alignment:
- Variation in slat alignment: The alignment of slats can vary due to tolerances in the ladder support rungs. As a result, absolute alignment between adjacent blinds cannot be guaranteed. The number of ladders/tapes in venetian blinds depends on the width of the blind and will vary. For example, a 600mm wide blind may have 2 ladders, while a 615mm blind on the same order may have 3.
Cut-down blinds:
- Competitive pricing: Cut-down blinds are competitively priced standard-sized blinds that can be trimmed to fit your window.
- Stained or painted ends: If you choose this option, please note that none of the slats' ends will be stained or painted.
- Cord and ladder positions: The cords that raise, lower, and tilt the blind, as well as the ladder cords and tapes, may be in different positions if you order for multiple windows.
- Consideration for multiple blinds: Carefully consider this option, especially when purchasing multiple blinds for the same room with different-sized windows.

Wide Wooden Venetian Blinds

Installing sufficient support brackets is essential for wider wooden blinds, as they provide additional support to the headrail and help prevent it from bowing or sagging under the weight of the slats.

Things to consider when choosing Wooden Venetian blinds that are too wide:

Sagging in the middle – the headrail can bow under the weight of the slats, especially when raised
Strain on the mechanism – lifting and tilting becomes harder, which can shorten the lifespan of the components
Uneven operation – blinds may not raise evenly, leading to a crooked or jammed look
More wear and tear – cords, ladders, and internal parts are under more stress and can fail sooner
Poor appearance – a wide blind that sags or sits unevenly can look untidy and low quality
Need for extra brackets – centre supports are often required, which can interrupt the clean look
Handling issues – wider blinds are heavier and less user-friendly to operate on a daily basis

Raised Blinds

When in the raised position the blind may not raise perfectly horizontally and may have a slight bow on the bottom bar. This is due to how the ladder/tapes fold between the slats, the quantity and positioning of the lift cords, and the weight on the product.

In short, going too wide, raising blinds can affect both performance and appearance, so it’s advised to split into multiple blinds for larger windows. Bowing or sagging on wider blinds is not considered a fault, but a limitation of the product when used beyond recommended widths.

Fitting inside the reveal (window recess):

Operating clearance: The width of the blind needs to be narrower than the width of the reveal to allow for operating clearance. If there are any obstructions in the reveal, such as tiles or a dado rail, the blind will be made to accommodate the narrowest width.

Reveal (recess) not dimensionally consistent:

Square blind, inconsistent reveals: Wood venetian blinds are made square, but reveals in reality may not be. The head of the window or sill may not be level, and the distances between the side walls can vary. The distance from the edge of the reveal to the window may also vary, so blinds will either be fitted to run parallel to the window or to the edge of the reveal.

Motorisation:

Wide range of motorised solutions: There are various motorised solutions available for convenience and comfort.
Speed and alignment: Blinds in the same installation may not travel at the same speed and may not line up perfectly if stopped during their travel due to mechanical and electrical tolerances.
Noise: Motorised blinds emit some noise during operation. Quiet motors may be available.
Wiring: Some surface wiring may be necessary. If the blinds require a 240V mains power feed, a competent person will be needed to provide the power feed unless the blinds can be powered from an existing socket with a plug.
Motor protection: Most motors have a thermal cut-out for safety. If the motor gets too hot from overuse, it will stop working until it cools down.

Smart Home Hub:

Interruptions and operation: When using a smart home hub, signals to the blinds may occasionally be interrupted by other wireless devices in the home, such as smart speakers or doorbells. This can affect the operation or seamless operation of the blind.

Child safety:

Risk of strangulation: Blinds with cords or chains can pose a risk of strangulation to young children.
Inherently safe products: The British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) recommends using inherently safe products (Safe by Design).
Proper installation of child safety devices: If you choose a product with additional child safety devices, they must be securely fitted as required.

For more information on window blind safety, you can visit the website www.makeitsafe.org.uk, which provides further resources and guidelines on ensuring child safety.