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Whether you are selecting
drapery, drapery
rods, vertical-blinds,
or mini-blinds for
your window coverings, one important consideration
is
the product
durability you are willing to accept. It is true
you do not necessarily have to forfeit durability
for price; but, when you purchase a budget or economy
product, you should realistically
appraise the probable life span of that product. Usually,
if the product is made with inferior parts or components,
your window covering will have a relatively limited
life span. This is particularly applicable in rental
unit situations where tenant abuse frequently can
occur; therefore, a "Real Deal" can turn
into a real nightmare if your window coverings have
to be replaced after only a few month's usage.
Draperies
One primary factor to consider when
purchasing draperies is whether you will dry-clean
them. As costs for dry cleaning have increased, some
rental unit owners have sought alternatives. One
alternative is to purchase inexpensive draperies
that can be used for a couple of years, then discarded
instead of cleaning.
Another desirable
alternative is to select a fabric that can just
be washed. The best
fabric composition you can get for this purpose is
probably cotton/polyester. Cotton has long been known
for its durability and aesthetic qualities (it hangs
beautifully). Its sole drawback, however, is its
propensity to incur some shrinkage during dry cleaning.
These shrinkage problems can be significantly mitigated
when polyester is blended in with the cotton. This
makes for a very stable product. Even if you just
plan to dry-clean your draperies and not wash them,
cotton/polyester would be a good choice. A cotton/polyester
combination is very resistant to sun rot. This fabric
sometimes is available with backing which provides
added insulation and privacy. A new drapery called "Superwash"¨ is
probably the most washable drapery fabric you can
buy.
Drapery Rods
When purchasing drapery rods, few customers
realize that the major drapery rod manufacturers
offer several grades of rods with varying qualities.
For example, when you ask for a rod, did you know
that most rod manufacturers feature rods ranging
from lightweight economy models to a heavy duty durable
style, which is particularly suitable for rental
unit situations. Once again, there is quite a difference
in durability. A good strong
drapery rod will provide
you with many years of maintenance-free usage.
Mini-Blinds
Since a mini-blind is an entirely mechanical
operation, you want to make sure you are buying a
durable product that will withstand repeated and
sometimes harsh usage that can occur in rental units.
Remember, if one part of your blind breaks down,
you usually end up replacing the whole thing. It
is difficult and extremely costly to have someone
come out just to restore your blind or repair a slat
or two. Here are a few things to look for:
Slats - This is probably the most important
part of your mini-blind. A thin or inferior slat
will bend, crimp and be susceptible to overall damage.
Make sure you are getting an extra thick slat like
.008 or .0095 gauge thick only. Don't be misled into
believing that .006 gauge is just as strong as .008
or .009 gauge. If you believe that one, then you
should believe 6 pounds is just as heavy as 8 or
9 1/2 pounds. Wrong! Many retailers, as well as wholesalers,
carry a thinner slat because it is both less expensive
for them to do so and, unfortunately, the general
public rarely knows the difference. Even nationally
known and recognizable blind companies all tend to
offer thinner slats that are more applicable to light
residential usage. Be sure, therefore, to invest
in blinds that are specially constructed to take
a beating by tenants. To buy this type of blind,
it starts with .008 or .009 gauge slats.
Headrail - Make
sure you get a strong
heavy all-steel 1 1/2" headrail at the top of your blind. Smaller headrails will
usually indicate
that less concern or attention has been paid to the
mechanical operation housed in the headrail; that
is, larger headrails allow the manufacturer to use
larger and better mechanical components. This is
important. As mentioned before, a blind
is entirely mechanical; therefore, make sure the
headrail is 1-1/2" wide and strong steel.
Mechanical Components - You want to
select blinds with durable wear resistant metal mechanical
components. Some manufacturers reduce their costs
by using cheaper plastic mechanical parts in the
headrail. This, however, usually results in more
mechanical problems and less durability.
Lifetime
Warranty - First, invest only
in blinds that come with a Lifetime Warranty. What
does lifetime mean? It should be for your life and
as long as you own the blind. That means 10, 20 or
40 years from now, the manufacturer guarantees to
repair or replace the blinds at no extra cost to
you, should they not function properly due to either
mechanical failure or workmanship.
For hundreds
of durable, extra thick drapery samples to choose
from, the strongest drapery
rods on the market, super tough .008 and .009 gauge
Hercules mini-blinds with a Lifetime
Warranty and
a large variety of vertical blind choices with slats
that are 33% thicker than most competitors, be sure
to call one of the original and largest drapery and
blind manufacturer serving the apartment industry
for over 50 years, American Drapery & Blinds
of Hayward, California.
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