Blinds. Briefly about the blinds

Blinds, as a concept, translated from French, is interpreted as “multi-leaf shutters and curtains of fixed or movable plates installed on the windows of houses, grilles of floodlights, doors for changing the light or air flow.”

Blinds, regardless of type, usually consist of:

• a cornice, which differs from an ordinary cornice for curtains with special fixtures, different for each type of blinds;
• bracket – supports to maintain the cornice;
• lamellas – strips of fabric, plastic or metal, which make up the surface of the curtain;
• a lateral mechanism that allows the blinds to rotate;
• pivoting rod – all moving parts of the blinds are strung on it;
• control chains – a decorative rope turning lamellas;
• rope or belt, which is usually fastened next to the control chain and moves the lamellas in one direction, opening the window;
• sliders and clips fastening the blinds to the cornice, allowing them to move and rotate;
• dividers determining the distance between the lamellas, which do not allow them to move too much and get mixed up;
  lower weights (for vertical blinds), which weight the lamellas, aligning them.

Blinds come in many forms.

According to the type of lamella fastening, the blinds are divided into horizontal and vertical. Blinds also include roller blinds and protective shutters.

Horizontal blinds are reliable, functional and are a good solution for interior decoration in the office, sometimes used in kitchens. Often, designers combine horizontal blinds with various curtains. The latest innovation in the family of horizontal blinds is the Vision plastic blinds, which, unlike aluminum and wooden, are transparent. Care of horizontal blinds consists in cleaning with a soft cloth or brush, for which the lamellas are previously closed. If the blinds are very dirty, then they are cleaned with a damp cloth dampened in a mild soapy solution or use cleaning aerosols. You can use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust.

Vertical blinds can also be found in non-residential premises, although much less often than horizontal ones. Particularly successful are vertical dust-repellent fabric blinds, of which there are currently several hundred types on the market. Plastic vertical blinds are noticeably less popular. As an exclusive, vertical curly plastic blinds resembling Venetian curtains are offered.

Among the main disadvantages of vertical blinds, it is noted that when turning the sun, you have to turn the lamellas in order to stay in the shade. Vertical blinds can be moved to the right, left, and also from the center in both directions.

As a separate type of blinds, the “Pleated” type can be noted, which are suitable for all types of windows and can be installed in the window opening, covering the opening, on skylights with an angle of inclination of up to 60 degrees. With their help, you can arrange glass verandas. The blinds are fixed using a steel cord and can be installed with an angle of inclination of 90 degrees. Pleated blinds are indispensable in the design of non-standard window openings, such as arched-type openings. In this case, the blinds will be in the form of a fan.

Pleated blinds consist of a fabric that keeps folds well and is saturated with a special compound that protects it from pollution. Pleating the fabric gives many possibilities in window decoration with an excellent level of sun protection. These “folded” curtains are distinguished by functionality, clarity of lines and proportions, ease of installation and ease of operation.

Roller blinds consist of a whole canvas covering the entire light opening. When assembled, these blinds are folded into a neat roll above the window. They can be attached to the ceiling or wall. A wide selection of textures and colors allows you to design any interior. Roller blinds are one of the most practical ways to design a window that drops to any desired level. Roller blinds come with two types of control – with a chain or spring mechanism. The cost is the sum of the cost of the cornice and fabric blinds, as well as the type of control. Estimated price 1 lm – $ 60.

Roller shutters are special protective shutters (blinds) that prevent various negative effects of man and the environment on the premises. Security shutters consist of a canvas, guide rails, a protective box, a control and locking mechanism, and can be equipped with remote control devices, electronic locks, and other additional control elements. In addition to differences in controls, there is a difference in the material of which the web is made. Fundamentally, the materials from which the lamellae are made (horizontal strips fastened to each other) differ in their purpose as anti-vandal, capable of withstanding persistent encroachments and thermal effects and combining protective and decorative properties. In the first case, the products are certified anti-burglar resistance and are made from seamless (extruded) aluminum. In the second case, products manufactured by the rolling method with foam filling are used.

Fabric blinds are not inferior to all other types of curtains in a hygienic plan, for this the fabric is treated with dust-repellent impregnation. Fabric blinds come in non-woven materials, as well as jacquard. Fabric and plastic blinds have a significant difference in price (plastic is more expensive) due to the fact that the fabric, despite the special coating, attracts more dust than plastic. Wipe such blinds more often, over time, the material may acquire a grayish tint. In addition, the fabric transmits light. When operating fabric blinds, problems with pollution often arise. Meanwhile, no matter how dirty the blinds are, it is better not to wash them, but to vacuum them or send them to specialized companies offering blind cleaning services. The cost of fabric blinds – from $ 10 per sq.m.

Where increased fire safety requirements are imposed (for example, in the kitchen), it is best to hang blinds made of fiberglass, which does not burn in the fire, but as if is sintered, does not smoke and does not emit harmful substances. Glass fabric does not need to be treated with dust-repellent impregnation, unlike ordinary fabrics, which are necessarily coated with moisture-proof and anti-static compounds at the production stage (this, however, does not apply to the cheapest materials – at $ 5 per sq. Meter).

Among the metal blinds, aluminum horizontal blinds are the most common. Their main advantages are convenience and ease of use, a large selection of colors (painted in a variety of colors), durability, relatively low price – from $ 10 per sq.m.

In addition, there are metal shutters specifically for industrial premises. These blinds are easy to care for, not exposed to sunlight, covered with heat-resistant enamel. Their price is about $ 30 per square meter with a lamella width of ~ 89 mm.

An interesting option is inter-frame blinds. They can be made for both ordinary wooden and plastic windows. The advantage of this type of blinds is that they do not collect dust, do not occupy living space, and do not interfere with opening every window sash. The cost of interframe blinds for ordinary windows – from $ 11 per sq.m., for plastic – more expensive, from $ 30 per sq.m ..