Basic Blinds

The following beginner’s guide will help remove some of the confusion when it comes to shopping for blinds, shades, or shutters:

Grab & Go Window Blinds

Made to fit common generic windows, grab & go blinds are simply pre-cut blinds that you buy off the shelf. Since all windows aren’t the same dimensions, grab & go blinds are available in a variety of size ranges. It can be tricky to pick out a grab & go window covering that will fit as well as a custom blind or shade. Since the grab & go blinds are made to accommodate a number of different lengths and widths of windows, you might need to shorten it for your window, making sure there are no light gaps on the sides of your windows. Although they are the lowest price blind or shade on the market, this also means they are lighter weight, made of cheaper materials, have lower quality hardware, fewer sizes and colors to choose from, and no warranty. The lower cost does, however, make them a good choice for attics, basements, and garages. Available at most discount chain stores, home improvement centers, and large department stores, grab & go blinds have a product life expectancy of 2 to 6 years.

Custom Made Window Blinds

The opposite of grab & go blinds, with custom blinds each window is measured for its width and height to the nearest 1/8” and the blind is built to fit the opening. The bottom of the window shade comes right to the window sill and the light gap on each side is about ¼”. Usually warranted for as long as you own the home, custom made blinds have a wide variety of color choices -- from several shades of white to the most common stained wood tones. You can choose from PVC blinds, real wood blinds, or a wood composite. Usually a bit more expensive than the grab & go blinds, custom made blinds can be purchased either through the Internet or at most retailers.

Mini Blinds

Made from several different gauges (thickness) --the higher the gauge the better -- of aluminum, mini-blinds come in several slat widths, from ½ to 2”. They are very affordable and to further lower their cost some of the grab & go mini blinds use plastic slats rather than aluminum. Although they were very popular in houses about 10 years ago, nowadays they are mostly used in commercial buildings.

Venetian Blinds

When it comes to choosing Venetian blinds, there is much to choose from. Although the original venetian blinds were made with wide curved metal slats (kind of like a mini slat), over time the slats have evolved. They come in different materials, such as plastics, woods, and combinations of plastic and wood. Their shapes can be curved, elliptical or flat and slats are available in 1, 2, 2 ½ or 3” widths. Choosing venetian blinds these days can be a bit confusing for the consumer because most window covering manufacturers buy slats from the same 3 or 4 companies. And to complicate matters even further, window blind manufacturers have made their own names for the same materials, same sizes, and same shapes!

Following are the basic types of materials to look for in a venetian blind:

1. Composite

A newer material that is being used for window coverings, composite blinds are made from a combination of polymers and wood products. The blind slat’s surface is a smooth poly-coating or a solid composite material. There are a few stain colors and wood tones to choose from, but the color selection is mostly limited to whites. Although the one drawback to composite blinds is the weight of the slats, they are durable, easy to clean, less likely to warp than wood, UV and water resistant, lighter than PVC blinds, but heavier than wood, composite blinds and they are a good choice for larger windows.

2. Faux or PVC

Did you know that faux or PVC blinds are made of the same stuff milk bottles are made from? One of the newer materials being used for blind slats, PVC blinds are made of a solid or foamed polyvinyl chloride plastic. The surface of the slats can be smooth or embossed with a wood grain and are generally available in 2, 2 ½ and sometimes 3” widths. Color selection is mostly limited to whites, but there are a few wood tone colors available. Although the one main drawback to faux blinds is the weight of the slats, they are durable, easy to clean, UV resistant and -- just in case you left the windows open when it rained or the sprinkler came on -- they are waterproof. Since PVC slats are heavier than composite or wood slats, they are best used in smaller windows.

If you’ve gone window blind shopping lately at one of the large building centers, you are aware that you can get them as “cut and wait” -- a combination of grab & go and custom made window blinds. Yes, PVC blinds are very inexpensive, but remember, the old adage, “You get what you pay for.” There is no warranty and it seems there is a high level of dissatisfaction by customers who have purchased them in the past.

3. Wood

There are two types of wood blind slats. The premium wood blind slats are made from American hardwoods (usually Basswood), while the value wood blind slats are made from assorted Oriental hardwoods. Color selection in wood window coverings is quite large with several different whites and the most popular hardwood stain colors. Slat widths are generally anywhere from 1 to 2” and the slat’s surface is either painted or stained. Wood blinds are your best bet if you are interested in matching a cabinet or trim stain. All wood slats can warp and may color fade over long periods of time. Since they are made of light materials, wood blinds work well for large windows. They are, however, very expensive.