interiors

A List of Blinds Materials Available on the Market Today

This article will share essential considerations when choosing blinds for your home. Before you select a new shade, you should think about the size, shape, and location of the window it will cover.

You must also consider the people who will use it most often and how prominently you would like it to be a part of a room’s design. 

Blinds can be made of diverse materials, including faux wood, wood, fabric, synthetic fabric, metal, and plastic. Read on to learn about their unique characteristics.

Wood Blinds

Wooden blinds are one of the most popular window coverings available. They are made of either veneer or solid wood. These blinds come in various colours, ranging from light-coloured woods to more expensive dark wood varieties. They can be made with natural wood grains or stained in an array of colours.

One advantage to choosing wooden blinds is that you can have them custom-made to any size and fit for your window. Another advantage of wooden blinds is that you can repaint them to match your interiors or decor. You can also restain them to give them a new look. If the colour of your wooden blinds gets dull or damaged, you can get them refinished. 

Faux Wood Blinds

Faux wood blinds are made of thin sheets of plastic. They are a great option for people who want to achieve the appearance of wood without the cost. This blind comes in different colours, including dark brown and light blonde. It is also available in a wide variety of textures, such as grain, laminate, and granite. 

The grain texture gives off a natural look that resembles wood. The laminate texture makes the faux wood blinds look like they have a wood veneer coating. Meanwhile, the granite texture gives the blinds a more expensive look, and faux wood blinds are more affordable than wooden blinds and can blend well with different types of decor.

Fabric Blinds

Fabric blinds are the most stylish and comfortable window coverings. They do not absorb heat, so they are ideal for the summer. Fabric blinds are available in a range of colours and textures. They come in various shades, including cream, brown, red, green, blue, and black. For a unique take, you can also choose patterned blinds.

Fabric blinds are used to cover smaller window areas. They come in large sizes to take up large windows or provide full patio door coverage. You can also get them at patio door sizes, covering the whole door. Since these blinds are made of fabric, they are easy to clean. 

Synthetic Fabric Blinds

Synthetic fabric blinds are made of polyester, nylon, and microfiber. These blinds are light and easy to clean. They are available in different models, and you can choose one that best suits your home. Most of these blinds come with a bottom rail that makes cleaning the least of your worries.

The blinds come in different textures and colours. Some of the most popular models have a horizontal balance. Other blinds have a simple design, while the rest have beautiful patterns. These blinds are generally easier to maintain and are available at affordable prices.

Metal Blinds

Metal blinds are made of metal slats. They provide excellent insulation, but they can be challenging to operate. They are available in different styles and colours. Metal blinds are ideal for garages, bathrooms, kitchen windows, skylight windows, and patios and are also suitable for large windows and patio doors.

Metal blinds are lightweight and easy to clean. Most models come with a removable bottom rod that makes cleaning a breeze. All you need to do is wipe them with a cloth or a duster. The blinds are ideal to use in kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms. 

Plastic Blinds

Plastic blinds are best for kitchens and bathrooms. They are made of thin plastic and are popular in offices and babies’ rooms. Plastic blinds come in different colours, including white, beige, black, and brown. They have a modern look and are available in various styles.

Plastic blinds are typically not heavy, but they are durable. They are great for small windows and add style and elegance to modern and traditional designs. Most plastic blinds come with a horizontal rod and a lift cord to effortlessly raise and lower the blinds. They also consist of a pull cord attached in the middle of a slat.

Conclusion

Blinds are an excellent addition to any home. They can give your home a stylish look. Since there are many types of blinds on the market, it will help to be familiar with them to choose the one that best suits your home.

If you are looking for blinds in the UK, check out Direct Fabrics. We supply fabrics for care homes, schools, hotels, and more. Get a quick quote today!

Understand Thermal Blinds and Curtains

Thermal Curtains and Curtain Lining – Understanding Thermal Properties

This document is a work in progress and will be updated as time goes on.

Thermal curtains are designed to stop heat energy entering a space and the heat / cold escaping from a space.

So if you are using them in your home they complement your windows to create a further barrier to the outside.

Why Use thermal Curtains

Thermal curtains add a level of insulation to the space and work to keep your space;

• Warm and comfortable in the winter
• Cooler in the summer

Understanding Thermal Acronyms and information

When talking about thermal properties there are a variety of words used and these combine to provide the thermal information of the fabrics used.

U-value is a measure of thermal transmittance which is the ability of a material to transfer heat. All elements of a building have U-values for example walls, windows and other insulation materials such as plasterboard. The lower the U-value, the lower the heat loss through that particular material. Therefore a material with a low U-value is a good insulator. The U-value of glazing is always improved by installing blinds.

Example U Values of Windows

Understand Gtot

Total solar energy transmittance (gtot) relates to the performance of solar protection devices such as blinds or curtains and is the percentage of solar energy incident on the fabric of a blind or curtains that is transmitted to the interior of the building, including both the transmittance of the solar protection device itself and of the window glazing.

The lower the g-value or gtot, the lower the heat gain. The value of gtot is between 0 and 1, where 0 equates to no radiation being transmitted into the room and 1 means all radiation (100%) is transmitted. So a gtot of 0.25 (25% heat gain, 75% heat rejection) reduces heat gain three times more effectively than a gtot of 0.75 (25% heat rejection). External shading helps to significantly reduce gtot values and has a much more significant impact on gtot than internal shading.

Although the levels of Reflectance (Rs), Transmittance (Ts) and Absorptance (As) can vary depending on the type of material, its colour, thickness, etc., their total will always add up to 100% of Solar Irradiance. Reflectance (Rs) + Transmittance (Ts) + Absorptance (As) = 100% of Solar Irradiance

What is the goal of thermal curtains

The goal when using thermal curtains is to reduce the solar transmittance into the space and as such reduce the amount of solar energy passing into the building and inturn keeping the room cooler in the summer.

The opposite is also the case when trying to keep heat inside a room. We want to stop transmittance of energy passing back out of the window. So again putting a fabric between the room and the window will reduce heat loss through the window.

What to do with your blinds and curtains to improve

To maximise the thermal benefits within your space your should do the following

Summer

• Close the blinds at night on the east-south elevations to protect from early morning heat gains
• Open the blinds at night on the west and north-west elevations to assist night time cooling

Winter

• Close the blinds after the sun goes down to retain heat
• On Sunny days open the blinds during the daytime to maximise heat gain from the winter sun and close blinds at night.
• Winter Blinds in unoccupied rooms should always be closed.

Blackout Thermal Curtains

Heat Loss through windows

• Conduction – direct loss of heat through the window to the outside
• Convection - where the warm air in the room hits the cold surface of the glass and cools the air inside the room
• Radiation and Re-radiation - this is where the cold surface of the glass absorbs the heat from inside the room
• Air leakage – heat lost through cracks in the frame or from around poorly fitted glazing

Improvements in Blinds when using a blind

Credits and

BBSA website for some of this information

https://www.shadeit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BBSA-Guide-to-low-energy-shading.pdf

https://bbsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/BBSA-Training-Guide-FABRICS.pdf

A Guide to Picking the Best Blinds for Your Business Space

Your business space should always emulate productivity and professionalism. Each element should work towards producing that image, and the window covering should be no exception. Blinds are an important addition to any business, industrial or residential, that can help enhance the appeal of a space or create a new look altogether. 

They are especially versatile in their ability to coordinate with almost any style. Granted, it can be quite difficult to figure out which would be the best blinds to choose for your business space. For a bit of help, here's a three-part guide to picking the best blinds for your business space.

What Environmental Factors to Consider

As you pick the perfect blinds, it's important to consider the existing space that they're going to go in. If you have a more humid business space, then you may have to pick a material that is resistant to moisture. On the other hand, if you have a business space that is exposed to a lot of sun, then you may want to choose a blind that is reflective.

The dimensions of the blinds are also important to consider. Take the measurements of the length and width of the window that you want to put the blinds in. Any other surrounding elements could potentially impact the blinds, inhibiting them from working as best as they could. It's ideal that the blinds will be compatible with the area.

What Functional Factors to Consider

Aside from the space itself, try to check the functional factors you'd want the blinds to have. Do you need blinds to help block out heat and cool your business space? Or are you only interested in getting blinds that keep the sun from shining in? Should they be flame-resistant or have any other special features?

There are many options on the market today that offer different functional attributes, including solar shades and darkening effects. Keep in mind that the type of fabric you end up picking for your business space will also determine how functional it actually is, so be sure to get something authentic and suitable.

What Blind Types to Choose Between

After finally figuring out the environmental and functional factors you should be considering, it's time to look into the blind types. There are a wide variety of blinds to choose from, and the options can be a bit overwhelming.

Roller blinds are a very traditional type of blind that is popular for business spaces, typically attached to the window. They are best for those who want to leave their blinds open for the most part of the day, having a rolling mechanism for you to toggle when needed.

Aside from roller blinds, there are also roman blinds and fully operational blinds. Venetian blinds are also a good inclusion to go with, categorised as a window blind type with slats made of wood or plastic. They can be set in between the two sides of the window.

Conclusion

Finding the right ones for your business space can be quite a challenge, especially if you aren't familiar with the available options on the market. Now that you've gone through these three steps, you can narrow down and find the best blinds for your space.

Interested in office roller blinds? Direct Fabric in the UK is a supplier of fabrics for hotels, care homes, schools, and more. Get in touch with us now!