When the day begins, I simply raise the roller shades in my bedroom and let in the glorious rays of sunlight. You see, I am a lucky one who gets to sleep a little later than most. My job as a writer allows me to set my own hours. As a result, I like to stay up a little later, when I am inspired, and then wake up a bit after sunrise. They bright rays of the sun would wake me, but I have a perfectly configured roller shade setup in my bedroom, one which keeps out the light of the day, when I want it out.
Those who work evenings, and those who have intensely bright exposures, have a common need when it comes to bedroom light control. The bright lights can make it unpleasant for many people. Roller shades are a cure for this. Unlike many other window treatments, roller shades can be easily retracted, and are capable of blocking nearly all the light that can enter your windows. True blackout roller shades will block most of the light, with the exclusion of the light passing around the sides of the shades.
The sides of roller shades, we have all heard, as I stated above, are where the light can enter a room. But how big is this space, and how much light will actually enter? Inside mount roller shades, those which are installed on the interior sections of the windows, are the most susceptible to light entry. The light will pass on the left and right sides of the roller shades. How much light passes depends on two major factors. The first is how close the shade is installed to the glass. Closer roller shades will block more light. The second factor for these inside mounted shades is how much of a fabric deduction is taken to allow for the brackets. Most popular control systems have a net deduction of one inch to two inches. Quality roller shades will be towards the lower end of this scale.
Light can also pass by the top of a roller shade tube, and this can be limited by using a valance of a fascia to block the light. Finally, the light will pass under the bottom rail for the roller shades. This is usually unavoidable, but sometimes a shade can descend low enough to help limit these openings.
Outside mount roller shades can help to limit light gaps. These shades, which are installed on the outer side of the window opening, can be made larger. The benefits for consumers include the ability to make the shades substantially wider than the windows, which can block even more light. Also, making the shade taller can allow better coverage of the top AND bottom of the shades. There will, however, continue to pass light around the shade, so consider a combination treatment to make sure to block the most possible. Perhaps a roller shade and a plantation shutter may work together well for you.
So, as I get home from running around town, I want to have a bit of privacy, but still let in some light. Then, I lower the screen shades on the windows. Did I forget to tell you that I have two roller shades on some windows? On a few sides, I am too close to the neighbors. In these windows, I put both roller shades to help me sleep, and a second to help me relax in privacy. The added cost is not very much, and I have the ability to enjoy my home for many applications.
So, now that I have told you all about my living quarters, all made possible by my writing about roller shades, I must be the professional writer here. The key points that you should take away from this story are that roller shades can provide true light control. Roller shades can also provide privacy. And, working as a writer gives me great freedom and flexibility. Roller shades are available in a wide range of styles, and the technical range is ever expanding, so read the information carefully when making your selections. A great choice will make for a great home space.
Roller shades have been around for many years. Long ago in history many people had roller shades installed in their windows. Some of these roller shades still look quite beautiful. However it should be understood, and expected, that by now many of these roller shades that are in windows have deteriorated and gone by the wayside. Some of the wear and tear may be quite natural, including control systems that break down or fabrics that have ripped and torn or simply don't look right anymore. In any case, for most homeowners or business owners want to have attractive window treatments in their spaces.
Among the most common problems that consumers have with roller shades are failures in the control system. Sometimes roller shades ?don't want to roll up anymore.? Other times, they are stuck in position. For the first of these situations, you may simply find that if you can reroll your roller shade, you can tighten the springs and have it roll up better. In the case of a shade that is stuck, you must be very careful to not damage the fabric while trying to fix the shade. Many of these situations are complete losses, meaning that you will need to replace the roller shades. This is because the older control systems, those managed by springs, are no longer the commonplace or easy to obtain shades. So in the end, if you have a shade control system that is not working properly it is often advisable to get a new roller shade with the new control system.
Many consumers ask whether they can get a new roller shade control system for their existing fabric. This would seem the most logical way of reusing the same fabric and saving money by not having to waste that same fabric on a new shade. However given the updates and new fabrics that are available on the market, as well as the new methods of manufacturing roller shades, it is not as cost-effective and easy as many would think. It may not be so much of a waste, however, to buy new roller shades. For one thing the new fabrics are technically more capable. For another, the new control systems are substantially more durable and will protect your roller shade fabric so it will last much longer in your windows.
Another common roller shade problem is ripped, warped, or otherwise damaged roller shade fabric. The heavy use of vinyl coated fabrics, those that are typically called blackout, were substantially more common in the past. Those fabrics, unfortunately the lighter weight ones, were more often susceptible to ripping than modern-day fabrics, particularly those from woven polyester or other threads. The damages to these roller shade fabrics have often created ugly or less than presentable roller shades. Many consumers have wondered if it is possible to repair this fabric by replacing a section of the fabric. Unfortunately, replacing a section of fabric is not a possibility. However, some roller shade fabrics can endure a slight repair, like sewing or other repair. Beware though, excessive sewing may lead to an expanded problem. Often times, the sewing of roller shade fabric will simply delay the inevitable- the entire destruction of their roller shade. In the end, it is usually advisable for consumers to begin thinking about replacing roller shades when this type of deterioration begins.
Some roller shades will cause damage to the surrounding area. The scraping of a roller shade bottom rail against a window frame is not uncommon. Sometimes, this bottom rail, also called a hem bar, will run into a wall or otherwise run into a window frame. This type of damage can usually be corrected by making slight changes to the bottom rail like cutting it with a saw. Sometimes this hitting into a wall is a sign of other problems. A roller shade that is not properly squared up may have other damage to the fabric at the controls at the top of the roller shade. It is important to make sure that the roller shade is rolling up properly and that there are no other damages to the fabric or the control system.
While many consumers would like to try to repair or update or otherwise renovate their roller shades, it is usually considered advisable for simple replacement of that one shade or the several with problems. The new control systems will help your shades last longer and look more beautiful for a longer period of time.
Judith Persit has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Interior Design and Home Management. Judith Persit is a design student expert in home design. Ms. Persit writes about roller shades. If you are interested in. Judith Persit's top article generates over 368000 views. Bookmark Judith Persit to your Favourites.