Roller blinds are a worthy alternative to traditional curtains or blinds. Due to the ability to quite accurately regulate the light and heat flow, they are gaining more and more popularity despite the rather high price.
Content
Types of roller blinds.
Roles can differ in:
- type of execution;
- control method;
- type of material;
- method of fastening.
Type of execution
Conventionally, two types of execution are distinguished.
- Open – consists of a shaft, guides and a bottom bar;
An open roller blind system consists of fabric that is wound evenly onto an open shaft that is attached to the window using mounting brackets. - Cassette - rolls, in addition to the above, have a box that prevents the material from sagging.
The rolled-up roller blind fabric and control mechanisms are hidden in a special box (cassette) located in the upper part of the cassette roller blind structure.
Please note! If the first option is good for decoration, the second one is more practical. It does not allow the curtain to sag, which is essential for an inclined window.
Control method
The following control methods are available.
- Using a chain cord - a cord, which can be made of various materials, is attached to the shaft on either side and allows you to manually release and raise the curtain, as well as fix it in the required position.
A chain cord is the simplest option for adjusting the position of the canvas.
Important! If the window opens, the cord must be positioned so that it does not get caught under the sash.
- With a spring holder - used mainly for bottom-up rollers and sun filters.
A spring holder is a convenient option for adjusting curtains, since the fabric is fixed automatically when a certain level is reached
Important! According to user reviews, this method is unreliable. The spring weakens rather quickly and stops fixing. Recommended for cases where there is no need for frequent adjustment.
- With the help of an electric drive. Control is carried out from the remote control or keys.
Electric drive - a simple way to regulate the canvas, as it is raised and lowered by a motor
Please note: Although this option significantly increases the budget, it is indispensable for hard-to-reach windows.
Material type
Determines the ability of curtains to transmit light, is able to create a unique design of the room. Several types are distinguished.
- Transparent – diffuses sunlight well. Used mainly for decoration, goes well with curtains and drapes.
Transparent roller blinds do not obscure the view outside the window, but allow you to soften the brightness on high floors and use natural light - Dimout – sunlight is transmitted partially, heat-reflecting capacity is high. It can be used in offices, residential premises, greenhouses.
The dimout curtain fabric blocks 70% of sunlight and partially diffuses the rest, creating a soft twilight - Blackout – Completely light-proof material. Ideal for bedrooms, home theaters, dormer windows.
A blackout curtain can completely darken a room. - Day-night – Material of alternating sections of varying transparency. The alternation can occur in the form of separate stripes (Zebra), or geometric figures based on the principle of the "eclipse" fabric (new for 2018). The original design allows you to control the light and heat flows with high precision.
In Day-Night curtain models, the curtain fabric consists of several layers of transparent and opaque material that falls on both sides of the roller.
The design and texture of the material are quite diverse. In one of the reviews on the RuNet, a user (apparently a professional designer) reports that he counted more than 6,000 options.
Additional information: The material must be durable, withstand temperature changes, have antistatic properties (dust protection), and be easy to care for.
What do buyers think?
If you type "roller blinds reviews" into any search engine, the result is impressive - more than 70 million responses. Of greatest interest are reviews and advice about roller blinds made of "day-night" fabric, as the newest on the market.
Affordability
Almost everyone notes that this is the most expensive version of rollers, but there are also quite budget options, for example, buying ready-made ones in the simplest configuration, with a chain drive and installing them yourself (custom ones include the cost of installation).
Advantages
There are many of them listed, very different, here are just a few:
- wide range of lighting adjustment;
- real dust-repellent ability of the material;
- ease of care;
- clear installation instructions, in most cases “in pictures”;
Installation instructions in two ways from the manufacturer - the possibility of detailed consultation, both when purchasing in a store and online;
- ease of installation;
- originality;
When choosing such a curtain, you can consider original color and texture solutions for a specific interior. - high thermal protection.
Flaws.
They are hard to find. Buyers hardly complain. Here is what they note:
- poor quality of installation;
- long production (delivery) time;
That's basically it, and the price, of course. But almost everyone notes that it is compensated by convenience.
What the consumer advises. Installation features
Installation, as a rule, does not cause difficulties, but some advice is given. The location of the chain drive was discussed above. Here are some more recommendations from the masters and those who installed the rollers themselves:
- be sure to make markings;
Marking for roller blinds - check the horizontal position of the brackets with a level; any distortions are not allowed;
Accessories for installing roller blinds on brackets - It is imperative to use an auxiliary mount close (about 12 cm) to the control mechanism;
- the mounting method must match the window frame;
Parts for installing roller blinds in two ways are included in the standard set of blinds
Important! – fastening with double-sided tape is not very suitable for wooden frames, it is designed for plastic. Experts recommend fastening with screws. This option is also available for plastic windows, although in this case drilling and special anchors will be required.
- A universal piece of advice is to watch videos, of which there are plenty on the Russian Internet.
- The categorical advice is to avoid contact with heating devices.
Features of selection.
Summarizing all the reviews and recommendations, the selection algorithm should look like this.
- Determine the purpose (protection from backlighting at night, thermal insulation, etc.).
Roller blinds are not only beautiful and stylish, but also very practical and convenient - Take the necessary measurements. When fastening to the frame, the width of the roller blind should be 2-4 centimeters larger than the width of the glass. The room in the window opening is also 2-4 centimeters, but smaller than the opening.
Determining the dimensions of the fabric depending on the type of curtain fastening
Attention! Roller blinds allow for a slight reduction in width, so for non-standard windows it is advisable to purchase slightly wider ready-made products.
- Select the required direction of opening the curtain "top down" or "bottom up". The latter method may be required for wooden frames with a window opening inwards. Florists may appreciate it, and the care is somewhat simpler.
Important! – the “top-down” direction in the presence of a hinged window does not allow the room to be ventilated without fully opening the curtain.
- Select the curtain material. The quality requirements were discussed above, but the defining moment is transparency. The exception is the "day-night" rollers, which change from complete transparency to blackout.
Bright roller blinds made of thick fabric, made to order - If you choose a frame option, decide on the material of the slats and guides. Preference should be given to metal ones, especially if the curtain material is heavy.
- Decide what is preferable - ordering or buying ready-made ones. An order will be required for non-standard window units or for a special design. The disadvantages mainly relate to the order fulfillment time, higher price and the fact that the quality of execution is unknown. Ready-made products are also present on the market, and in a large assortment, but their sizes are standardized and it is not always possible to find a suitable one, especially for extra-large windows.
When using roller blinds, you can independently adjust the length of the fabric and the level of illumination in the room. - If the supplier has already been chosen, it is advisable to look at online reviews about it. In most cases, this helps to weed out unscrupulous ones. Custom reviews, whether good or negative, are quite easy to distinguish from real ones.
Operation
There is very little advice.
- Use detergents that do not contain chlorine or acids for care. If the design allows you to remove the curtain for washing, then after that it is necessary to rinse thoroughly and dry it without creating folds.
- It is better not to vacuum (or use special attachments), but to wipe with a dry cloth. Wash with a cotton cloth. Apply a soap solution to heavily soiled areas for a while. To remove small stains, it is better to use a stationery eraser.
- In the kitchen, when preparing food, it is better to roll the rolls to avoid possible contamination.
That's all, actually.
And in conclusion
Roller blinds, especially day-night ones, are a fairly simple way to radically change the design of a room. They can visually change the size, add zest to the design. And with the expansion of the offer, the cost of purchase and installation only decreases.
Video: Roller blinds: pros and cons \ Roller blinds VS classic curtains
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