Child Safety & Window Treatments

5.5 million window treatments are currently being recalled. This is due to children accidentally choking themselves on loose cords. This is a real danger. 50 children died last year. If you have one of the shades being recalled, please get your shade fixed ASAP!

If you don't want to fix it, a great option would be to install new window treatments. one of the best child safety products is a cordless cellular shade. With this shade, there are no exposed cords for a child (or pet) to tangled in. Not only do they have a clean look, but they are very simple to use. But there are many other options for you.

Windows Are Energy Holes

Did you know that windows make up 10% of a homes insulated shell, but 50% of the homes heat/air conditioning pours through them? This means you are losing up to 50% of the heat in your house through your windows. Stop throwing your money out the window!!

The picture on the top of the page is an infrared picture taken of a home. Red areas indicate heat loss. The picture to the left shows a a comparison of two windows. The window on the right is a bare window and the window on the right is a window with the Duette Architella shade on it. Which window would you rather have?

Installing window treatments to protect your windows is the best way to save on your heating costs. By putting up energy efficient shades, you will be saving energy three ways:

1.) Reduce the heat flow (heat loss and heat gain) through the windows
2.) Control solar heat (heat energy from the sun) by allowing it in winter and preventing it in summer
3.) Enhance daylighting (the use of natural light) by diffusing and dispersing sunlight deep into a room

The best energy efficient shade on the market is the Duette Architella Window shade. Here is a short video of the benefits of the Duette Architella window shade.

But there are other great window covering products from Hunter Douglas that will reduce the amount of energy lost through your windows. Click here for a graph on the energy efficiency for most Hunter Douglas products.

Kirsch Louverdrape Vanes

Hi Tom,

I ordered a Kirsch Louverdrape Vertical blind from a big box store and I am unhappy with the product. I had a handy man do the installation for me and it just doesn't look right. Not only that, but the vanes barely open. Do you know what might be causing this? Thanks. -Carrie, Waterford, WI

Hi Carrie,

Yes, there is a reason why you are unhappy with your product. I am going to assume that you have ordered the S-Shaped vanes. If this is the case, the place where you bought them from might have ordered the wrong vanes for you. Kirsch Louverdrape S-Shaped vanes have two ways that they can have the holes punched in the vanes.

The first way is by using a standard punch. A standard punch means that the big hill in the vanes is on the right. The second way is by using a reverse punch. A reverse punch will flip the vane around and the hill will be on the left. See the picture below for a diagram of the difference.



The next step is to figure out when a standard punch is required and when a reverse punch is required. A reverse punch is only used when you have your vanes stack on the left. By stack, I mean what side of the headrail the vanes are located when the vanes are pulled open. If there are vanes on both sides, then you have a split stack.

Therefore, if you feel that the vanes aren't laying right, I would contact the place where you ordered them from immediately. Explain to them the problem that you are having. Ask them if they ordered the correct vanes for you (either standard punch or reverse punch).

Great Question!

Control Light Yet still Have Privacy

Hi Tom, I have a sunroom that is used constantly during the spring and summer months. The room has windows During the day I need have protection on my windows that will block the sun from fading the fabric in the room. I also need privacy at night so people can't see into the room. However, when I am home during the day, I would like a product that blocks some light, but lets the majority of light in. I know that this is a lot to ask, but do you have anything that can meet these needs?

-Shirley, Waukesha, WI

Hi Shirley,

Yes, in fact we do have a product that will meet all of your needs. The perfect solution for you is the Silhouette Window Shade by Hunter Douglas. The Silhouette shades has fabric louvers that are suspended between two sheets of soft sheer fabric. With the vanes in an open position, the sheer fabric will let soft light into the room. Thus giving your sunroom a warm appearance. With the vanes closed, the sun will be blocked during the day. Also the closed vanes will provide privacy at night. The silhouette comes in three different opacities, thus enabling you to have the privacy that you desire. There is a wide selection of colors that will enable you to find the right color to fit you room.

To learn more about the Silhouette product, click here.

Tom

Deck Blinds

I have an open deck and want privacy, block wind, and provide shade. I have purchased plastic roll up blinds before for a 3 seasons room in 8ft lengths, but can't find them anymore. Can you help? -Patty, Milwaukee WI

Hi Patty,

Yes, we can definitely help you out with those shades. We have a full line of Screen Shades that will block the sun and wind, but will not be affected by the weather. The shades are made from vinyl and will last will longer than any other shade out there. Plus, if they were to break down in the first five years we would be able to replace them for free. To see more information on the screen shades, click here:http://bazaarhdc.com/products_hd_screen_shades.html.

Metal Blind Won't Go Down Smooth

I recently bought some Hunter Douglas mini blinds. The cord sticks as I am bringing the blinds down and goes down very slowly. Is there something that I can do to correct this problem?

Pennie

Hi Pennie,

Yes there are a few things that you can do yourself to help solve this problem. First, when you are raising or lowering your blinds you need to make sure that the slats are in an open position. This will allow the blinds to function properly. Never raise or lower the blinds with the slats closed.

Second, make sure that none of the cords are tangled. If they are tangled just untangle them and your shade should work better.

The third thing that can be done is to pull you shade all the way to the top. Spray the cords with silicon spray. After this, you shouldn't have a problem at all raising and lowering your shades. If you do, take it back to the place where you bought the shades. There is a problem with the way the shades were made.

Thanks for your question,

Tom

Condensation Pooling in Window Sill

Hi Tom,

I normally keep my shades down all day. With the cold weather that we have been experiencing, I am getting water (condensation) pooling up on my window ledge behind my blinds. Is this normal? Should I be worried about this? -Jack

Hi Jack,

No this is not something that you should be worried about. Actually, this commonly happens when you keep your window shades down all day. What happens is the shades provide good insulation for your windows. The water condenses behind your shades and ends up running down the window and pools on the window ledge. To prevent this from happening, keep your shade a 1/2" above the window ledge. This will allow air to get behind the shade. Therefore preventing the condensation from pooling on your window ledge. -Tom

Sklight Shades

Q: I'm lookig for a affordable Blind for my 2 Anderson skylights. The only examples I have found are several hundred dollars each. Any suggestions. -Doug, Ohio.

A: Hi Doug. Yes we do have affordable options to cover your skylights. We carry skylight shades from Hunter Douglas, Kirsch, and our Vision Collection. Please email us your sizes and I can send you out a quote on what the cost is for all the different options!

Installation Problem with High Rise Condos

Q: We are trying to install a window treatment and when trying to put in the mounting brackets, the screw is hitting metal. We live in a high rise condo and have had this issue before. Is there any screws you can use on metal? -Rise, Milwaukee

A: Hi Rise, Yes there are screws that you can use to install your window treatments into metal. What you will need to do is go to the hardware store and get some self-tapping screws. The screws are designed to go right into metal without needing to predrill any holes. If you are unsure of what to look for at the hardware store, ask them for "self-tapping screws" or "tech screws. They will know what you are looking for.

Depending on where you are installing the window treatements, the self-tapping screws might not work. In some high rise condos, they build them using cold rolled steel plates. If you are trying to install the window treatments into this, nothing will work. You will not be able to put a screw in it. Instead, you are going to need to install the shades into the metal frame around the window. That is your only option. The self-tapping screws will drill into the metal window frame.

Palladium Shelf & Energy Effiecent Shadings

Q: We have two 2 windows in our master bedroom approx. 54 x 72 and each window has a half circle window on top. We recently had all new trim in the bedroom and it is beautiful. Now I want to put blinds or thte like up so the trim can be seen. Since the windows are east facing I would really like to have something that will cut out the light and reduce the heat in the summer. Is there anything out there that would work for us? -Shona, Milwaukee

A: Yes, we have many options to cover the windows. First, we would start by installing a palladium shelf between the bottom window and the arch. The palladium shelf, made by LaFayette Interior Fashions, will be installed where the arch window meets the bottom window. By installing the shelf, we will then be able to install your shades with an inside mount. That way we will not cover up any of your wood work.

With the east facing window, I would recommend going with a shade with a high R-value. All shades have an R-value ranking. The shade with the highest R-value is the Hunter Douglas Duette Architella shade. The Duette Architella shade is literally a shade within a shade. When you look at the picture to the right, you can see the three distinct airpockets that the shade has. These three airpockets trap the air in the blind to provide the highest possible insulation on your windows. The graph on the bottom shows how high the Architella shade rates R-value wise compared with other window shadings. For a reference, an R-value of 4.00 will prevent up to 75% heat loss through the window. The shade comes in a variety of brilliant colors. It is great to help keep the heat out in summer and the cold out in winter.