Helpful Roller Shades Guide to Help You Understand
Roller shades come in many different types to suit any business with any type of decor. Your choice of the fabric or materials they are constructed from can adapt to blending in to the surroundings or they can make a statement with a bold color or your logo. Custom commercial roller shades can work really well for any application in any size office space and blend in very nicely with any type of decor you may have. You literally have thousands of options from which to choose and you are sure to find the perfect fit with the help of these roller shades guide.
When you are searching for window coverings for your commercial space, it helps to understand how each type works, how they are constructed and how well they will work for your unique situation. Read on to learn all about the roller shades guide and different types of roller shades available today.
What is Roller Shades?
Roller shades are called such because of the manner in which they roll up and down to open and close over windows. Roller shades are manufactured with a sheet of material of some sort that is enclosed in a round cassette at the top of the window when they are open fully. When you pull the roller shade down, the fabric unwinds from the cassette at the top and it rolls downward to cover the window. You can also pull them down or up partially to get the exact amount of light and warmth from the sun that you want in any commercial space.
Different Types of Roller Shades to Choose From
There are several different types of roller shades including decorative Roman shades with several variations, outdoor roller shades and screen shades as well as fabric shades.
Outdoor Roller Shades
Outdoor roller shades are generally made of the screening material or shading material to withstand the outdoor elements. They are available in manual models in which you turn a crank to open and close them as you wish or a motorized option for the ultimate in ease of use. The motorized option allows you to merely push a wall button or use the remote control to open or close your outdoor shading products. This is a perfect situation for commercial spaces that are on the ground floor as the outdoor roller shades can be quickly and quietly raised or lowered to any position you choose to filter out harsh sunlight, control the glare and the temperature all at the same time. Another great addition to outdoor roller shades is that you can have your company name, a logo or photos printed on the outside of the shades in large format printing so that passersby can see it when the shades are closed. In a commercial area with many buildings, it can be very helpful for prospective customers to see your logo and make it easier to find you amongst all the different buildings and offices. Another option in outdoor roller shades is a curved or angled top cassette to match the architectural features of your commercial space and blend in perfectly.
Blackout Roller Shades
Many times people use the terms of blackout shades and room darkening shades interchangeably, however, they are different from each other. Blackout shades use different types of fabrics that block a full 100% of all light from coming into the window. Room darkening shades refers to any shade that uses fabrics to block between 95% and 99% of the light entering your space. Any fabric that blocks less than 95% of the light entering a space is usually referred to as a light filtering shade. One thing to remember with blackout roller shades is that a tiny bit of light will come through at the sides of the shades because they mount inside of the window frame. It supplies you with a sort of halo of light around the edges. This can be eliminated when you choose custom window treatment products because they can be manufactured to add an opaque material to the fabrics as a liner and they will fit tightly to your window casing to reduce light seepage. Blackout roller shades are popular for meeting rooms when video presentations are held so that there is no glare on the screen to detract from a presentation with eye fatigue.
Vinyl Roller Shades
Vinyl roller shades are perhaps the oldest type of classic roller shades that were only available in white, thick vinyl. Not any more!! You can choose from several different colors now in neutral tones of white, cream, linen, beige, gray, black and even hunter green and navy blue. One of the great aspects of this type of roller shade is that it too can be motorized to save you time and energy every day when opening or closing shades on multiple windows. Ordering them from a custom window treatment company gives you choices of the best commercial vinyl that is very long-lasting.
Types of Modern Flat Roller Shades
The most modern of roller shades are made of fabric of your choosing which also designates the opacity or the amount of light that is blocked when they are closed. There are several styles to choose from and each appears a bit different. The flat Roman shade is totally flat on your windows when it’s closed and when you raise the shade is has folded in it. Hobbled Roman shades are also known as soft fold shades and they have soft folds when they are open and closed. Transitional shades have alternating stripes on them of a darker fabric and a lighter fabric to be a light-filtering shade in windows that don’t get tons of sun, such as north or south-facing window.
How to Measure for Roller Shades
There are different mounting options in roller shades with the most popular being inside or outside mount. When you decide on your fabric, you will then need to decide on the mounting you want so you can measure your windows appropriately and make sure your window shades fit right. Great fitting custom window treatments add an elegant and classy touch to your office space.
Inside Mount Measuring
Inside mounted window treatments are installed inside of the window casing. Measure the inside of the window frame in three places for the width: across the top, middle and bottom and write the numbers down. To measure the height, take your measurements at the left, middle and right side and record the numbers. Now, you use the narrowest width measurement and the longest height measurement. You should also measure your window sill depth because some window treatments do not work well in shallow windows.
Outside Mount Measuring
Measuring outside mount window shading products mount on the outside of the window casing. Measure the overall area that you want to cover in width and height. Most of the time you should add 3 inches to the width and height for optimum privacy and light control so there is no halo effect. You will also need at least 2 inches of flat surface above the window frame for your mounting brackets.
How to Install Roller Shades
First, you need to gather the tools that you may need to install your roller shades. Here is a list of any required tools:
- Metal tape measure
- Flat and Phillips head screwdrivers
- 1/4 inch Nut driver
- Safety glasses
- Drywall anchors
- Pencil
- Drill with bits
- Level
- Ladder
Inside Mount Roller Shades
Mark with a pencil about 1 inch down from the top of the inside of the window casing on both the left and right side. Place your brackets on the marks and mark in each of the two screw holes on the left and right bracket. Pre-drill your screw holes. Screw in the brackets at your marked locations using screws for wood and screws plus drywall anchors for drywall.
Hook the top, middle rib of the cassette onto the bracket hooks. Rotate the back of the cassette upwards and toward the window until the groove found at the bracket snaps into place.
Outside Mount Roller Shades
Center the shade over the window opening at the desired height. The brackets must be flush against a flat mounting surface on the wall and do not mount the shade on a curved molding. Mark your screw locations about 3 inches from each end of the cassette inwards. There are two screw holes in each of the two brackets. Use a level to make sure your brackets are aligned properly. Pre-drill the holes and use screws to mount to wood or screws and drywall anchors to mount to drywall. Attach the cassette mounting bracket to the L brackets on the ends using screws and wing nuts.
Hook the top middle rib of the cassette onto all of the bracket hooks. Rotate the back of the cassette upwards toward the window until the groove on each bracket snaps into place.
Roller Shade Operation
To roll up your cordless roller shades you simply grasp the center of the bottom rail and lift it to raise it or pull it down to lower it. Motorized window treatment versions allow you to use any smart device with an app to operate them or you can use a remote control or wall control to raise and lower them at pre-programmed times.
4 Common Problems With Roller Shades and Solutions
There are a few common issues that are sometimes found with the operation of roller shades. Fortunately, they can be easily fixed in a very short time by a maintenance person. Check out below the following roller shades guide.
#1. Shade Rolling up too Fast
If your shade is rolling up too fast then the tension spring inside the roller is malfunctioning and is most likely wound too tightly. This is the most common issue with this type of window shading product. To fix it, open the shade entirely and remove it from the brackets. Hold the roller in your hand and manually wind it up about half of its length. Put the shade back into the bracket. If the issue isn’t solved, repeat the process.
#2. Shade Rolling up too Slow
If your shades are rolling up too slow, it is most likely that the tension spring is too loose. To correct it you will need to tighten the spring. Remove the shade from the bracket and manually roll the shade up to the point it would usually hang on the window. Place the shade back on the brackets and test it. It should have corrected the problem, but if not, repeat the process.
#3. Shades are Stuck
If your shade will not come down at all and it is stuck, then the spring is likely jammed. You will need a pair of pliers for this solution. Use your pliers to twist the flat pin at the end of the roller clockwise. You will be able to feel the spring release on the inside. Now bring the shade down and roll it down to half its length. This should adjust the spring tension and then rehang the shade on the brackets.
#4. Shades Won’t Lock
If your roller shade won’t lock into a position, then the ratchet in the roller may be dusty and jamming the locking mechanism. Take the shade out of the brackets and take off the metal cap at the end. Use a soft bristle brush to clean any dust from the internal parts of the ratchet and pawl. Replace the cap and readjust the spring tension as you do to tighten or loosen the spring in the examples above. Your shade should be working just fine now.
Being informed with our roller shades guide helps you to make the best decision for light control, heat control, shading, and energy efficiency while also looking great.
