Window Blinds Varieties
Persian, or slat
Venetian blind detail, showing how slats are connected.
The most common window blinds are slat blinds, which consist of many horizontal
slats, usually of metal or vinyl, connected with string in a way that they can be
rotated to allow light to pass between the slats, rotated up to about 170 degrees
to hide the light, or pulled up so that the entire window is clear. Vertical blinds
consist of slats of stiffened fabric, plastic, or metal hanging by one end from
a track; like the horizontal versions, the slats can be rotated 90 degrees to allow
light to pass through or to fold up on one side of a door or window. Vertical blinds
are very good at controlling how much natural or exterior light comes into a room,
due to the ability of the slats to close tightly.
Venetian
A Venetian blind has horizontal slats, one above another. Venetian blinds are basic
slatted blinds made of metal or plastic; wooden slats are sometimes used but these
are now usually referred to as wood blinds or bamboo blinds. They are suspended
by strips of cloth called tapes, or by cords, by which all slats in unison can be
rotated through nearly 180 degrees. The slats can be rotated such that they overlap
with one side facing inward and then in the opposite direction such that they overlap
with the other side facing inward. Between those extremes, various degrees of separation
may be effected between the slats by varying the rotation. There are also lift cords
passing through slots in each slat. When these cords are pulled, the bottom of the
blind moves upward causing the lowest slats to press the underside of the next highest
slat as the blind is raised. A modern variation of the lift cords combines them
with the rotational cords in slots on the two edges of each slat. This avoids the
slots otherwise required to allow a slat to rotate despite a lift cord passing through
it, thus decreasing the amount of light passing through a closed blind. Slat width
can be between 16–120 mm, with 25 mm being a common width.
Related patents were taken out in England by Gowin Knight in 1760 and Edward Beran
on 11 December 1769, but Venetian blinds were known to the French long before then,
the French name for Venetian blinds being persiennes. In 1761 St. Peter's
Church, Philadelphia had such blinds.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Venetian blinds were widely adopted in
office buildings to regulate light and air. A large modern complex in the US that
adopted Venetian blinds was Rockefeller Center’s RCA Building (better known as the
Radio City building) in New York City, completed in the 1930s. One of the largest
orders for Venetian blinds ever placed was to the Burlington Venetian Blind Co.,
of Burlington, Vt., which supplied blinds for the windows of the Empire State Building
in New York City.
Vertical
Unlike horizontal blinds, vertical blinds are less likely to be damaged in strong
winds and to hold dirt, but are more likely to break down. Generally they require
less muscle strength, and are faster to operate.
Stationary vertical blinds are hung in the doorways of some homes and businesses
which generally leave the door open. Movement of the blind may signal a change in
air flow, or someone entering the doorway. More commonly however, these vertical
blinds are made of thick plastic. In the cold rooms of food businesses, this slows
the heat leakage into the cold room. In warmer climates, vertical blinds discourage
flies and some other insects from entering the building.
Cellular blinds
Cellular blinds also known as Honeycomb Blinds get their name from their shape which
are made individual cells glued together. From the side, it has the look of a honeycomb.
Cellular blinds are very energy efficient blinds. They get their energy efficiency
from the pockets of air that the cells create. Cellular blinds come in light filtering
fabrics as well as room darkening fabrics. There are several configurations these
blinds come in: standard corded, continuous cord loop, top down/bottom up, and top
down only. Cellular blinds are known as a softer alternative to Wood blinds (Venetian
blinds).
Others
Other variety of window blinds include mini blinds (Venetian blinds with very narrow
slats 1"(usually 25 mm wide), micro blinds 1/2"(usually 12 mm wide), louvers, jalousies,
brise soleil, Holland blinds, pleated blinds, Roman shades, and roller shades.
Materials
A window blind is a means of screening a window, achieving similar results to those
obtained by fitting curtains. Blinds are typically the same width and height as
the window itself or slightly wider and taller - depending on whether they are fixed
inside or outside the window's reveal (i.e. the wall recess within which the window
itself is fixed).
Window blinds have varying thermal effects: they can block unwanted heat of the
summer sun and they can keep in heat in cold weather. But in both of these applications,
they also reduce light to varying degrees, depending on the design. Many kinds of
blinds attempt varying balances of privacy and shade. Blinds can be made of a number
of different materials and manufactured in a number of different ways. This usually
determines the name by which the blind is commonly known.
Fabric
Blinds made of fabric can either roll up around a metal batten (roller blinds),
fold up thanks to a thin cord and small horizontal slats (Roman blind), folding
blinds with no horizontal slats create a less structured look (Austrian blinds).
Wood
Wood blinds on an outside window.
Wooden blinds are generally known as Venetian blinds. A number of horizontal wooden
slats are joined together by corded pulleys which can either gather all the slats
at the top of the window to reveal the view or simply angle the slats while allowing
some light to travel through the blind yet retaining some level of privacy. Wooden
blinds come in a number of finishes (determined by the type of wood used, which
ranges from painted to most types of solid oak varieties) and sizes (determined
by the width of each slat which is usually available in one of three widths - 25
mm, 35 mm or 50 mm). Wooden Venetian blinds are also available as vertical blinds.
These are usually made up of wider slats and operate in virtually the same way as
their horizontal counterparts (i.e. instead of being drawn upwards to reveal the
window, the draw to one side gathering in a vertical bunch).
Pinoleum blinds are made up of small wooden twigs laid horizontally which are joined
together by vertical threading. The resulting weave is, as a result, only flexible
vertically and can be drawn upwards once manufactured as a roller blind or in a
similar fashion to a Venetian blind. Conservatory blinds are often made with Pinoleum.
Drawings in ancient Egyptian tombs of reed blinds have been reported and a common
window blind during the 1800’s is said to have been the home-made roller shade,
a shade that has been underestimated.
Faux wood
Faux wood blinds are an alternative to real wood blinds. Made of a composite of
man-made materials and natural wood particles, faux wood is also a less expensive
choice than natural wood. These blinds have become more popular as the products
have matured, becoming cheaper and more versatile at the same time offering more
of a natural wood look. Current faux wood blinds are more warp resistant than ever
before, have UV ratings as high as 500 and come in many colors that would be hard
to find in natural wood blinds. Because of their resistance to warping, faux wood
window blinds are a great choice for areas of extreme temperature swings. They are
also the ideal choice for places with high moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens,
since they do not warp as easily as natural wood.
Other materials
Venetian blinds, both horizontal and vertical, are available in a number of man-made
materials (either resembling wood or metal or simply plastic). These are better
suited to areas where moisture or direct contact with water is likely to cause a
problem, such as bathrooms and kitchens. These blinds are often available with micro
slats (as small as 16 mm or less). The result of smaller slats is that more have
to be used to obscure the window completely. Conservatory blinds (i.e. ceiling fixed
via a number of horizontal pulleys) are often made of man-made materials.
Automobile blinds
Australian Holden Kingswood with accessory venetians and spats.
Some vehicles include or are retrofitted with sun blinds for rear and rear side
windows. See also car glass. These blinds are used to protect the vehicle and the
passengers from direct sunlight.
Car shades are another common way to protect the vehicle. The shades for the rear
and front windows are designed to be unfolded and sit against the window. They can
be made of plastic or cardboard. The shades that go on the side windows of a vehicle
are usually attached using suction cups or using static cling.
Solid fabric and slat car blinds have given way to cheaper and more flexible, folding
wire-framed "dark-stocking" synthetic blinds. These are used where the car owner
has not dark-tinted the glass of the car windows enough. or during the day, wishing
to have more privacy.
Gallery
Some Window Blinds
Close-up of a track blind
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Close-up of a pleated shade
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Blind with horizonal slats
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Detail of turning rod (blind stick) attachment on miniblind
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