Blinds Chalet Blog

Window Blind Maintenance: Make Them Last
When you purchase blinds for your home, you expect them to last. It doesn’t matter how expensive the blinds were, you still expect them to hold up for at least five to ten years. While the failure of less expensive blinds to make it more than five to ten years is understandable, more expensive blinds failing to hold up can seem unforgiveable. With careful maintenance you can prolong the lifespan of your blinds.

Choose the Proper Environment for Your Blinds

The environment that you plan to insert the blinds is an important aspect of blind maintenance. Choosing the wrong type of blinds could lead to a decrease in your blind’s lifespan.

Aluminum blinds and faux wood blinds hold up fairly well. These types of blinds are best for households with children, teenagers, or individuals who are hard on their possessions, aluminum and faux wood blinds are solid choices. Just be aware that all blinds are a tad delicate. Even aluminum and faux wood blinds can become damaged when they take a constant beating from indelicate hands.

Wood blinds should not be used in areas of the home that experience a high level of humidity or moisture. Wood blinds can be warped or stained by water. While varnish and paint will partly protect the wood from water damage, constant contact with water or damp air will eventually ruin your wood blinds.

Vertical blinds have a certain style appeal. They are the classier, upscale cousin to the Venetian or horizontal blinds. Despite their appeal, you should refrain from installing vertical blinds in a high traffic doorway, especially if you have children in the house. Grubby fingers constantly poking, prodding, and opening the blinds can bend or tear even the hardiest material. Cloth shades will hold up far better than vertical blinds in an area with constant traffic.

Know How To Properly Clean Your Blinds

While cleaning isn’t necessary, a buildup of dust and dirt on the blinds can turn your classy house into a metaphorical pig pen. At that point even the most cleaning-phobic people will break down and clean the blinds in the house. Ironically enough it is the decision to clean that can result in the individual cutting the lifespan of the blinds. Using the wrong cleaning method on certain types of blinds can damage them. When you buy more delicate blinds like faux wood or wood blinds inform all members of the household how to properly clean them.

Aluminum blinds are the easiest to clean.

• For casual cleaning a clean cloth can be used to dust.
• For mild cleaning you can create solutions of alcohol and water, vinegar (3 cups) and water (3 cups), and dish soap (2 squirts) and water. Apply to a clean rag and carefully clean off each side of the blinds.
• For heavy duty cleaning jobs, remove the blinds from the window and soak them in warm water that has been treated with soap.
• Be sure to completely dry the blinds after they have been cleaned with water.

Faux Wood Blinds while not as easy as Aluminum blinds to clean, they are still a relatively easy clean.

• For casual cleaning a dry cloth can be used to dust.
• For mild cleaning a cloth with water or a mixture of water and dish soap. Be sure to completely dry the blinds after they have been cleaned with water.
• Harsher detergents can scratch the surface of the blinds.

Wood Blinds are the hardest to clean because they are the easiest to damage.

• For casual cleaning use a clean cloth or a duster.
• For more serious cleaning, you can use the brushed attachment on your vacuum.
• Damage can occur if you use water or other solutions to clean your wood blinds.

Repairing and Upkeep When Necessary

Continuing to use broken blinds after you have found a defect can be damaging to the lifespan of the blinds. In order to prevent such damage, repair blinds as you notice defects.

Broken wands mean that the owner will need to force the blinds to rotate when they want to open and close the window. That can cause tearing in the blinds or damage the string. For $3 that damage can be circumvented.

After about 7 to 10 years you will need to reapply the varnish or paint on your blinds. Varnish and paint are applied to protect the blinds from water damage and fading caused by sunlight. Do not attempt to reapply the paint or varnish unless you are sure that you can do so correctly. If you have no experience in DIY projects or construction, search online for a blind maintenance company that can repair the blinds for you.

When you buy blinds, you expect them to decorate your house for a long time. The need to replace damaged blinds can be aggravating. Occasionally the failure of blinds to hold up can be attributed to an improperly put together blind. On those occasions your warranty should cover replacement. More often than not though, failure for blinds to hold up to the test of time is due to environmental factors, improperly cleaning blinds, and the failure to recognize when the blinds need to be sent in for upkeep.

Nicholas Haywood is an eco-friendly home improvement specialist and writer for Vista Window Film, a provider of premium window film for homes and commercial buildings.

Multiple Home Office Layouts with Glass Wall Partitions
Glass wall partitions are all the rage nowadays, thanks to their increasing availability and use as well as their affordable prices. You will see glass partitions in residential units, hotels, condominiums, schools, laboratories and commercial offices because they are extremely versatile and you can use them in almost all types of settings. Flexible, space-savers and value-adding, glass partitions are really convenient and stylish to use.

Before selecting the perfect wall partition, you need to make up your mind first about the layout of your home office. You can opt for any of the following layouts that will fit your lifestyle and preferences.

1. Carved-out Closet Space - If you have a limited amount of space at home, why not maximize that small unused space into a work area with well-placed shelves and a sophisticated chair?
2. Tall and tiny Home Office - Spare a 3’x3’ space around the corner of your room but make sure that the ceiling reaches 10’ high. Keep your workplace organized by installing built-in shelves. Make sure to keep the walls in the same color to create the illusion of continuity.
3. Dreamy Draperies - After work time, keep all your business matters out of view by drawing the draperies closed on your home office.
4. The Office, Den and Guest Room Combo - A multipurpose room that provides a lot of space to use when you are working. The custom shelving and the desk as well as the two chic chairs will create a comfortable and cozy spot for you.
5. Dormer’s Nook - Store the file boxes high on the shelves to free the floor space and make the room look bigger.

After laying out your home office design, it’s time to have partitions. In planning to install glass wall partitions, check out the following important points:

1. Anticipated uses - Make sure to analyze first the application of the partitions to pick out the best options in terms of flexibility. If you want to let the air and light in but you also want to be able to close it for a little privacy, movable and demountable walls can be used.
2. Durability - This is one of the aspects that should be given utmost priority because the glass walls that you should buy needs to be able to withstand the wear and tear from expected uses. Also, this will help you get the most value for your hard-earned money.
3. Specification and selection of the glass - Another critical thing to consider is the glass choices themselves to avail of the best bets in the market today. Inspect the coatings, finishes and the safety design of the glass before shelling out money.
4. Divider and partition types - Since there are many options, you must also choose which type suits your purpose well.
5. Scale and size - Know the maximum height and width for glass panels and other sections such as sliding, swing and the fixed-panels. Standard widths range from 24-40 inches while door heights come in 80 or 96 inches.
6. Hardware, metal finishes and frames - Decide whether you want a full-wall or a half-wall door. The panel sections can be floor-mounted using a surface-mounted track or recessed with the finished floor.

The combination of the right home office layout and the perfect glass wall partition will surely make your friends and neighbors turn green with envy on your cool, efficient and stylish workspace.

Author Bio:

David Darga has been working in construction since he was 17 years old, he took over his father's business at the young age of 24 and has turned it into a thriving success. David now focuses on luxury home renovations, featuring folding glass walls and other one of a kind builds.

How to Choose a Layout for Your Kitchen
If you're considering remodeling your kitchen then there are many decisions to be made. Kitchen cabinets are one of the most expensive parts of your kitchen budget. Not only do you have the exciting, and sometimes daunting task of choosing your cabinetry, but also you need to plan the layout for your kitchen so as to make the best use of the available space.

The overall layout of your kitchen will ultimately affect how you use your kitchen so it's important to get the layout right. Kitchen design is very different today to how it was say 10 years ago. Then a kitchen was used primarily for preparing and cooking food but today, it's true to say it really is the hub of the home and is used for a variety of purposes.

In many houses kitchens are replacing the Great Room and are being used for family dining, entertaining friends, and a place for the kids to do their homework, a makeshift office, and even a place for arts and crafts. So when thinking about the layout of your kitchen, do keep in mind what you will be using it for.

Here are a few more key points to consider when planning your layout:

• Arguably, no kitchen can ever have enough countertop space, so you might want to consider having a kitchen island to give you extra countertop and storage space. Kitchen islands can be used to good effect for additional storage. If you're buying new kitchen cabinets to make the basis of a fixed kitchen island then why not consider buying accent cabinets which are a contrasting color to your main cabinets. For example if you have chosen white kitchen cabinets with a dark colored countertop, then you could choose black kitchen cabinets with a light colored countertop for your island. This adds contrast and a new dimension to the overall look of your kitchen.
• Considering installing two sinks into your kitchen, particularly if you tend to cook together. That way you have one sink for food prep and another for the dishes.
• Bulky items like microwaves and food mixers can take up a lot of room on a countertop so why not consider placing the microwave inside your island cabinetry and use pull out shelves to store things such as mixers and heavy pots or pans, so as they're readily available but not taking up precious countertop space.
• Make sure you have enough room to move around freely. If you don't have space for a fixed island then consider having one on wheels with say a butchers block on top and an open space beneath for storage. This way it can be wheeled to wherever you need it. If you're using your island for a breakfast bar as well, then consider having an overhang of the countertop so that stools can be tucked out of the way.
• If installing a fixed island then have some electricity outlets installed. This way you can create cubby holes for things like cell phones to rest whilst they are re-charging, and you can plug in hand mixers and blenders to use at the island.
• Finally, if storage is a major problem then why not consider pantry cabinets. These maximise the space from floor to ceiling and you can use the upper shelves for items which you don't use all that often.

When it comes to buying your kitchen cabinets be sure to make use of the free design service, which most stores offer. That way you can see your design in 3D and armed with some of your suggestions, the kitchen designer can come up with the perfect layout for your space and needs.

Bio:

The author is an Interior designer and has been writing on home improvement ideas from couple of years. The author holds an expertise in Kitchen Renovation projects and works for the RTA store.

Low Water Pressure – Reasons for and Solutions to the Problem
Low water pressure can lead to a number of problems. When the water pressure in the pipes is low, everything from taking a shower to washing dishes becomes a hassle. There are many reasons for low water pressure in pipes. The common ones are corrosion in pipes and in-line devices, clogs, low volume of water, low delivery pressure, a kink in the pipe obstructing water flow, and many more.

In some homes, the faucets or shower heads may be clogged. Many faucets and shower heads contain flow restrictors. Even a tiny piece of sediment may clog the restrictor's openings, leading to low water pressure. Alternatively, someone would have used the shutoff valve, and wouldn’t have opened it properly later.

Only after the cause has been found out, can a solution be offered. Some common causes/problems related to low water pressure and their solutions are given below:

Unscrew the fixture

If the problem is in the fixture, unscrew it with your hand or a pair of pliers and replace it after rinsing to remove obstructions, if any. If the parts have corroded, change them.

Change the supply line

If the supply line feeding the branch is small and this is the reason for low water pressure, change it. You can substitute it with a supply line of a bigger diameter, which allows the free flow of water.

Replace main supply pipe

If there is inadequate water flow in the whole house and if you've added new fixtures lately, the main supply pipe may have to be replaced to increase water supply. The main supply pipe that carries water from the water meter to your house should be replaced with one which is bigger in size.

Use a booster pump

If your house is located on top of a hill or at the end of a municipal system and draws water from a well located lower than your house, a booster pump may have to be installed to solve the problem.

Check the valves

If you experience the problem of low water pressure, then be sure to check the position of the valves. If there are any partially open valves, then do open them completely as they might be the cause for low water pressure.

Check the heater

If the issue of low water pressure is only affecting your hot water supply, then be sure to check the water heater. Make sure that the shutoff valves near the heater are completely open so as to ensure adequate hot water pressure. You can also contact a plumber to check whether your heater system is working properly.

Check for leaks

A water leak in your plumbing system can affect the water pressure. Do check for leaks and replace the faulty pipe lines in case of low water pressure.

Grace is an experienced professional associated with Water Works Canada, which is a well-known drain cleaning and plumbing provider offering services to GTA and Toronto residents for the past 16 years!