Glossary of Terms

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A

Aluminum Blinds

Known as Mini Blinds; slats are made of curved aluminum. The slats are available in different sizes (Usually 1/2'�, 1� and 2�). Aluminum Blinds are the most affordable types of blinds.

Arch Window

Arch windows can either be a half circle, quarter circle, eyebrow, quarter eyebrow, circle, or any other irregular window opening. They are usually found at the top of a window or can be incased separately. The slats on these arches can be either movable or immovable, depending on the size and type of arch.

Application

Window installed for a specific use. For example, a sliding glass door.

Apron

The part of a window casing below the sill.

Atrium/French Doors

Pair of doors with glass panes. With Atrium doors, one door opens; with French doors, both sides open.

B

Bay Windows

Three or more windows set at angles to each other within a recessed area. A common area for bay windows can be located at the breakfast area in the kitchen.

Bamboo Shades

Also called woven wood or matchstick shades or bamboo shades . Bamboo shade type made of natural materials like wood, fiber, and bamboo. Woven woods can be raised and lowered like a cellular shade.

Basswood

A hardwood from a bass tree, typically grown in North America or China . Basswood is a high quality wood due to its resistance to warping. It is regarded as the best type of wood for horizontal blinds and shutters due to its light weight and fine grain.

Bottom rail

The bottom-most slat on a horizontal blind or shade, often thicker and/or weighted to ensure proper hanging.

Bottom-up

Term "top-down/bottom-up" refers to a window treatment with two sets of lift cords that allow the window covering to be raised from the top down or from the bottom up.

Box Bracket

Installation brackets used to mount traditional 2" and 1" horizontal blinds

Blackout Shades

Refers to cellular shades that block 100% of outside light. Blackout is often a good choice for bedrooms, nurseries, and media rooms.

Brackets

Installation parts that are mounted on the window frame or wall used to attach and install the head rail of a window treatment.

C

Caf� Shutter

A shutter that covers only the bottom half of a window, leaving the top half open.

Carrier

Clip used to hold the vertical vanes inside the head rail of a vertical blind.

Casement

Crank-operated window that opens either inward or outward.

Ceiling Mount

Mounting window covering brackets on the top of the window casing or ceiling.

Cellular Shades

Cell shades are also known as �honeycomb shades�. Cell shades offer smooth and textured fabrics from sheer to opaque in a single cell construction that traps air for maximum energy and efficiency and sound absorption.

Center Support Bracket

A support piece that can be used on wider blinds to help prevent potential sagging of blinds that is heavy. Faux wood blinds are usually 20-30% heavier than basswood.

Clearance

The distance from the wall to the back of the window covering

Clear view shutters

A Plantation Shutter option in which you do not have a louver tilt bar present. It is hidden in the shutter louvers and you open the louvers by simply tilting a single panel. It is also known as the hidden tilt bar feature.

Cloth Tape

A decorative braided cloth available in different color options to replace standard cord ladders. Cloth tapes are usually placed over faux and wood blinds.

Common Valance

A single, continuous valance that covers 2 or more blinds.

Control Length

The length of both the tilt and lift. This length is generally half the overall length of the blind.

Controls

Refers to the mechanisms that allow you to raise, lower, open, close, or tilt blinds and shades. Controls are cords, wands, or chains.

Control Location

Refers to the placement of the tilt and draw controls on vertical blinds. The standard control location is right.

Cord

A string that you pull on to control the tilt. Lift cord is normally on the right side and the tilt cord is on the left side.

Cord Cleats

Cleats are small hooks to hang excess cording on to keep it out of the way.

Cord Lock

Component in the head rail of a horizontal product, which enables the blind to be raised or lowered and locked into any position.

Cordless

A window treatment mechanism that eliminates the lift cord for effortless raising and lowering of blinds and shades by pushing or pulling the bottom rail. Provides a less cluttered look and is a safe alternative for households with small children and pets.

Cornice

A wood or molded frame over the top of a window that can be stained, padded or covered with fabric.

Cutout

Procedure where a section of the blind is cutout to allow clearance for obstacles that may be in the way of the blinds.

D

Depth

The distance measured from the front edge of a window opening to the back.

Diffusion

Method of controlling window light. Diffusion bends the light coming into the room, causing it to scatter in multiple directions without shadows.

Double

Two windows set side by side, usually double-hung.

Double Cell

A type of cellular shade construction that offers increased insulation by using two layers of cellular fabric.

E

End Bracket

The metal box bracket that is affixed to the wall or in the window casing that holds the blind head rail in place is known as the end bracket.

End Cap

Plastic cap placed on the end of the headrail or bottom rail.

Extension Brackets

Provide additional space between the blind and the mounting surface so that the blind will clear obstructions such as window cranks or trim.

Eyebrow

Half-oval or ellipse shaped window.

F

Factory Deduction

The amount automatically trimmed off a shade or blind by the factory to ensure the proper fit of an inside mount. The amount will vary depending on the individual products.

Faux Wood Blinds

Economical alternative to real wood blinds; faux wood blinds are more resistant to high humidity climates and are less prone to warping slats or cracking or peeling paint.

Flush Depth

Depth required for a window treatment to fit completely inside the window opening without projecting into the room. French/Atrium doors: See Atrium/French Doors.

G

Gothic Arch

Arch whose curves meet in a point at the top

Grass Cloth Shades

Made from Natural Fibers like the woven wood shades. Edges are slightly frayed similar to the bottom of cut off blue jeans.

H

Hanging Strip

Wooden rail that mount in a window frame to hang a standard inside mount shutter.

Hard Treatments

Window treatments that cover windows, such as shades, shutters or blinds. Conversely, window coverings that primarily decorate windows, such as drapery, swags, or valances are known as soft treatments.

Head rail

The metal channel that houses all of the components that are needed to operate the blind.

Height

Measurement used from top to bottom on a window

Hold Downs

They are brackets that are typically used on an Outside Mount, to secure the bottom of the shade.

Honeycomb Shade

See cellular shade

Horizontal Blind

A blind consisting of slats running horizontally that can be tilted and lifted. Also called venetian blinds.

I

Inserts

Inserts are long plastic sleeves available with some fabric verticals and provide a solid backing for the fabric which results in a greater degree of privacy and insulation

Inside Mount

Term when you measure for and install a blind on the inside of the window frame as opposed to the outside window casing.

L

Ladders

They are the material that supports the slats of the blind. The wider the blind the more ladders there are. The standard ladder is a braided cord. Cloth tape ladders are also available in 2 inch sizes.

Ladder Grommets

These metal clips are compressed on the ends of the ladder at the bottom of the blind. The level the bottom rail and also secure the ladders.

Ladder Spacing

The distance between ladder cords.

L-Brackets

Used during installation to extend the blind out over the sill. Also called extension brackets

Lift Cord

The cord that is pulled to raise and lower the blind.

Light-Filtering

Also known as semi � opaque.

Loop Ladder

Braided ladder that is used on any rout less blind. The front and backs of each ladder have loops that the cord is laced through.

Louver

Refers to the slats of a plantation shutter or the slats of a window arch covering.

M

Metal Tape Roll

A cylinder piece that fits into the head rail in a standard blind. It connects braided ladder to the clips in the drums.

Micro Blinds

See aluminum blinds.

Mini Blinds

See aluminum blinds.

Minimum Depth

Minimum depth required to mount the treatment inside the window frame. Typically at this depth, the treatment will project slightly.

Motorized Lift

Optional lift mechanism that raises and lowers a blind or shade with the use of a wireless remote.

Motorized Tilter

Optional tilt mechanism that controls the angle of the slats or vanes with the use of a wireless remote.

Mount

Refers to the type of installation for a window treatment, either within a window frame (inside mount) or on the wall or ceiling surrounding the window (outside mount).

Mullion

The strips that separate the window panes of a window

Multiple blinds (or shades) on one head rail

2 or 3 blinds or shades mounted on the same headrail. Typically this is to cover a large window where the size is too large to allow a single shade. Each blind or shade on the headrail will have its own set of controls so one blind may be open while the other is closed.

O

One on one headrail

This is the default option for all blinds and shades, which means that the blinds or shade is the same width as the headrail.

One-Way Stack

Refers to vertical blinds that open in one direction to stack to one side of the window.

Opaque

A non-reflective surface that blocks up to 99% of outside light. Opaque is the best choice for bedrooms, children's rooms and media rooms.

Outside Mount

Installing a blind or shade outside the window frame, usually to a wood frame, wall, or door.

P

Perfect Arch

A window arch in which the height is half the width.

Plantation Shutters

see shutters.

Projection

The distance from the wall a window treatment extends into a room.

Pleated Shades

Light Filtering and Opaque Shades that are in an accordion style pleat, similar to temporary shades that stack compactly when raised. Pleated Shades are made from soft durable fabrics that gently filter light but maintain privacy.

Privacy

Refers to how much of a view is blocked when the window treatment is fully closed.

R

Ramin Wood

A dense, imported hardwood used with many value-priced wood blinds. Ramin wood is approximately 10% heavier than basswood.

Remote Control

Battery-powered infrared remote control used to operate motorized blinds or shades.

Return

Distance from the front of the head rail to the wall or frame. Also refers to the sides of a valance that is on an outside mount.

Reverse Roll

Option on roller shades where the fabric rolls off the front of the headrail rather than the back. Standard shades roll off the back side closest to the window.

Reverse Stack

Vertical blind stack option where blind stacks to the side opposite from where the controls are located.

Roller Shade

Flat panel of fabric or vinyl attached to a dowel with a roller spring mechanism for lifting.

Roman Shade

A fabric shade that folds up accordion-style from the bottom, usually operated by lift cord.

Route Hole

The punch in the slat that the lift cords run through

Routless

Routless blinds have notches cut in the front and back of each slat as opposed to having routed holes for the lift cords. This provides superior privacy and better blocking light rays that come through the routed holes. Also each slat may be removed easily for cleaning.

S

Sash

Framework that holds the panes of glass in a glazed window or door, including the narrow bars between the panes.

Semi-Opaque

Treatment that transmits filtered light with no view through the covering and provides privacy. Also called light-filtering.

Sheer

Fabric capable of transmitting light and allowing a clear view of what lies beyond. Opposite of opaque.

Shutters

Or Plantation Shutters. Wood Panels with Louvers in assorted sizes that can be opened or closed to fit your desire of light or privacy.

Sill

The bottom ledge of the window casing.

Slat

The individual pieces of material in a horizontal blind.

Slatburst Arch

Window Arch that contains slats or louvers.

Spacers

Used with mounting brackets to give more room between mounting surfaces and the blinds; used when installing a blind over raised molding, especially with door mounts; only for use with outside mounting

Split Stack

Vertical blind stack option where blind opens in the middle of the window and stacks evenly on either side.

Stack Height

The space at the top of a horizontal blind that is taken up by the slats when they are fully raised. The smaller the stack height, the greater the view you will have to the outside.

Stock Arch

An Arch window treatment that is pre-made and ready to ship.

Sunburst Arch

A moving louver arch in which the slats can be opened or closed to control sunlight, heat and privacy. Comes in all sizes and shapes.

T

Template

Used when ordering a custom made arch. You make an arch template by taping butcher paper over the arch window opening and drawing a picture of the opening. This is mailed in so that the arch can be made to fit your exact arch window opening.

Three on One Head rail

Three blinds or shades mounted on a single head rail. Usually used to cover a wide window expanse to make operation easier and to reduce stress on hardware mechanisms. Also provides the flexibility of raising one blind while keeping the other lowered. Each individual blind or shade will have it's own controls and thus operate independently.

Tile or Molding Cut-Out

A portion of the blind is cut narrower than the rest of the blind to allow space for tile or molding that comes into the window opening. Usually in a kitchen window or bathroom window.

Tilt

The cord or wand control that adjusts the slats of a blind to a closed or open position.

Tilter Location

Refers to the location of the tilter mechanism on horizontal blinds. The standard tilter location is left. On very small width blinds a center tilter location may be required.

Top-Down/Bottom-Up

This option is available on shades and uses two sets of lift cords which enables the shade to be opened by lowering the top down or by lifting the bottom up. Standard shades are opened by lifting the bottom up only.

Traverse rod

Rod used to open or close vertical blinds.

Trim Z Frame

A Shutter Molding offering a sleek, clean look to plantation shutters. Helps hide any imperfections in the sheetrock or window casings.

Two-on-One Headrail

Two separate blinds, including slats and operating mechanisms, placed into one headrail. Used in large windows and on sliding glass patio doors.

V

Valance

The decorative piece used as a finishing touch to hide the headrail of a window treatment.

Valance Clip

Clear plastic clip that holds the valance to the headrail.

Valance Returns

The two side pieces of an outside mount valance that extend from the front valance back to the wall or window frame.

Vane

The vertical louvers or slats in a vertical blind.

Also know as a Horizontal Blinds.

Vertical Blinds

Window treatment featuring vertical vanes that can be swiveled open and closed or opened in either a split or one-way stack.

W

Wand

A long plastic cylinder that you twist.

Wand Tilter

Mechanism operated with a twisting motion and used to swivel vertical blinds or tilt horizontal blinds, commonly referred to as "opening and closing" the blind.

Wall Mount

A standard type of installation for vertical blinds in which the headrail is mounted on the wall surrounding the door or window.

Width

The horizontal measurement of your blind, taken to the nearest 1/8 of an inch.

Wood Blinds

Available with 2" , 2 �� , and 1� slats wood blinds are the perfect alternative to shutters. Made from basswood or ramin wood.

Woven Wood Shades

Shades made of wood or natural fibers including bamboos, rattan and reeds.