Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC window blinds are a transformational décor item that can revamp an older home or compliment your new one.
Are you looking for stylish, designer window blinds that won’t break the bank?
Look no further. It’s not an oxymoron, you can indeed have glamorous and budget-friendly when it comes to PVC blinds at home. These are without doubt the best window blinds. They’re considerably cheaper compared to curtaining, easier to clean, and a dream to fit.
Modern apartments, holiday homes, and offices are ideal for the practicality and designer looks of PVC blinds.
Whether roller, vertical or Venetian, for interior or outdoor use? You will be suitably impressed with the versatility of PVC window blinds. You have questions on your mind no doubt, so let’s clear up some FAQs so you can decide whether to fit your own blinds or get the professionals in to help.
What Are PVC Blinds Made Of?
Is being too obvious to say PVC blinds are made of PVC? Yeah – it doesn’t answer the question. So, a brief chemistry lesson is in order. Bear with us.
- Produced by ‘cracking’ natural petroleum or gas with elemental chlorine we get ethylene – a thermoplastic synthetic resin that possesses engineering plastic property, high crystallinity, excellent mechanical property, and chemical resistance.
- Vinyl encompasses a range of different thermoplastic chemical compounds derived from said ethylene.
- The ‘poly’ part references its manufacture, which consists of polymerising (linking together) a chemical named vinyl chloride.
- The chloride element is a chlorine derivative made from a simple solution of common salt and water.
Put that all together and you have a clear, inexpensive, very versatile plastic material. PVC products come as thin as a sandwich wrap or as thick as needed for industrial piping. It is a common product in the automobile and construction industries. You’d be amazed at how many medical devices are made from PVC, but that’s a story for another day.
Once you lay your hands on PVC window blinds, you’ll be glad someone thought of that application so you get affordable design styles for every window of your home.
Why Are PVC Window Blinds So Popular?
It might be easier to ask ‘Why not?’ But fair’s fair, knowing the answer to this is about more than the beauty and affordability of PVC, it’s also about its versatility. Let’s explore the benefits for a moment.
Durability – today’s PVC blinds are highly resistant to oxidative deterioration, which makes them ideal for damp environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor patios.
UV-light resistance – protect you and your furniture from the sun’s harmful rays.
Environmentally compatible – surprising for plastic, but remember that PVC is 57% chlorine, which comes from salt. PVC contributes only fractionally to carbon emissions from manufacture to use and back to recycling.
Fire-retardant – the chlorine content lends itself to fire retarding properties, so you can feel secure knowing that you’re taking an extra step to keep your family and home safe.
Electricity saving – the kind of thermal insulation properties in PVC window blinds help you to save energy costs on heating and cooling your home.
Easy cleaning – PVC is probably the easiest kind of window treatment to keep clean and in perfect condition. Regular dusting and occasional wiping with water and non-abrasive soap are all that’s needed.
It is possible, especially if your windows are standard sizes, to purchase standard ready-made PVC blinds. Another option is to have yours made to measure, especially if you intend to install them yourself.
What Different Kinds Of PVC Window Blinds Are There?
The variety is the best part of PVC blinds. They come in different colours and finishes to suit your design ideas and décor. Take a look.
PVC roller blinds – are fabulous for kids’ playrooms because they’re so easy to clean. The beauty of PVC is that it totally blocks out the light. That makes them useful even if used behind curtains if your neighbour has a super-bright security light that floods into your windows somewhere.
PVC vertical blinds – traditionally, you’d find vertical blinds in doorways. But in offices, they work to cover large areas and are easier to operate than Venetian style blinds. The faux wood PVC blinds look fabulous in the vertical style.
PVC Venetian blinds – perhaps the faux wood and plain white varieties of PVC blinds are the most aesthetically pleasing of all. Kitchen windows can achieve a warm cottage feel or a more Zen-like sleek line if you love white and need to create the impression of spaciousness in a room.
How Do You Measure Windows For PVC Blinds?
Measuring for blinds is dead easy. The rules apply to vertical, Venetian, faux wood (PVC wood look), and roller blinds. Here’s what you do:
- Window fit – to snugly fit in the window recess just measure the height and the width. When you purchase, the staff will assist you to calculate that into the equation depending on what fittings are needed.
- External fit – sometimes you’ll prefer to hang your blinds outside of the window recess. In that case, measure the height and width as per the size you think best, and then add about 70mm at the top and bottom, and 50mm on each end of the blind width to ensure no light leakage.
Can You Put Curtains Over PVC Window Blinds?
This look is not only possible, but it is also ideal for those who still require the soft lines that curtaining creates. Interior decorators make full use of pelmets, full curtain tie-backs, and false drapes that never need to close, but give the illusion of curtains.
Roller blinds and Venetian blinds pair very well with curtains. They provide a solid block of colour that can be neutral shades reflected in the drapes. This is possibly the best combination for privacy and light control.
PVC window blinds are cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and stylish all at once. They can be warm and inviting colours or cool and serene in white and shades of pale. The ‘weather side’ of patios fitted with strong outdoor PVC drop blinds or roller blinds can even be clear, so you can still see the garden through them on a rainy day. These are often called café blinds.
A Final Word On PVC Window Blind Installation
Although DIY enthusiasts will be able to install PVC blinds of all kinds easily enough, having your PVC window blinds fitted and installed professionally by a reputable team is the first prize of course.
There is little doubt that PVC window blinds are the ultimate window covering package. Besides, being reasonably priced, it won’t cost an arm and a leg to change them out every decade or so for a new in-vogue look.
We are available to offer whatever advice and information you need for your home or office blinds. Please feel free to contact us for a quote.