The attitude towards curtains and blinds depends not only on different assessments of beauty and functionality, but also on the mentality: what is shame for one is laughter for another. Conditions and customs are changing, but for now, open windows that cover the entire wall are less common than blank high fences that complement curtains and blinds.
A long, narrow, glass-enclosed balcony can overheat so quickly that sun protection becomes necessary for any sense of shame and vanity. There are a lot of decent design options.
Types of blinds with plastic slats: advantages, disadvantages
PVC slats effectively cope with the task of creating complete blackout; if you purchase blinds only for protection from sunlight and daylight, then economical PVC models are the right choice.
Plastic blinds are a salvation for owners of car repair shops, swimming pools and baths
An assortment of plastic models can be found in the following sections:
- horizontal blinds;
- vertical blinds.
When choosing horizontal ones, pay attention to the “wood-like” option. The slats here are made of PVC, which makes them indispensable in humid environments and rooms with temperature changes. Five current colors (white, birch, beech, cherry, walnut) offer the customer to make the interior as cozy and harmonious as possible.
Plastic lamellas have sufficient weight so as not to use additional fasteners at the bottom of the product
Vertical blinds with plastic slats are a standard item on our website. This product is actively used in public and private spaces to decorate window openings, as well as as space delimiters (read how this is organized here). Plastic slats are much more durable than fabric ones, but more economical than aluminum ones.
pros
Among the positive characteristics of the model are durability, moisture resistance and low price, but do not forget about interesting color solutions.
Pros:
- Protecting privacy. The complete opacity of the blinds is guaranteed to hide everything that happens in the room, regardless of the light inside or outside.
- Durability. If you do not subject the blinds to mechanical stress and install them correctly, they will last a very long time. How to check the quality of installation, read this article.
- Safety. Plastic itself is a non-toxic material that is actively used in the food industry and medicine.
- Easy to care for. Cleaning is reduced to wiping with a damp cloth.
For simple weekly cleaning, it is enough to wipe the slats with a damp cloth or a special brush.
- Moisture resistance. Plastic is not afraid of moisture, does not corrode or deform, therefore it is used where other materials are not available.
- Assortment of colors. The “Zhaluzi.RF” catalog offers a choice of shades from pastel to bright, from textured patterns to wood imitation.
- Low price. Indeed, PVC blinds are more economical than many other models. For those who like to change the interior according to their mood, this option of blinds is a solution against unjustified costs.
What is the difference between them?
Classic white horizontal blinds are not much different in appearance. Aluminum and plastic plates have approximately the same thickness. On the window the differences are invisible. Is that the shine of glossy plastic is more subdued. At the same time, they equally successfully cope with the function of protection from light. Rotating mechanisms allow you to adjust the angle of incidence of the light flux and its intensity.
The difference between the products is small, and is revealed when comparing the characteristics:
- Aluminum products are more expensive (if we compare classic models of standard sizes).
- Plastic blinds come in a wide range of colors. Polymer materials lend themselves well to coloring. For aluminum products, the choice of colors is often small, and is limited to 5-8 color schemes.
- Aluminum plates make a slight noise when assembled and unfolded. They hit the windows quite noisily in a draft. The noise of plastic is significantly lower.
- Aluminum blinds are reliable and resistant to mechanical stress. Plastic plates break easily and crack when dropped or bent.
Interesting fact. The word “blinds” is translated from French as “jealousy.” Several centuries ago, jealous men used sticks suspended on ropes to hide their wives from prying eyes. In 1841, John Hampton used the idea to create modern blinds that could be raised and lowered.
Types of blinds with aluminum slats: advantages, disadvantages
What is better - plastic or aluminum blinds is not clear from reviews, because only specialists can tell you what nuances there are. With regard to aluminum models, everything is simple. They are good in every way, except for the cost, however, you can evaluate the designs yourself.
We care about our customers, so it is impossible to find horizontal blinds with thin plastic slats on our website (read why you should not buy blinds at a low price here). Models “Holis”, “Izolight” (“Isotra”) and inter-frame blinds are assembled from aluminum slats 1.5 and 2.5 cm wide, which makes them resistant to mechanical damage.
Which blinds are better - plastic or aluminum?
Let us recall that blinds are a structure consisting of a fastening base to which plastic or aluminum slats (slats) are attached, connected to each other using chains or strong thickened threads or thin cords. Blinds come with vertical and horizontal slats. They are used to shade rooms from sunlight and protect from street onlookers; they can be mounted on plastic and wooden windows.
Let's look at the basic properties of blinds in order to compare which models are better, more convenient, more practical, and more beautiful.
Design
Purely outwardly, many users like plastic blinds (PVC). They are elegant, neat, do not weigh down the window and look good in the interior, especially together with light tulle or transparent curtains.
Plastic blinds
In this regard, aluminum ones are simpler in appearance, do not create a feeling of home comfort, and are more noticeable on the window. Most often they are used in offices. In order for them to fit harmoniously into the interior of the apartment, additional textile decoration is often required to soften the rough and rustic outlines of aluminum structures.
Aluminum blinds
Coloring and patterns:
- aluminum ones most often come in white, light gray or the color of wood (walnut color), while plastic has more varied color options (shades of the entire color gamut), and the variety of colors is its tangible advantage;
- plastic includes a dye in the material, while aluminum ones have a painted surface;
- both of them can be with prints, embossed patterns, perforations;
- The color of plastic, over time and under the influence of sunlight (especially on the sunny side) can fade and turn yellow, but the color of aluminum is not affected by long-term use and direct sunlight.
We also recommend: What types of balcony blinds are there and which ones are best to choose?
Aluminum blinds combined with curtains
The attractive appearance of blinds (in particular, aluminum ones) can be ensured with the help of additional textile decoration.
Sun protection
If it is important which products cover windows better, then the choice is aluminum. They have thin and flat slats that fit tightly together without gaps. They provide good protection from the sun's rays on a hot day and prevent curious people from looking into the window from the outside.
Aluminum blinds are noisier than plastic; they rustle when moving and clap loudly when the slats close.
Features of plastic in design. The slats are thicker (compared to aluminum ones), with rounded edges, which does not allow them to fit tightly to each other; they are located at a slight angle relative to each other and do not close the window tightly enough. This circumstance allows sunlight to penetrate through the cracks.
Pros and cons when leaving
Washing blinds in general is not difficult, but sometimes it can be troublesome and time consuming. If you compare which ones are better for cleaning, then most likely PVC. But only if you act very carefully so as not to damage the fragile slats and chains of the lifting mechanism.
Pros of plastic:
- Dirt, soot, dust, traces of insects are washed off from plastic slats easier and faster (even without chemicals);
- plastic strips do not stick to each other when wiped dry after washing from residual water;
- no traces of creases appear on the plastic when bent;
- A plastic lamella is easier and safer to wash because it is thicker than aluminum.
Disadvantage of plastic ones:
- It can easily be broken if you slightly bend the lamella or press too hard, which is quite possible when cleaning.
Pros of aluminum:
- Frequent care is not required: wipe them with a dry cloth once every 2 - 3 months, and once a year - treat them with a damp sponge or using a special washing device (see photo below).
Cons of aluminum:
- the lamellas have rather sharp edges and you can injure your hand if you quickly rub the rag with a rag, holding the lamella between your fingers;
- wet lamellas stick together, you have to shake the entire canvas to separate them, but this may cause creases;
- Due to the too tight fit to each other, you have to clean one bar several times in different positions.
It is important not to allow aluminum blinds to get too dirty, because it will be difficult to clean the bendable slats.
Which blinds are more reliable - PVC or aluminum?
Many users are inclined to believe that aluminum blinds are more reliable than plastic ones. The slats are thin and bend easily during cleaning, and if you touch them with your hand, there may be creases, but they do not crack like plastic ones.
We also recommend: Can’t choose between roller blinds and blinds? Read the article to the end
According to reviews, many people do not like plastic precisely because it is fragile and brittle. Weak spots are near the window handle. When the room is ventilated on a frosty day, the plastic cools and near the gap to the street it becomes brittle and breaks with slight pressure.
Thin aluminum slats may bend, creases may appear on them, and the attractiveness of the appearance may decrease, but the integrity of the slats is maintained, and the blinds as a whole continue to function.
Price
It would be appropriate to remember the price, this is also an indicator of which blinds are better - aluminum or plastic.
PVC is cheaper because their service life is shorter due to their quality characteristics: they break, fade, and do not close the window tightly enough. But they have a right to exist. Judging by the reviews, many users install such blinds in addition to regular curtains. In addition, if such blinds get boring, then their low cost allows you to replace them with new ones with a different design without much regret. It happens that, in necessary cases, they are used in technical and non-residential premises - basements, entrances, garages, boiler rooms in private houses - this way you can save money.
Aluminum ones are more durable, so they will cost more.
So here the principle “better quality - higher price” is evident here. And each user himself chooses what is more important for him, taking into account the characteristics of both types of blinds for all the specified parameters of the materials from which they are made.
How to choose blinds for a specific location
You will have to decide for yourself which blinds are better - PVC or aluminum. And for maximum confidence, we suggest discussing current locations for placing blinds.
If you have clearly decided that wood and fabric are not options for you, then think about the purpose of the room:
- The temperature in kitchens is high, plastic blinds here quickly deform;
- if the room faces the sunny side, then the bright light will heat up the plastic, which will begin to emit an unpleasant odor (which window design option to choose for ultraviolet protection, read this article);
- to hide niches in storage rooms, bathrooms and on the balcony, there is no point in overpaying; you can safely choose plastic models;
- When organizing an office space, you should think about the service life of the premises; if they are small, then do not consider metal slats.
Overall, the pros and cons are enough to paint a picture of the functionality. What about visualization? We invite you to look at the gallery of photographs for inspiration and search for design ideas.
Rate the material:
Which is better to choose?
Experts advise choosing the type of blinds, first of all, based on the characteristics of the windows and the room in which they will be used.
It matters whether the side is sunny or shady, and whether there are heating devices nearby.
It is better to choose aluminum blinds:
- If there is smoking indoors. Aluminum cannot be burned through by a cigarette, and it does not absorb cigarette smoke.
- For kitchen. Active use of a gas stove, electric heating devices, and hot frying pans increases the risk of damage to a plastic product. Aluminum blinds are heat resistant and will not melt from the heat.
- With strict fire safety limits: for a kindergarten, hospital, laboratory, food production, premises with a risk of an open fire.
- If the windows are located on the sunny side. Aluminum does not fade in the sun or melt, as can happen with cheap plastic. The latter can also give off a plastic smell in hot weather.
For reference: When exposed to direct sunlight, the lamellas heat up to a temperature of +60 degrees.
Plastic blinds worth choosing:
- If the budget is limited.
- If most of the time the windows are located in the shade.
- People who like wood blinds but want to save money on real wood. The imitation on PVC looks very believable.
- For a children's room. Plastic products are less noisy and will not disturb the child's sleep.
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Roller blinds
Rolls are a type of lamella curtains, the most fashionable and widespread way to decorate windows today.
The variety of types and styles allows you to choose canvases to suit any interior.
Roller shutters occupy a separate niche in the window decoration segment.
Advantages
Roller blinds have more advantages than disadvantages:
- They have varying degrees of darkening, up to 100% thanks to the day-night fabric.
- They do not fade in the sun due to dust- and dirt-repellent impregnation.
- Do not violate the integrity of the window profile. They have different methods of fastening: with Velcro, with a magnet, with a latch.
- Durable.
- Do not require frequent washing.
- Easy care.
- Practical.
- They don't rustle when the windows are open.
- Save window sill space.
- Breathable.
- Hypoallergenic.
- Made to order for different types of window openings. Easily matched to any interior and style.
- They are made from various materials, with a variety of designs.
- You can print a 3D drawing.
- They fit tightly to the frame and create a thermal barrier.
- There are “mirror” curtains that reflect the sun's rays.
- Fixing the rise of roller shutters at different levels.
- They are organically combined with tulle and classic curtains, without disturbing the style of the room.
Thanks to these characteristics, roller blinds have firmly established themselves in the window decoration market.
Flaws
Despite the huge number of advantages, rolls still have their disadvantages:
- When the curtains fit tightly to the window frame, moisture condenses on the glass. This destroys the fabric's impregnation.
- It is impossible to regulate the flow of sunlight.
- If the fabric is damaged, the roller blind must be completely replaced.
- The minimalism of roller shutters is not for everyone.
- High price compared to blinds.
All of the listed disadvantages are incommensurate with the comfort and coziness that roller blinds create. Therefore, they are actively used in window decoration.
Content
- Types of vertical blinds
- Fabric
- Plastic
- Aluminum
- Perforated
- Thread
- Lamellas 89 mm
- Lamellas 127 mm (European)
- Execution options
- Multi-textured
- Arch
- Curly
- Alternation
- Fragmented
- With photo printing
- Installation methods
- Into the opening
- On the wall
- To the ceiling
- On Armstrong
- On an inclined plane
- Types of control
- Manual
- Automatic
- Order or buy ready-made
- To order
- Ready in large shopping centers
- On Aliexpress
- Reviews
Methods for installing vertical blinds
Vertical blinds can be installed on almost any vertical, horizontal or inclined plane. This type of blinds is quite well adapted to solve technical installation issues of any complexity. Lightweight structures do not require reinforced fasteners.
Into the opening
Installation of vertical blinds in the opening - in this case, the cornice of vertical blinds is attached to the upper, horizontal slope of the window. When measuring, you need to pay attention to what and how the slope is made. This information will be needed in order to understand how well the blind curtain rod will hold. Often, slopes in apartments and offices are made of fragile material (gypsum or siding), and installation in this case will not be reliable. But each case is individual. You also need to pay attention to whether any protruding fragments of the window (opening sash handle, hinges, etc.) will interfere.
Advantages
- Compactness
- Easy to install
- No wall “L” shaped brackets required
Flaws
- The entire window sill is occupied, where flowers, documents or office equipment can be located (this is usually practiced in offices
On the wall
Installing vertical blinds on the wall - in this case, the product is mounted on an “L” shaped bracket. Brackets come in different lengths: 75 mm, 110 mm, etc. It is not advisable to install the product too far from the wall. Firstly, it will look bad, and secondly, the bracket must be of sufficient strength. If you need to significantly remove the cornice from the wall, this happens quite often. For example, a window sill or a battery interferes. And the height of the blinds should be to the floor. In this case, a non-standard solution is used - to make brackets directly to your dimensions. Usually this is done by blind manufacturing companies, naturally this will be an addition to the price.
Advantages
- Compactness
- Easy to install
Flaws
- Has no obvious
To the ceiling
Installation of vertical blinds on the ceiling - installation on the ceiling can be done anywhere in the room, moved away from the wall, zoned the room, etc. The only inconvenience of this type of installation is that if the ceiling is suspended, then it will not be possible to install the product on it. In this case, all that remains is installation on the wall or in the opening.
Advantages
- Compactness
- Easy to install
- Possibility to install the cornice anywhere in the room
- No wall “L” shaped brackets required
- Can be installed in a special ceiling niche
Flaws
- Cannot be installed on a suspended ceiling
Armstrong on the ceiling
Installing vertical blinds on an Armstrong ceiling - there are special Armstrong mounts for this type of ceiling. Installation is very simple and does not require drilling holes, the ceiling does not deteriorate, and no traces are left when dismantling the product. When measuring, you should pay attention to how well the ceiling itself is fixed. There have been cases where ceiling installers cheated and installed fewer hangers than needed. In this case, you need to look at which ceiling guides are fixed and it is on them that the vertical blind cornice should be attached.
Advantages
- Compactness
- Easy to install
- No wall “L” shaped brackets required
- No drilling required
- Possibility to install the cornice anywhere in the room
Flaws
- Has no obvious
On an inclined plane
Installation of vertical blinds on an inclined plane - with this installation method, special elongated runners with a hinge are used in manufacturing. They allow the slats not to touch the curtain rod when turning. The length of the lamellas is also determined manually. First, a design for the future inclined vertical blinds is drawn on graph paper or in a special program, and the length of each lamella is determined. Often installed in the attic.
Advantages
- Solves a specific problem
- Compactness
- Easy to install
Flaws
- Price (slightly higher)
- Has no obvious
