What are Roller Blinds?

Roller blinds are rectangular shaped, with the swath of materials attached to a wooden dowel or metal tube at the top, mounted between 2 brackets. Roller blinds can be wider in width or longer in terms of length depending on the dimension of the windows that are required to be covered. Roller blinds as being self-explanatory, works through a rolling mechanism; rolling down to its full length for maximum coverage when needed and being retracted into a cylindrical roll back at the top - where the wooden dowel or metal tube usually firmly attached to the wall by 2 brackets will hold the swath in a stable position. The rolling mechanism is operated through a pulley system.

As shown above, the roller blinds is operated by a pulley system with a coordinated string of metal beads properly attached to 2 rollers at the bracket. The string of small metals beads are using replaced simply by a string made of durable material such as PVC. The string and the roller attached within the metal bracket is the heart of the pulley system which allows the swath of material to be able to execute its functional purpose of rolling up and down along the window plane.Roller blinds are usually made of fabric. The type of fabric that should be used for roller blinds will depend on the needs of the user. When choosing the right type of fabric for your roller blind, one should consider a few factors namely solar control, privacy control, UV protection, sustainability, protection against fire and thermal efficiency. For users who are looking for total privacy and solar control, one should consider a black out roller blind. Blackout roller blinds provide maximum sun protection though all roller blind fabrics will reflect a certain percentage of solar radiation. Roller blind fabrics that are marketed as ‘solar protective’ or ‘solar reflective’ fabrics usually reflect or absorb a higher percentage of solar radiation than others, reducing the amount of visible light and infrared thermal radiation that is transmitted through the roller blind into the room. Solar protective and solar reflective fabrics (Black out blinds) are usually also able to block 100% of UV light from passing through the fabric, giving users and interior furnishings an additional protection against harmful UV lights. While occupants who are looking for a certain degree of openness will probably like to consider perforated blinds to be installed at their designated places. Perforated blinds block out only a certain degree of sunlight, allowing some degree of clarity of vision for users and outsiders alike. While outside the building, perforated blinds will still provide a vague vision of the interior and vice versa, one will also be able to get a vague view of the outside surrounding - looking through a perforated roller window covering. The choice of fabric should depend on the location of the window coverings, be it residential or office places. Black out blinds made of fabrics that block out the maximum sunlight will usually be used at hot, dry or humid geographical areas where exposure to sunlight is high or during summer. Black out blinds as such will be ideal for bedrooms where comfort is what occupants seek for. Also, at places where confidentiality and privateness is favorable or paramount such as the Manager’s office or bathroom, black out blinds is an ideal choice. Perforated blinds will typically be used at places such as the living room, which being the center of the house, certain degree of light will be good for highlighting the interior décor.

Roller window blinds made of fabric will absorb radiation from the sunlight in all cases. As such, it is important to consider thermally efficient fabrics for your roller blinds if the geographical location of inhibition is high in temperature or during summer season. Thermal roller blind fabrics with solar protective coatings, solar reflective coatings and fabrics of light colors reflect the most heat back through the glass. Many roller blind fabric manufacturers now give information as to the percentage of sunlight that the respective fabrics will reflect, absorb and transmit. Some roller blind fabrics are better at reflecting heat intrinsically and some fabrics are treated with a coating which helps reflect heat. Some roller blind fabric manufacturers give a rating as to the thermal efficiency of their fabrics. However as important as the fabric choice in conserving heat within a room is the fit of the blind to the window itself. The fit should be as tight as possible to the window surround to minimize draughts and air loss. To maximize efficiency and minimize heat loss, a roller blind should incorporate a head cassette, side channels with brushes and a sealing strip on the bottom bar of the blind to prevent air form passing around the roller blind fabric. At locations where exposure to sunlight is high, fabrics the reflect light and radiation will be optimum e.g. balcony, while at locations where exposure to the Sun’s radiation is low or during cold weathers and seasons, heat absorbing fabrics will be quintessential.Being a vertically suspended piece of fabric, flames can spread quickly up and across a roller blind fabric. Fabrics which have no inherent resistance to ignition by flame can be treated with chemicals to make them resistant to flames and also to reduce the rate at which flames will spread. More information about whether your ideal type of fabric is fire resistant can be obtained through your seller, supplier and manufacturer.Sustainability in the other case depends on the durability of the fabric used. From a consumer standpoint, you will want the fabric to last as long as it possibly can and be easy to wash, clean and maintain. You wouldn’t want something that breaks easily or gets dirty and attract a lot of dirt. You will also want to pay attention to whether the material can be bleach or not.All in all, roller blinds are most commonly used for patios or rooms that contain large, glass wall segments or doors. However, you can install them in nearly any location that has a glass door or window. They come in an extensive variety of sizes so they can fit nearly anywhere you need them to. Through highlighting the full stretch of window panels, roller blinds allow the full dimensions of the windows to be fully exposed giving the rooms a modernistic feel. Roller blinds are also neutral in appearance, making it versatile - fit well into both traditional and contemporary designs. Roller blinds are often used to maximally limit incoming sunlight, giving occupants a cozy feeling and a good degree of privateness to occupants.