Need outdoor blinds for your home, restaurant, or office space? Knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there, from automated blinds to roller blinds. Things get even more complicated when you start considering fabric selections.
Luckily, this brief guide will provide insights into how you can select the best types of outdoor blinds for your premises.
1. Consider the fabric
The most important decision you'll have to make is choosing a fabric. Even before getting lost in all the options available, think about utility versus function. What goal are you trying to achieve? If UV resistance is a top concern, fabrics such as polyester, PVC and faux wood come in handy.
Avoid natural fibres as they tend to degrade when exposed to UV rays for extended periods of time. Synthetic fibres are a better option, as they're specially formulated to resist UV damage.
You may also consider matching your fabric selection with the overall theme of your home. Faux wood blinds match well with a timeless or antique feel, while PVC outdoor blinds blend with many different outside elements. In fact, you can select from multiple colours to achieve your desired theme (an excellent choice for businesses).
2. Ease of installation
Another factor to consider is how the outdoor blinds will operate. Retractable blinds are excellent for restaurants, as you can retract them when the building is closed and pull them down during business hours.
Roller blinds are easy to install and cost-effective for individual homes. They operate on tracks and can be adjusted to block out the sun according to your desired preferences. Automated outdoor blinds are more complicated to install, but they provide a very convenient opening and closing mechanism for both homes and businesses.
Whichever installation technique you choose, make sure the blinds remain firmly in position even during strong winds and heavy rains.
3. Performance
While fabric selection was previously discussed, it's also important to consider performance. Performance extends beyond UV rays. It also includes protection from glares and reflections, particularly when spending time outdoors.
Consider materials that contain an antiglare finish to prevent annoying reflections from landing on mobile devices or outdoor TV screens. A thin aluminium coating works well for many different types of outdoor blinds.
4. Safety
When buying outdoor blinds for your home, you should also keep safety in mind. Tacks and tension cords can injure your kids when playing outdoors. Consider blinds that have in-built cord locking mechanisms with proper mounting. Your tracks should also have smooth outer edges to prevent any piercing of the skin during use.
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