Repairs Archives - ADVANCED ON-SITE Drapery Cleaning

January 15, 2016

THE SAGE: Wood Blind Parts

Consuelo

Hi. I have a wood blind. The strings are broken, so I need to know if they can be fixed. Thanks for your help.

THE SAGE

If you know from whom the blind you speak of was originally purchased, or even better, who the manufacturer was, it may be possible to obtain replacement cords.

Unfortunately, the sheer number of manufacturers, many with their own proprietary control systems, means efforts to get the exact parts needed are often frustrated in the absence of this information. It’s an issue many in the window coverings industry have moaned about for years.

Additionally, just as automobile manufacturers re-engineer components, and even drop entire product lines, so do blind manufacturers. Sometimes, as in the case of a once popular company called Bamboo Abbott, they just go out of business.

Now, if you’re unable to determine the manufacturer, and you’re feeling adventurous, you may wish to visit blindparts.com (no affiliation) to search for a universal repair kit. Or just to see what cording they have available, and whether it suits your needs. I’m afraid it’s a bit of a “crap shoot.” But, it’s an option even professionals avail themselves of from time to time.

Another option is to pay the necessary parts, freight and service charges to have a repair technician come to your location, determine what is needed, place the order, then return to execute the repair after it arrives.

Thank you for your submission.

NOTE: ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services, related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

October 30, 2015November 2, 2015

THE SAGE: Chain on Roll Up Shade

Julie

My problem is with a roll up shade over one of the glass patio doors in the house we bought. It was left by the owner and I like it, but the chain keeps slipping. I can put the shade down without much trouble. But I need twice the time to put it up because it slips every foot or so. The only way I can get it to go up more is to pull down on both sides of the chain with just a little extra tug on the part that part that goes up. I hope you know what I mean. It’s a little hard to describe. Can this be fixed and what is involved? Thanks in advance.

THE SAGE

This has the earmarks of a worn out clutch. As you pull down, the beaded chain passes over a correspondingly scalloped wheel inside the control end. It’s a sprocket, of sorts. After a time, one or more of the scallops can become worn down. Usually due to excessive or improper use.

The only fix is a replacement clutch. Which is not all that expensive, in itself. The main cost comes in the form of service charges. Depending on circumstances, you may be billed for an initial visit to determine the exact part needed. Then, a service call is billed to return and swap the bad one out, after a new one has been ordered and received from the manufacturer. Total costs may range from $85 to $180.

Thank you for your submission.

NOTE: ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services, related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

September 8, 2015November 2, 2015

Avoiding Damage to Plantation Shutters

Perhaps as much as eighty percent of all plantation shutters sold in the past ten years utilize a “rear tilt” (left) method, rather than the traditional “tilt bar” (right) they were originally known for.

While both are connected to each and every louver, the “tilt bar” is typically made of the same material and located on the front center of the panel. “Rear tilt” can be either metal or plastic and located on the rear of the panel, usually at the same end of the louvers as its hinges.

This post focuses on the traditional tilt bar. Some aficionados still insist upon it, though many do not properly understand its purpose.

It is NOT intended as a handle for moving the louvers, so let’s clear that up right away. In fact, you should never touch it!

The correct way to open and close louvers is to grasp one in each hand, as far apart, both vertically and horizontally, as you can. When you begin to move them, the tilt bar’s true purpose becomes evident. Namely, to ensure that all the louvers move in unison. That’s it! There’s no other reason for its existence.

When the tilt bar is used as a handle, its connectors are subjected to undue stress. This dramatically reduces their life expectancy.

Wooden and composite shutters most often use opposing wire staples. These are prone to rust and corrosion, not to mention fatigue. Polyvinyl shutters use various types of plastic connectors, which dry out and become brittle as a result of the constant heat inside a window opening.

In either case, connectors are not easily replaced. Where vinyl shutters are concerned, there’s the matter of, first, determining who the manufacturer was. This can be surprisingly difficult, as most do not place their name anywhere on the product.

Manufacturers of polyvinyl shutters often use their own proprietary connectors. If a homeowner is unable to recall where their shutters were purchased, he or she may end up with a very expensive piece of junk covering the window.

Wood shutter connectors are generally easier to replace, but there are occasional exceptions.

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services, including shutter installation & repair. Contact us to discuss your needs.

August 31, 2015November 2, 2015

Job Photo – 08/31/15

Requested Service: Repair

A local decorator ordered this Luminette® based on her own measurements, but did not understand the difference between “inside” and “outside” mounting. She ended up with a shading whose fabric was half an inch too long.

She was referred to ADVANCED ON-SITE by a mutual business associate, who informed her we were able to modify its length using a simple rotary cutter. Do not try this at home!

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

August 5, 2015November 2, 2015

Curious Case of the “Rush Job”

By way of expanding on an earlier post, we see in the photo just one result of a failure to observe details when placing window coverings.

The homeowner in this case purchased an $800 motorized Luminette® by Hunter Douglas. Then, after it was installed she commissioned a top treatment to conceal its track and associated hardware. The new upholstered valance covered the entire header above the opening as well. Meaning that it extended all the way up to the ceiling, which was not level.

In such cases shim material is often placed above one of the valance’s mounting brackets (pictured) in order to align it with the ceiling. Alternatively, in tight spaces the bracket’s position on the cornice can be moved. But that’s more work, so the individual installing the valance shimmed it instead. This left a mere sixteenth of an inch between the bracket and the Luminette’s traversing mechanism.

Now, though they were not touching at the time, when the shade was later drawn, torque from its motor caused just enough vertical movement to bring its plastic components into contact with the unforgiving metal bracket. Several snap tabs holding carriers in position sheared off, jamming the scissor drive and separating five or six carriers from the main body. The expensive window shading was rendered utterly useless.

Fortunately, ADVANCED ON-SITE has the parts and the know-how to correct such issues. The Luminette was repaired and the valance bracket adjusted so the shim could be eliminated. But the homeowner had already been terribly inconvenienced.

When purchasing window coverings, it’s okay to insist that the dealer’s installer be present to measure for them. In this way you can observe his or her manner before the sale. Do they seem hurried? They may place more importance on the sheer volume of installations they can perform, than on customer satisfaction with the quality of their work. Do they seem harried? Well then, maybe the dealer is putting pressure on to increase production in the interest of more profit. Either way, it can add up to heartache for you.

And by all means, have the installer demonstrate that everything functions correctly when the installation is complete. In the aforementioned case, the installer of the valance clearly did not test for freedom of movement before the Luminette’s mechanism failed on the homeowner’s very next attempt to operate it. Alas, by then the installer was long gone.

July 28, 2015December 11, 2018

Correct Control Cord Use (Retractable)

Never let go of a cord until you know it has come to rest. Shades and blinds with modern retractable mechanisms typically use control cord assemblies. These incorporate hard connectors (pictured) capable of damaging delicate components on impact.

Additionally, an unchecked recoil may cause the cord to jump one or more contact points inside the headrail. Some are inaccessible, and may require costly factory repairs to restore functionality.

With traditional cord-lock mechanisms, the cord should not be released until its “catch” is engaged. This prevents the bottom-heavy shade from crashing down onto the sill.

For long life, correct operation of functional window coverings is the most important factor. But they will eventually fail. When they do, ADVANCED ON-SITE provides a full compliment of drapery and shade services, including repair.

July 16, 2015November 2, 2015

Correct Control Cord Use (Looped)

Always use both hands when drawing drapes, or any window covering that utilizes a cord loop passing through a fixed component at its lowest extent. An equal amount of pull on both the ascending and descending portions of the cord loop prevents too much stress from being placed on either the headrail above or the tensioning mechanism below.

June 18, 2015November 2, 2015

Avoiding Damage to Vertical Blinds

To avoid damage to carriers, as well as the traversing mechanism itself, always be sure the vanes of a vertical blind are tilted to the open position before traversing them.

The photo indicates when a vertical blind is ready to be drawn to the side on which it stacks, and when it is not.

The same applies to privacy sheers.