Forking out for stylish, expertly constructed, high-quality blinds can be a significant investment. It’s only right that you want to feel assured of quality; what you’re buying will look good, last well and do its job brilliantly.
At the Scottish Shutter Company, we’ve got style, form and functionality nailed. We’re so confident you’ll love our blinds and shutters that we even provide a five-year guarantee on all purchases.
But what about durability? How long should blinds be expected to last?
Choosing Blinds
Among all the different types of window coverings in the market, blinds are one of the most versatile and are often easier on the wallet than shutters. This makes blinds a popular choice for many people wanting to change the interiors of their homes.
Made-to-measure blinds are available in many different colours and materials and often come with a few years’ guarantee or warranty upon purchase. However, if looked after properly, your blinds could last you decades.
Quality Matters
Within the industry, it’s a given that your run-of-the-mill, mass-manufactured, can-buy-them-in-the-supermarket blinds might last you around twelve months. With very careful use, they might even last two years. Either way, this short lifespan is impractical for modern homes and families, not to mention a waste of hard-earned money.
The low-quality materials and parts used to bring down the price of off-the-shelf blinds might make them appear cheap and cheerful, but their functionality is severely compromised in the process.
Nobody wants to go through the hassle of replacing blinds every year!
Wear And Tear
A fresh set of blinds can breathe new life into any room. There’s no getting away from it; they look great.
But in reality, blinds are simply not life-proof. When you consider the hustle and bustle of high-use rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms and kids’ bedrooms, you can see how new blinds might become damaged.
Professional Fitting Makes A Difference
Professional installation is crucial to ending up with a precise fit and blinds that maximise the potential of a room.
Having trained experts install your blinds means they end up level, even and sleek, with no gaps and no holes in the wall where you don’t need them.
Extend The Life Of Your Blinds With Easy Maintenance
The average lifespan of well-fitting, expertly manufactured and installed luxury blinds is around ten years, but with proper aftercare, they’ll last you much longer.
Looking after your blinds can prevent fading, staining and ageing, and how you care for them depends on the material they’re made from. For this reason, it’s always advisable to read the manufacturer’s maintenance guide or seek advice from your professional installer to ensure you’re caring for them correctly.
As a general rule of thumb, to maintain your blinds, you need to wipe them over with a dry cloth to remove the dust, especially in the corners, or even use a vacuum with a brush attachment on its lowest power setting. Use a damp cloth and wipe gently for other, more stubborn marks.
Signs It’s Time To Change Your Window Blinds
Old and worn blinds can lose their sleek functionality and even become unsafe.
If you notice any of the following symptoms of past-it blinds, it might be time to consider re-dressing your windows.
- Warped or misshapen slats. Both humidity and heat can cause blinds to bow and bend. Children and pets are also likely to damage aluminium blinds in particular, accidentally.
- Difficulty in raising and lowering the blinds. Needing to use any force to manipulate your blinds might mean there’s a problem with the lifting mechanism; blinds should be easy to use. An issue with the mechanism could be a safety issue and shouldn’t go ignored.
- Excessive discolouration. Sun fade isn’t always avoidable, but discolouration can be a sign that the structural integrity of your blinds isn’t what it used to be. Brittle, faded blinds can be replaced with more modern blinds with a higher UV protection rating.
- The tilt mechanism doesn’t work anymore. This can be really frustrating, but slatted blinds with no tilt option don’t give you much control over privacy and light levels. It’s often very difficult to fix this issue without re-cording the whole blind itself, and therefore often advised to simply replace the unit.
SSC Perfect Fit Guarantee
Our high-end care at the Scottish Shutter Company doesn’t stop once our expert fitters leave your property. With our five-year guarantee, you can rest assured that your blinds will be looked after to make sure they last as long as possible in their new home.
Thinking about binning your old curtains and not sure what to replace them with? Know you want blinds but have no idea what style to go for? Our friendly team can help. Book a consultation with the Scottish Shutter Company today for expert advice.
