How To Make Sure Your Roller Shades Will Fit Correctly

Roller shades are an economical and attractive way to dress up your windows

, maintain your privacy, and protect furnishings from sun damage. Best results are achieved from shades that can operate freely. This means that accurate measurements and proper installation are the main requirements to satisfaction with your purchase.

Before taking measurements, you must decide whether you want to mount your window shades inside the window casement or outside of it. An inside mount is normally used if drapes or curtains will be installed over the window shades, but it is not an absolute requirement. Outside mounts are typically used for window frames that are very shallow, such as three inches or smaller. If the windows are out of square, an exterior mount is sometimes used to hide the imperfections. Small windows can also be made to appear larger by mounting shades on the outside of the casement. In addition, an outside mount offers even more privacy and blocking of light and can be extended to cover the lower sill, if desired.

Always measure for window shades with a steel tape measure. Cloth tapes can stretch while you are taking the measurements, leading to inaccurate results. Older ones can be so stretched out of shape that readings can vary by as much as a quarter inch.

The windows in a room may have all been ordered in the same size, but do not assume this to be so. Take the measurements of each window on which shades are to be installed. Measure width at the bottom, top, and in the middle and length on the right side, left side, and down the center. Take the lowest numbers and round off to the nearest 1/8 inch. Widths should be rounded down and heights should be rounded up. Write your results down with the width first and then the height.

Whether you buy shades custom made or off the shelf, you may note a difference between what you measured and the size of the window shades. Brackets, which take up space, are used to mount shades. The window shades must therefore be slightly less narrow than the window. This difference is usually between an eighth and a fourth of an inch although a half inch is sometimes required. There is also fabric allowed for a header that is wrapped around a roller. Standard allowance for the header is usually one foot.

Shades that are to be mounted on the outside of the casement require special measurement adjustments. They are normally mounted at least two inches above the top of the window and may be mounted as much as four inches above. Be sure and include this allowance when you compute the height. Also, be sure to allow for the overlap on each side when you are determining the proper width.

You may need to make adjustments to your measurements to accommodate any trim around the window. The bracket must have enough flat surface available for installation. If trim is going to interfere with the mounting, you may need to adjust so that the brackets can be installed on a flat, level surface. If not, the window shades may not operate properly.

The supplier may provide you with different instructions for measuring for their brand of roller shades. If so, use their directions. Sometimes makers require unusual brackets or have allowances that are not standard, so follow their advice for the best fit. Take careful measurements to avoid unnecessary gaps, and you should have years of pleasure from your new shades.

by: Jerikat Jennison

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