If you have a specific question about a part of a blind or a feature of a particular blind please refer to our glossary section at the bottom of this page. We have put together an alphabetical list of definitions for everything you need to know about blinds from mounts and tilts to ladders and valances.

How do I measure and install my blinds?
Please see How to Measure and/or Installation.

Do I need a drill or any other type of special tools to install my blinds?
No, you can install almost any blind with a screwdriver. Please see Installation.

How deep does my window have to be for an inside mount?
Please see our Depth Chart.

How do I care for my blinds?
Different cleaning and maintaining methods are suggested for different types of blinds. You will receive a full set of caring instructions with your order.

Can I get someone to come to my house to measure and install my order?
We offer in home measuring and installation service in the Greater Phoenix area only. Call our sales department for more information.

What type of payments do you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Certified Checks, Cashiers Checks, Money Orders and Personal Checks. All orders being shipped to any location other than our warehouse must be paid in full in advance, therefore orders paid for with a personal check will be placed on hold for 10 business days from the time the check is received or until the amount clears our account.

Do you offer financing?
Yes, we can even pre-approve you over the phone. Please call our sales department for details.

How long will my order take?
Most orders ship in about 5 working days, provided materials are available. Some specialty products may take slightly longer.

Do you offer rush orders?
Rush orders are available by special order only. We do not offer one-day production on all our products for one reason: quality. While we understand you are anxious for your blinds, we also understand you want top quality. We have not met a customer yet that would prefer a sub standard quality blind two days before a top quality blind. Ask yourself, if a company promises to get your blinds made by the end of business today how much attention can the manufacturer be paying to quality? We believe we have found an equal balance of prompt service while maintaining top quality production standards.

Will all of my blinds arrive on the same day?
Most of the time all blinds that are the same type will arrive on the same day. However if you order different types of blinds, some of your blinds may arrive before the rest of your order.

Do you offer free shipping?
Shipping is free for any blind order shipped within the 48 continental United States. A shipping charge may be added to orders over 108" wide. Alaska and Hawaii residents please call our sales department for shipping rates.

Do you sell to any countries other than the United States?
We currently offer our products in the United States only.

Will I get a warranty with my blinds?
Yes, all our blinds come with a manufactures lifetime limited warranty.

How are repairs handled?
All repairs are handled on a per issue basis. Because of the superior quality of our blinds repairs are not a common occurrence. Typically the only repair issues that occur are due to shipping. All repairs needed must be reported within seven days from the time you receive your order so please check your blinds as soon as they arrive. Simply call our customer service department and we will quickly handle the matter for you.

What do I need to know about color matching?
Due to dye lot variations we recommend ordering all blinds that will need to be color matched at the same time to assure the same color.

Is a vertical blind my only option to put over my sliding glass door?
Although a vertical blind is a good choice for sliding glass doors, we also offer vertical cellular shades. Due to the lightweight and ease of operation of our horizontal cellular shades they also make a practical choice.

What type of blinds are available for arched windows?
Shutters or cellular shades can be made to fit just about any type of arch window.

What type of blinds are available for skylights?
Cellular shades are an excellent choice for skylights.

I have a door I would like to put a blind on, what type should I buy?
You can put any type of horizontal blind on a door. Simply order hold down brackets to fasten the blind at the bottom, they are free of charge.

What can I do with the cords that hang down when I raise my blind?
Cord cleats will be shipped with any blind that typically requires them.
If you do not receive any or need more call our sales department they are free of charge.

Is there anything I should know about my blinds?
Yes, please read the following:


Facts You Should Know About Your Blinds


Inside Mount vs. Outside Mount:
An inside mount is when the blind is hung inside the window frame, recessed in the window. When you order a blind inside mount we make the necessary deductions to assure your blind will have the needed clearances to work properly. Because we need to make these deductions there will be a small space between your window frame and the blind where a minimum amount of light may filter through. Although this space is minimal and hardly noticeable if you wish to avoid this space you may want to order an outside mount blind to hang over your window, be sure to add your desired overlap to all sides.

Wood blinds:
Wood blinds are designed to be quality window coverings, offering both exceptional beauty and practicality. While wood blinds enhance the beauty of your home, they are not meant to be perfect. Our standards will meet or exceed the woodworking’s standards in your home. We use only the finest North American Hardwood in all our wood blinds. Because we insist on building a wood blind that meets your needs and expectations, we have provided the following information that you should be familiar with.

Wood movement:
Because of the nature of wood, unfortunately there is not an absolutely straight piece of lumber. This is why every slat on every blind is not identical. Wood blinds carry all the characteristics of wood. Wood blinds may have variations in color, grain, texture and warpage that are natural inherent characteristics of wood. These are all natural occurring tendencies when dealing with natural wood products and are considered acceptable as industry standards.

Slat Tightness:
Like most window coverings, wood blinds are not designed to be completely light tight. With wood as a medium, it is impossible to have every gap, space and margin an absolute uniform dimension. Light may come through these spaces and may not filter uniformly. This is most noticeable on windows exposed to direct sunlight.

Grain-pattern & color:
The natural beauty of wood often includes dark pigments and different grain patterns, which appear randomly throughout the blind. As with any fine quality wood furniture or cabinetry, wood blinds often contain profound variations in color and textural (grain) effect. These variations are both normal and natural, and in fact contribute greatly to the remarkable beauty of wood blinds. These are especially visible in blinds finished in light colored stain and are considered to be within industry standards.

Faux Wood Blinds:
These blinds are made of either 100% polymer or a combination of basswood flour and thermoplastics. These are blinds that have the appearance and beauty of 2" wood blinds. Faux Wood Blinds aren’t designed to be completely light tight. It is impossible to have every gap, space and margin and absolute uniform dimension. Light may filter through these spaces and may not filter uniformly. This is most noticeable on windows exposed to direct sunlight.

Cellular Shades:
The fabric is formed into a cellular shape, which resembles a honeycomb from the side. These cells create a dead air space, which is an excellent insulator. They are popular because of their efficiency to block out light and heat. Our cellular shades are available in light filtering and blackout fabrics. Each fabric offers varying degrees of privacy, light control and insulation. Blackout cellular shades do not completely block out all the light. There will be a slight light gap (halo) around the shade. This gap is a factory allowance that all shades must have to ensure proper raising and lowering of the shades.

Top-Down/Bottom-Up Control:
With this control option the shade may be lowered from the top of the window in addition to being raised to the top of the window. To achieve this feature there is a floating rail that is attached to the top of the fabric. When the shade is lowered from the top this floating rail lowers with the top of the fabric. Likewise when the shade is raised back up this floating rail goes up. Once at the top of the blind the floating rail stops. To keep the shade at the top the cords must travel slightly through the cord lock to engage it. This means the floating rail will drop slightly as the cords lock it in place thus there may be a slight light gap at the top of the shade. To help keep fill this gap a two cell fabric gasket may be inserted between the rails.

Mini Blinds:
Mini blinds are made from aluminum. Mini Blinds aren’t designed to be completely light tight. It is impossible to have every gap, space and margin an absolute uniform dimension. Light may filter through these spaces and may not filter uniformly. This is most noticeable on windows exposed to direct sunlight. Privacy mini blinds (Contour) are designed with the route hole in the back of the slat, allowing the entire slat to close tighter. However they aren’t designed to close in the up position. Regular mini blinds with the traditional route holes can be closed in the up position, it is normal to be able to see outside toward the ground, but your privacy will remain.

Vertical Blinds:
Vertical blinds are available in fabric and vinyl. Fabric verticals can be ordered free hanging with weights on the bottom of the vanes. Fabric can also be inserted into groovers, available in white and ivory. The groovers offer more opacity and insulation. Vinyl verticals are available in different colors, textures and styles. It is normal for the louvers to slightly camber with the heat and relax when it cools down. Verticals offer varying degrees of privacy and light control. When verticals are in the closed position it is normal to have slits of light come through the overlaps of the louvers. Because of the free hanging design of vertical blinds they will hang exactly vertical up and down. Given the fact that most windows are not exactly straight up and down you may notice the blind may look tighter or more in line in one area than in another. This is expected and considered acceptable as industry standards.

Arabesque Soft Shades:
Arabesque Soft Shades are beautiful window treatments that allow you to tilt the vanes, filtering light thru the sheer material that holds the vanes. When the shade is raised the vanes must first close in order to roll up into the headrail. Therefore it is not possible to have the shade partly raised while at the same time looking thru the shade.

Woven Wood Blinds:
The beauty of a woven wood is based upon its natural elegant look. To achieve this look they are not meant to look perfect, rather the design is a rustic appearance using materials of different shape color and feel. Therefore when a woven wood blind is finished it will not have sharpened, squared off finish such as a metal blind.


Blinds Glossary


Aluminum Blinds:
Also called mini blinds or Venetian blinds. Horizontal blinds made out of 6 to 9 gauge aluminum, six being the thinnest and 9 being the thickest. Available in 1"or 2" slats. You can add the Lights Out privacy option to your 1" blinds or cloth tapes to your 2" blinds.

Basswood:
Typically refers to North American Hardwood. The premium wood available in wood blinds, typically grown in North America. ALL of our wood blinds are made with North American Hardwood.

Brackets:
Included with all of our blinds, this is the part that holds your blind in place. All brackets are universal for inside and outside mount except for vertical blinds. An outside mount bracket for a vertical blind will be fastened to the wall above the window opening. An inside mount bracket for a vertical blind will be screwed up into the top of your window frame or into a ceiling.

Cellular Shade:
Also called honeycomb shades. From the front they look like pleated shades but you can’t see the strings because they run inside the cells. From the side they look like honeycombs. Available in 3/8" and 3/4" single cell size in light filtering or blackout fabrics, and 1/2" double cell size in light filtering fabrics. Cellular shades provide excellent insulation.

Cloth Tapes:
Tapes take the place of braided ladders and help dress up your blinds. Available in solid or decorative patterns in various widths.

Color:
The color you have chosen for your blind.

Continuous Cord:
Easily lifts any cellular shade even large or hard to reach, and stops the shade exactly where you want. No more tangled cords!

Controls:
The mechanisms that allow you to lift, tilt, and turn your blinds. Typically controls are wands or cords. You can choose the type and side your control is placed on for most blinds.

Cord Tilt:
The control, a cord that tilts the slats of a blind open or closed. You can choose the side your cord is placed on for most blinds.

Direction of Roll:
Term used to describe the way a roller shade rolls. Regular roll would be towards the glass, reverse roll would be away from the glass.

Double Cell Shade:
Also called double honeycomb shade. From the front they look like pleated shades but you can’t see the strings because they run inside the cells. From the side they look like two rows of honeycombs back to back and provide the best insulation of any window treatment. Available in 1/2" cell size, in light filtering fabrics. Single cell shades are also available in 3/8" and 3/4" sizes in light filtering or blackout fabrics.

Double Honeycomb Shade:
Also called double cellular shade. From the front they look like pleated shades but you can’t see the strings because they run inside the cells. From the side they look like two rows of honeycombs back to back and provide the best insulation of any window treatment. Available in 1/2" cell size, in light filtering fabrics. Single cell shades are also available in 3/8" and 3/4" sizes in light filtering or blackout fabrics.

Extension Brackets:
Used for outside mounts. Extends your blind out further from the wall when extra clearance is needed. Free with any blind order.

Groovers:
Also called inserts. A plastic sleeve off white on the back and clear on the sides, available for some fabric verticals. It holds the fabric in place to provide better insulation and privacy.

Headrail:
The hardware at the top of the blind that holds all the working mechanisms. All of our headrails are made with only top quality parts, assuring you years of trouble free operation.

Height:
The measurement of your blind from the top to the bottom.

Hold Down Brackets:
Used on doors to prevent horizontal blinds from swinging back and forth. Free with any horizontal blind order.

Honeycomb Shade:
Also called cellular shades. From the front they look like pleated shades but you can’t see the strings because they run inside the cells. From the side they look like honeycombs. Available in 3/8" and 3/4" single cell size in light filtering or blackout fabrics, and 1/2" double cell size in light filtering fabrics. Cellular shades provide excellent insulation.

Horizontal Blind:
A blind that has the slats or fabric hang horizontally and operates by going up and down.

Inserts:
Also called groovers. A plastic sleeve off white on the back and clear on the sides, available for fabric verticals. It holds the fabric in place to provide better insulation and privacy.

Inside Mount:
An inside mount is when the blind is hung inside the window frame, recessed in the window. When you order a blind inside mount we make the necessary deductions to assure your blind will have the needed clearances to work properly.

Lift:
The control, usually a cord that raises and lowers the blind. You can choose the side your control is placed on for most blinds.

Light Filtering:
Filters outside light for a soft feel. Provides privacy against a high degree of light and shape screening.

Lights Out:
Refers to our privacy feature available on select horizontal blinds. Slats are cut without or with hidden route holes. This greatly reduces light leakage and allows for better room darkening as well as more privacy when the blinds are closed.

Mini Blinds:
Also called aluminum blinds or Venetian blinds. Horizontal blinds made out of 6 to 9 gauge aluminum, six being the thinnest and 9 being the thickest. Available in 1"or 2" slats. You can add the lights out privacy option to your 1" blinds or cloth tapes to your 2" blinds.

Mount:
Refers whether the blind will be mounted inside the window frame (inside mount) or above the window frame (outside mount).

North American Hardwood:
Typically refers to basswood. The premium wood available in wood blinds, typically grown in North America. ALL of our wood blinds are made with North American Hardwood.

Outside Mount:
An outside mount is when the blind is hung outside of the window, either on the wood trim or above and beyond the wood frame. In addition to the window being covered there is some overlap of the surrounding wall. When you order an outside mount the blind is made the exact size ordered, no deductions are made.

Faux Wood Blinds:
A blind that looks like a wood blind but costs less. Typically made of a polymer material or a combination of polymer and wood.

Railroaded Fabric:
Used for roller shades over 72" wide. The fabric is turned on its side using the width for length, to increase the maximum width available.

Ramin Wood:
A lower quality and less expensive wood than hardwood. We do NOT use ramin wood in any of our wood binds.

Regular Roll:
Term used to describe a roller shade that rolls towards the glass.

Reverse Roll:
Term used to describe a roller shade that rolls away from the glass.

Roller Shade:
A vinyl or fabric shade that rolls up around a cylinder.

Safety Tassel:
This safety tassel separates under pressure to help protect children and pets form injury, and reduces the risk of choking. It easily snaps together again. Standard feature on all of our blinds when necessary.

Safety Cord Stop:
This safety cord stop prevents a child from inadvertently pulling the lift cord through the cord lock, creating a loop and a potential choking hazard. Standard feature on all of our blinds when necessary.

Spacer Blocks:
Used for outside mounts. Extends your blind out 1/2" further from the wall to clear obstructions such as moldings when extra clearance is needed. Free with any blind order.

Splicing:
Used for roller shades over 72" wide. Shades will be spliced together with a special tape. The splice will be closest to the top of the shade.

Stack:
The area that the blinds “stack” in or end up at when opened. For horizontal blinds you typically will raise the blinds and stack them at the top of the window. For vertical blinds the side you choose the blinds to stack to will be the side the vanes end up at when they are open. Left stack will stack the vanes at the left. Right stack will stack the vanes at the right. A split stack will stack half the vanes on the left and half the vanes on the right. A center stack will stack the vanes in the middle of the window.

Stack Height:
The space that is taken up when a horizontal blind is raised to the top of the window. The less the stack the more view through your window you will have.

Stack Width:
The space that is taken up when a vertical blind is drawn to the side of the window. You can use the stacking chart to figure out how much wall/window will be covered when the blind is fully opened.

Tapes:
Tapes take the place of braided ladders and help dress up your blinds. Available in solid or decorative patterns in various widths.

Tilt:
The control, usually a cord or wand that tilts the slats of a blind open or closed. You can choose the side your control is placed on for most blinds.

Top-Down:
A shade that opens from the top of the window instead of the bottom. When partially opened you can see over the top of the fabric. This allows for light to come in through the top of the window while still providing privacy on the bottom of the window. When fully opened the shade rests completely on the bottom of the window restoring your view. Ideal for brightening up a bedroom in the morning while maintaining the privacy you need, see cellular shades.

Top-Down/Bottom-Up:
Combines the features of a top-down shade with a standard bottom-up shade. One cord for each operation allows versatility and best of all it costs the same as a top-down shade.

Two Or Three Blinds On One Headrail:
Gives you the ability to split larger blinds into more than one for ease of operation. Restrictions apply for each product, available by special order only.

Valance:
A valance covers a blinds headrail for more cosmetic appeal is typically the same color as the blind ordered. Various styles are available depending on the type of blind ordered.

Valance Returns:
The sides of the valance going from the front of the valance back to the wall. Used on outside mount blinds only.

Value Blinds:
When a blind is labeled a value blind it is usually a low quality window treatment. Ask yourself this “If a value blind breaks three months from now and you have to buy another one, is it really a good value?” We only sell top quality window treatments made from top quality materials with a lifetime warranty, at discount prices. Now that’s value!

Venetian Blinds:
Also called mini blinds or aluminum blinds. Horizontal blinds made out of 6 to 9 gauge aluminum, six being the thinnest and 9 being the thickest and most expensive. Available in 1" or 2" slats. You can add the lights out privacy option to your 1" blinds or cloth tapes to your 2" blinds.

Vertical Blinds:
Made from vinyl, fabric or inserted fabric. The slats hang “up and down” or vertically. Due to the ease of maintenance, textures available, low cost and the insulating value of vinyl verticals they account for over 90% of our vertical blind sales.

Vertical Cellular Shade:
A cellular shade that slides back and forth like a vertical blind rather than up and down like a horizontal cellular shade.

Wand Tilt:
The control, a wand that tilts the slats of a blind open or closed. You can choose the side your wand is placed on for most blinds.

Width:
The measurement of your blind from the left to the right.

Wood Blinds:
A horizontal blind made with wood slats. We use only North American Hardwood in all our wood blinds. Wood blinds provide exceptional insulation and are available in 1", 2", or 3" slats. You can also add rounded corners, cloth tapes, a decorative valance or our lights out privacy feature to most sizes.

If you still have a question please call our customer service department. We are here to help you.