I get a lot of phone calls from people with broken blinds that need repair and thought it might be a good idea to write some articles about do it yourself blind and shade repair.  This first article will cover some repairs a homeowner can do on wood blinds or faux wood blinds.  Certain repairs are not worth doing or should be left to a professional but there are other repairs that are easy enough for most people who own basic hand tools to perform.

Fortunately most wood blinds are made using standardized parts, meaning that parts from one company are interchangeable with parts from another company, even though they look different.  I have run into a few oddball products with proprietary parts and if this turns out to be your product you'll probably have to go back to the manufacturer and next time try to purchase a generic type product with generic parts.

Our first repair is the most common wood blind problem.  

REPAIRING A BROKEN WOOD BLIND TILTER.  Symptoms include turning the wand but nothing happens or a wand that has separated from the blind due to a broken part on the blind.  This is a broken tilter and you will have to take down the blind to do this repair.  

Taking down the blind.  This likely requires a step stool only.  Raise the blind to the top most position and remove the wand.  Remove the valance (the decorative molding that covers the top front of the blind) if there is one, they are usually held up with plastic clips.  Sometimes the clips break when removing because the plastic gets old and brittle.  This is a good time to replace the clips.  There are websites that sell blind parts or you can contact victorianorman.com.

Once the valance is removed open the hanging brackets on either end.  These typically open by lifting the front like a garage door.  There is usually a tab at the bottom that locks it in place.  Most brackets will open without the use of tools and except on very narrow blinds you will only have to open one side and just slide the blind out of the other one.

With the blind now laying on the floor or table we will focus on the inner workings of the blind.  The largest mechanical part of the blind is the headrail and is made up of a long piece of sheet metal folded up to form a channel or gutter shape.  Headrails come in two heights and you will need to know which one you have in order to get the correct tilter.  If the headrail is about 1 1/2" high you have a low profile headrail.  If the headrail is about 2" high you have a 2" headrail or sometimes its called an oldstyle headrail.  On either end of the headrail are caps called end caps.  A long turning shaft runs almost the whole width of the headrail and strung onto the shaft are string barrels with string ladders attached.  The tilter is the gearbox that changes the vertical twisting motion of the wand into the horizontal twisting motion of the shaft.  Sometimes the wand end of the tilter breaks off or the gears inside become stripped and won't activate the shaft.  We will now replace the defective tilter. 

Tap out both end caps, you can use a screwdriver or small hammer to do this (or both).  The caps only work going in one direction so you may want to use a marker to draw an up arrow on the outside of each cap so you can assemble them back later on the same way they came out.  Once the endcaps are removed, you can slide the shaft just enough to release it from the tilter box.  Pry the headrail slightly apart where the tilter sits to remove the tilter.  Some tilters are riveted in but most are not.  If the tilter is rivited you will have to drill out the rivits with a small drill, otherwise no tools are required.  Install a new tilter again prying the headrail apart gently to seat it.  Slide the shaft into the new titler and reinstall the end caps tapping them in gently with a hammer.  Reinstall the blind into the brackets, install the wand, and reinstall the valance.  Test the blind and you're done!

Should I buy wood shutters, vinyl shutters, or faux wood shutters?  There is certainly a market for all of these products.  The product in the picture above is a poly (or plastic) shutter made by Sunland Shutters.  We have used this product for years and it is a high quality, high performance shutter that looks just like a wood shutter.  One additional advantage is that it will hold up to moisture.  For homes located at the beach, shutters in bathrooms or over kitchen sinks, this is a super product.  Sunland Shutters has even engineered their product to allow for 36" wide panels, most poly products will sag when made this wide.  The secret is an aluminum insert molded into each louver.  This keeps the louvers from sagging but is completely hidden from view.  Being water resistant also allows for cleaning options not possible with a wood shutter.  A good poly shutter will cost just as much as a wood shutter so it is not really a cost saving measure.  Cheaper plastic shutters usually look and perform like plastic.  The Sunland Shutters product is available from Victoria Norman Shutters and Blinds in Southern California.

Faux Iron, Virtual Iron Effects or Tableaux are different names for a unique product made from wood fiber that simulates the look of wrought iron. The product is designed to create a decorative accent without the high price tag or weight of traditional wrought iron. Although the product is not structural and should not be used for creating support or safety railings, it does have some really interesting applications.

Faux Iron can be made to nearly any shape so it is perfect for a custom fit in odd shaped windows and niches. It can be put on the ceiling or walls. It can be used as a grill to cover speakers or a medallion above a chandelier.

The product is light weight and can be easily removed for cleaning by the homeowner with the special tool supplied at installation. Many standard colors are available including rust, iron, patina bronze, antique gold, and silver. For more info see our website at www.victorianorman.com/Virtual_Iron_Effects.html.

Roman shades have been around for a long time and so have the woven wood fabrics. When the two are combined you get an outstanding window treatment that adds texture and character to any room. Woven wood shades can be casual, elegant, exotic, old world, Mediterranean, or tropical. They let in the light while defusing the view.

Most manufacturers offer privacy liners as well as blackout liner options.

One of the characteristics I like about this product is that there are often more than one fabric that will work perfectly for any given room. I tell my customers its a bit like bringing a plant home. Since the product is natural, in appearance, it also tends to be color neutral in most rooms. The biggest problem my customers have is deciding on the best fabric because there are so many incredible choices.

The picture above is from the Hunter Douglas Provenance line. Hunter Douglas has done an excellent job of putting together their woven wood line. We also carry Skandia and Horizon Shades. Before you write this product off as a tiki hut accessory, take a second look. This is one of the fastest growing segments of the window covering market and its easy to see why.

The summer is upon us and things will be warming up soon. Why not consider ordering your plantation shutters before you have to turn down the air conditioner? Plantation shutters provide excellent insulation and save energy during the summer heat and quality basswood shutter from Victoria Norman will provide a lifetime of cool summers and warm winters in your home.

The classic beauty and low maintenance of plantation shutters are a smart addition to any home. Give us a call today for a free estimate or check out our website at www.victorianorman.com for other fantastic home improvement products at discount prices.

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