There are many considerations for choosing a window blind. Privacy? Reduce glare? Interesting design feature? All of these are important considerations. With energy prices soaring in the last 12 months, the significance of blinds having good thermal properties has increased greatly. Indeed, it is vital for blinds to maintain an optimum temperature, to keep the room comfortable. To achieve this, they must not only keep the warmth in during the winter, but equally keep the heat out during the summer months. Here, we look to see if thermal blinds work, and which are the best options for your home and office.
Do Thermal Blinds Work?
The simple answer to this is yes! Thermal blinds can reduce heat loss in the winter by up to 40% by creating a thermal barrier between the window and your room. Further to this, they can help to keep the rooms cooler through the summer months as they can reflect the hot sun that beats through the glass panes from reaching the main room environment. Obviously different types of blinds have varying performance characteristics, so we will look at our recommendations for the best thermal blinds.
Thermal Cellular Blinds
Cellular blinds have increased in popularity in the last few years, and for good reason; they have excellent thermal properties and a contemporary design which sits well with many modern design schemes. They are also available in a variety of blind ranges – we can supply them as freehanging models, and as Perfect Fit, INTU and tensioned roof blinds. This means there is a thermal cellular covering for almost every window style and eventuality!
Cellular fabrics work by trapping air within the honeycomb shaped cells, and this creates a barrier that prevents the warm air escaping from the room through the winter, and the hot air entering in the summer. This therefore reduces the need to keep the heating on as much through the cold months, which can reduce your energy bills greatly! Further to this, cellular blinds are excellent as blackout blinds, and can also reduce the noise from outside
Thermal Roman Blinds
Roman blinds make excellent thermal blinds. They are made from a thick fabric, very similar to curtains. Furthermore they come fully lined, with either blackout or standard lining, and both add to the thermal properties of the blind.
Once fitted, you can really feel how much warmer they keep the room, and look fantastic too. We have a huge range of colours, patterns and designs, which we can guide you through if you book a free, choose at home appointment with us.
Thermal Roller Blinds
Thermal roller blinds are versatile, contemporary and look fantastic. Further to this, they work brilliantly as thermal blinds. We can offer them in a range of performance fabrics that help to trap the warm heat in the rooms during the winter months.
They are available in a range of styles and colours, and we can also offer them with a selection of finishes; from scalloped edging to colourful braids, alternative fabrics along the bottom bar to stunning decorative poles; we have something for every taste that performs fantastically!
Thermal Wood/Faux Wood Blinds
Contrary to popular belief, both real wood and faux wood blinds can act as thermal blinds too. Real wood blinds are often made from a hard wearing bass wood, where as faux wood – which have seen a surge in popularity in the last few years – are made from acrylic, but look very similar to real wood. The fact they are acrylic mean they are waterproof, making them ideal for environments where they could get wet – namely bathrooms and kitchens.
They can both act as thermal blinds – as the material is thick, it can help to provide a barrier between the room and the window, so can trap the warmer air in the room, especially when closed.
Wood and faux wood blinds are also excellent for privacy due to the tilting of the slats, and perfect for stopping the direct sunlight spilling onto furniture and carpets. This also reinforces the idea they are thermal blinds; they can reduce the head coming into the room during the summer.
We can supply both ranges in a huge range of colours and finishes, including decorative tapes which offer an extra dimension of coordination, and also gives the visual appearance of panels, similar to plantation shutters, which is highly sought after in today’s markets!
To book your free, no obligation quotation with us, please call on 0161 241 9686 or email me at neil@expressionblinds.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!
