Wood Blinds Buying Guide [Wood Blinds Overview] Options Slat Size Comparison Finishes Wood Blind Basics Types of Wood Blinds

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Routless	Routless   Standard Rout                                   Click on picture to enlarge
	If light leakage through fully closed slats creates glare on computer or television screens or if light disturbs sleep, additional light reduction can be accomplished.  Known as routless, de-Light, NoHoles and LightMaster, reduces light leakage  by eliminating the traditional rout hole through the center of the slat and replaces  it with a notch on the side of each slat through which the cording controlling the  tilting and lifting of the blind runs.  Go to Routless Wood Blinds
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Cloth Tapes
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	Available in widths including 3/4", 1” to 1 1/2 ”. Cloth tapes minimize light leakage  through traditional rout holes. Tapes in solids and decorative prints coordinate  with room colors and add that finishing touch to your window treatment.  Go to Wood Blinds with Cloth Tapes
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Cordless
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	Cordless lift is available from Hunter Douglas on their 2" Country Woods. This option provides a greater measure of safety for young children. Go to Cordless Wood Blinds NOTE: Cordless is available only on Hunter Douglas 2" Country Woods blinds

Slat Size Comparison [ Top ]

	1" slat		1 3/8" slat		2" slat		2 5/8" slat		3" slat
	Available from: Hunter Douglas Graber Bali YourBlinds		Available from: Hunter Douglas		Available from: Hunter Douglas Graber Bali YourBlinds		2 5/8" available from Hunter Douglas		Available from: Graber

As a rule, the narrower the slat, the more slats necessary. What this means for you is:

• The 1" slats create a busy look, limiting your view to the outside.  If you are working around a door handle you may need a 1" slat size.  However, you may want to consider changing the handle on the door and using a 2" or wider slat. Also consider that when a 1" slat blind is fully raised, the stack can cover a good portion of your upper window, blocking the view.  The 1 3/8" wide slat is a nice compromise between the plethera of 1" slats for door applications requiring a narrower slat.
• Blinds made with 2" wide slats provide a traditional look and are the most popular of the widths available. 
• The 2 1/2", 2 5/8-inch and 3" slats provide a shutter-like look and offer a less obstructed view to the outside; because the slats are wider, it takes fewer slats to construct the blind. With a 2 5/8" or wider slat, when fully raised, the stack will block the smallest amount of space in your window, maximizing your view. 

Finishes [ Top ]

		Painted Finish Painted finishes are the most common. The wood is painted with a lacquer or water based paint in a variety of colors.				Stained Finish There are several stains to chose from, and for an additional charge, most manufacturers can custom match any stain. Stained finishes may be 5-25% more than painted, depending on your region.
		Select Woods Some manufacturers also make available wood blinds made from maple, oak, and cherry. If having “the real thing” is important to you, consider using these woods rather than a stained imitation.				Sandblasted Finish Sandblasted finish is a process manufacturers use to bring out the texture of the grain in the wood. It provides a rich, detailed finish that is elegant and stated.

Wood Blind Basics [ Top ]

Wood blinds are consistently the most popular products because they are easy to install and provide a classic feel to any home. They offer varying options that make taking care of a specific need that much easier.

• Easily coordinate with the color of wood flooring and fine wood furniture.
• The 1", 1 3/8",  2", 2 5/8" and 3" slat sizes create a look similar to that of a plantation shutter.
• Blinds made with the 2 5/8-inch and 3" widths produce a smaller stack of slats at the top of your window when fully raised, than their 2-inch or 1-inch counterparts. This is because the wider the slat, the fewer slats necessary, resulting in a shorter stack of slats when fully raised.
• Effectively control outside light by tilting the wood slats with a wand or cord while providing necessary privacy. A room can be darkened substantially when the slats are fully closed.
• Simple to operate. Blinds can be pulled up to allow an open view to the outside. Please note that if you intend to pull your wood blinds up regularly, carefully consider the size of your window and the resulting weight of the blind. The larger a blind’s size the heavier the weight. The heavier the weight, the greater the effort required to raise and lower the blind. Lifting mechanisms like the cordless lifting systems reduce wear on the blind and make raising your window covering easier.
• To reduce wear and tear on cords, fully open slats before raising the blind. This reduces friction and requires less effort.
• Easy to maintain and very durable.

Types of Wood [ Top ]

The quality of the wood used in slats is often overlooked. Do not be fooled. All wood is not equal. Since wood blind slats are natural wood products, warpage and cracking are potential issues. There are two types of wood used primarily in the production of wood blinds, 1) North American hardwood such as basswood, poplar or aspen and 2) a lesser quality (but less expensive) Ramin wood. About 75% of the window coverings industry agrees that basswood is the "ideal" wood for wood blinds. The most important thing to remember is that wood blinds purchased from reputable companies will be far less likely to have problems and are warranted against warpage and cracking.

North American hardwood - basswood, poplar, or aspen 

• Lighter in weight than Ramin which is an important consideration in determining the ease of raising and lowering your blind.  
  
• Less tendency to warp and more prone to keep it’s shape because of the internal structure of the wood.

Ramin Wood

• Approximately 60% heavier than hardwoods making it harder to lift
• Has a greater tendency to warp and distort in shape due to higher water content
• Costs less than hardwoods