Toppers

Toppers are similar to drapery valances and rod pocket valances, except they are mounted onto a board by either stapling or by the use of a hook and loop tape across the top edge of the board. They are normally mounted above the window, and usually go all the way across the top of the opening. The hardware required to hang them are L-brackets or angle irons.

There are business rules when talking about toppers, just like the other categories. When using the term "toppers", you are instructing the workroom that the valance will be BOARD mounted.

To learn more about designing and specifying toppers, refer to chapter 3 in the book Elements of Soft Treatments

Toppers are divided up into sub-categories which consist of:

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Austrians	Austrian style toppers have fullness added to the length and the fullness is distributed along the length of the topper usually through the use of a shirring tape. The shirring tape can be placed across the width at varying intervals.
Ballons	This topper style has a poof effect along the bottom, and fullness added in both the width and length. The fullness in width can be accomplished through the use of shirring tapes, or the fabric may simply be gathered. The fullness in the length will all sit near the bottom of the valance.
Pleated	This topper has a pleated effect with fullness added to the width only. The fabric length will hang straight and flat. The fabric pleats can have varied spacing, and the bottom may, or may not, be shaped. Toppers are always board mounted.
Hobble	A variation of a Roman style topper, the hobbled style will have a flat width, but the length is drawn up in a series of soft folds which are horizontal and evenly spaced.
Pull-ups and Roll-ups	Pull-ups and Roll-ups will have extra fullness in length only and the fullness will be permanently drawn up and held by some kind of strap or tie.
Romans	Roman toppers will be flat in width and usually has some type of detailing along the bottom. The bottom detailing can consist of many things, from the addition of some soft folds to elaborate shapes with tabs, layered effects, grommets, or added hardware.
Shaped Bottoms	A shaped bottom topper will have a shape of some sort along the bottom hem. This variation can be used in combination with many of the other topper styles.
Heading Tapes	To create a topper style that will simulate a rod pocket valance, heading tapes can be added, some styles are shown here.
Specialty	Specialty toppers include styles of an unusual nature which have been numbered and identified as commonly used topper types, but which do not fall into any of the other previously established categories.
Custom Products	This category will include any topper style which is new, unnamed, or can not be otherwise created through the use of existing components or add on items. Also included here will be topper re-work labor and pattern or sample making services.

General Information

Not all toppers wrap around the returns. Use caps to cover return ends of board in these cases. (See: section accessories - caps)

State on the work order if topper is wall to wall mounted.

State on the work order to make allowance for the welt if wall to wall mounted

Pricing can be: (Check with your current drapery workroom)

Priced per lineral foot.

There is a minimum charge per lineal foot (per unit)

Face width + both returns divided by 12, round up = number of lineal feet and also billable footage

Tips when Measuring

Above window go approx 6”.

Be cautious with treatments that require hard returns

Allow face width to extend 1 ½” - 2” on each side of the under treatment

Allow returns to extend 1 ½” - 2 ½” to clear the under treatment

To find the finished length for ceiling mounted:
Take the overall finished length of the window treatment (including under treatments) and divide by 5, then add 2”. This will equal your recommended topper finished length. For example: 108 ÷ 5 = 21.6 (round up) = 21.75 + 2 = 23.75”. This is the recommended finished length of the top treatment.

To find the finished length for above the window:
Take the overall finished length of the window treatment (including under treatments) and divide by 6, then add 2”. This will equal your recommended topper finished length. For example: 84 ÷ 6 = 16.8 (round up) = 17 + 2 = 19”. This is the recommended finished length of the top treatment.

On multi-length shaped valances, draw out the finished length for workroom.

Kirk Axelson

Precision Draperies Education

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