Introduction to Fabric Shades

Drapery Style Treatment Fabric shades are similar to roller shades, but instead of rolling onto a tube, they hang from a board and are made from fabric. Fabric shades are mounted with L-brackets.

Sometimes a fabric shade can be made as a "bottom up-top down", and when this is done the shade stacks downwards and draws up when it is closed. The drawback to this type of shade is that there are guide wires or cords to hold the shade up. The spacing of these guide cords should be approximately 18"-24" apart, and will align vertically, causing the cords to be exposed when looking out the window. Very often the visibility of these guide cords is undesirable, but weighed against the benefit of the top down capability; purchasers will often choose this option despite the cords being exposed.

Fabric shades can also be fitted with motors, allowing the raising and lowering of the shade to be done by electrical switch, remote control, or attached to a home automation system. This technology is evolving quickly with the constant addition of new types of motors and controls. Motorization of window treatments is becoming more popular and affordable.

There are business rules for fabric shades just like the other categories. When you use the term "fabric shade", you are instructing the workroom that it will be some kind of board mounted fabric shade and that it will be strung by some type of a cord system to raise and lower it.

To learn more about designing and specifying cornices, refer to chapter 9 in the book Elements of Soft Treatments

Fabric Shades are divided up into sub-categories which consist of:

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Roman Shades	The roman style of fabric shade has a mostly flat appearance. They will sometimes have fullness added to the length in the form of folds or tucks which improve shade function, or the fullness may be used to create a decorative effect.
Balloons	Balloon style fabric shades will have a good deal of fullness added to its width in comparison to the fullness in their length. Fullness in the length of a balloon shade, most of the time will hang bunched near the bottom of the shade. Balloon shades can be pleated shirred, or gathered.
Austrians	Austrian style fabric shades will have more fullness added to its length than its width. The fullness in an Austrian shade will be spread throughout its length usually through the use of a shirring tape.

General Information

All shades use a weighted bar at the bottom
All shades are board mounted onto a head rail by either pine board or velcro
Shades over 15 lbs should have mechanized lift systems to handle additional weight
The face fabric on balloon shades will wrap around the end of the board and cover the return
Austrian and Roman shades do not wrap around the return
Some Roman shade styles may bow, "hourglass", or droop unless horizontal dowels or edge wires are added

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

Fabric shades are usually priced by the finished square foot
There is usually a minimum square foot charge per shade
To determine the square footage: take the finished length × the finished width divide by 144, round up = billable square feet. (E.g. 60 × 54 = 3240 ÷144 =22.5 round up to 23).
Fabric shade add-ons such as headrail upgrades, banding, fringe trim, ruffles, etc. are billed as a separate charge, usually by linear foot or per item
There is typically a minimum per foot charge

Tips when Measuring

Balloon and Austrian shades require more stack compared to Roman shades
Be careful with windows out of square since this can cause problems when the shade is mounted, by preventing proper operation of the shade
When measuring for the finished length of balloon shades, remember there is a short and long point. Check with the workroom to see which measurement they use to determine finished length
Specify on the work order if allowances have been taken for inside mounted shades
For inside mounts, watch for window cranks, screens, latches, and other obstructions that shades could catch on
T-cranks can be purchased to replace window crank handles. These are smaller and can help shades work better when inside mounted
Remember: fabric shades will stack in front of the headrail to some degree. Be sure there is room for this in corners, bay windows, and pockets

Kirk Axelson

Precision Draperies Education

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