The spec book, opened up

Window covering guides

The handful of decisions behind a well-specified house, each explained once, in plain words. Read what you need; the measure visit covers the rest.

G The vocabulary

Terms you will hear at the measure.

Window scheduleA list of every opening in a house with the covering, fabric, fit and operation decided for each. The document this whole business runs on.
Made-to-measureA covering manufactured to one specific opening's measurements, rather than cut down from or picked as a stock size.
Reveal fitA covering mounted inside the window recess, sitting within the frame for a flush, built-in look.
Face fitA covering mounted on the wall or architrave, covering past the window's edges for wider coverage and better edge darkness.
BlockoutA fabric that lets no light through its weave; with a good fit, the room goes properly dark.
Light-filterA fabric that admits softened daylight while blocking the view in; private by day, not private at night with lights on.
Sheer / sunscreenAn open-weave fabric that keeps the outward view and cuts glare and UV; not private after dark.
Dual rollerTwo blinds on one bracket, usually a sunscreen and a blockout, so one window can do a day job and a night job.
Honeycomb / cellularA blind whose fabric forms air-trapping cells; the trapped air insulates the glass, summer and winter.
Track-guidedAn outdoor blind whose fabric edges run in side channels, so wind cannot flap it and light cannot slip past it.
Straight-dropAn outdoor blind that falls straight from a rail with no side retention; simple, and best out of the wind.
Folding-arm awningAn awning that projects shade out from the wall on hinged arms and folds back flat when retracted.
S-foldA curtain heading that hangs in soft, continuous waves from a plain track; the standard modern look.
CassetteA housing over a roller blind's tube that hides the roll and closes the light gap at the head of the window.
CordlessOperation with no looped cord or chain: spring-balanced or motorised. The default we suggest for homes with young children.

Free measure & quote

One visit. Every opening. A written quote.

Send an enquiry and we will arrange your free measure, inside and out, with a recommendation per opening and no obligation.