General Window Terms
- Inside Mount - the shade in mounted inside a window the casing. Proper depth is required for inside mounting
- Outside Mount - the shade is mounted on the window casing or on the wall
- Casing (molding) - is the frame around the window
- Sill - projects like a shelf at the bottom of the window
- Apron - decorative molding that is below the sill
Inside Mount
Inside mounting your shade can give you a "built-in" appearance after it is installed. Please note that when you inside mount a shade, you will have small light gaps on both sides of the shade. This is caused by the lifting hardware and mounting brackets. Also, be aware of obstructions such as cranks and handles that can interfere with the operation of the shade. If you have obstructions or want more light blockage, then we recommend outside mounting
Inside Depth
Each product has a different headrail system for operating the shade. The size of the headrail varies from product to product and the depth of your window must meet the minimum depth for inside mount.
Inside Diagonal
Your window must be square for your shade to function properly. Measure the widow diagonally in two directions. If your measurements are different by more that 1/2", then you should not inside mount
Inside Width
Measure the width inside your window on the top, middle and bottom. Write down the
shortest of the three measurements. This is your width to order
The workroom makes a small automatic "inside mount" fit deduction from your ordered width. You do not need to calculate any width deductions yourself when ordering
Inside Length
Measure the vertical length inside your window on both sides and in the middle. Write down the
longest of the three measurements. This is your length to order. You don't need to add extra inches to the length for an inside mount
Outside (Wall) Mount
Outside mount shades must be mounted on the wall just above the window casing. We do not recommend mounting your shade directly on the window casing. Wall mounting allows you to increase the width of your mounting hardware beyond the casing so that your shade covers the window casing when lowered. We recommend that you add 2" to the casing width
Two Direction Measuring
Measure the outside casing to outside casing for the width. Then measure from the top of the casing to the sill. This is your length measurement. If you don't have a window sill, measure 1" past the bottom of the apron
Hanging drapes is actually a fairly easy project. There are a few tips that will help your installation go smoothly. You should allow for about an hour for the first one. It can go much quicker, but this is one of those projects where most people double and triple check themselves. If you have multiple windows, the subsequent installations will go much faster.
| 1. Since this is a new installation and you are not experts, you should start by putting the drapes on the rod |
| 2. Place the rod on the floor running parallel to the window in about the same position as if were hanging on the wall |
| 3. Spread the drape to the closed position on the floor as if it were mounted on the window |
| 4. Once you have the drape in that position, place the brackets on the floor. Measure the distance from bracket to bracket and write that down. This is your width position |
| 5. Using a pencil, mark those two points on the wall above the window making sure you have equal distance from the center point of the window. Don’t worry about the height just yet; we are only interested in getting the width position right now |
| 6. This next step is a little tricky, but it’s fool proof. Raise the drape off the floor (it will take 2 people with two step stools). If you have a very large drape or heavy fabric, you can just slip one panel on the rod. You may want to attach the finials to keep the drape from slipping off the end of the rod |
| 7. Lift it to a point where you want the bottom of the drape to be relative to the floor. You can be a ½” off the floor or just kiss the floor, slight break or puddle the drape. It's all based on how you ordered your drapes |
| 8. While holding the bracket in position, mark one of the screw holes on the bracket. This mark is for the height only; we’ll get to the width in a second. Now you can set the drape down. Then you will intersect the width mark with the height mark for one bracket only |
| 9. Take a small finishing nail and using a hammer, gently drive the nail it into the sheetrock at your intersecting mark. If the nail goes in easily to a hollow, you will need anchor bolts. If the nail hits something hard, that is the wood framing around the window and you can just use wood screws. You will need a power drill to create the hole for the anchor bolt or to create a pilot hole if you hit wood. The anchor that you use will have instructions on the drill bit size required. A pilot hole is a very small drilled hole that guides the screw into the wood. The pilot bit needs to be much smaller than the screw so you still get a strong bond |
| 10. Set the first bracket firmly in place with two screws or toggle bolts |
| 11. Now you need to attach the second bracket. There are two ways to do this. One is to measure the installed bracket from the floor and transfer that to the second bracket. This is not fool proof, especially if you have an old house where the floors have settled. We recommend that you take the drape off the pole (yes it’s a pain) and set it in the installed bracket. Using a carpenter's level to make sure the pole is level, mark and then attach the second bracket just like you did the first |
| 12. On long spans or telescoping rods, you will need a center bracket to keep the center from sagging. That is the last bracket to install |
| 13. Put the drape back on the pole and set in on the brackets and you are done! |
| 14. If you are putting up more than one set of drapes, the next ones will go quickly |
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