What Is a “Limited Lifetime Warranty”?
bwsit • Dec 12, 2016

Human nature is a funny thing. People see the words, “Limited Lifetime Warranty”, and they tend to focus on the word “Lifetime”, when the word they should pay the most attention to is “Limited”. Very few manufacturers of any product you can think of would think of offering a no-holds-barred “Lifetime Warranty”. That would be like handing out a coupon for a free replacement under any circumstances — something that plenty of people would undoubtedly exploit!

Still, even though there are limits to most “lifetime” warranties, they’re usually not unreasonable, and in general, limited lifetime warranties by well-established, reputable companies are some of the best available. (It’s important to note that the “lifetime” referred to is rarely the lifetime of the purchaser , but rather the lifetime of the business or product itself. Once a product is discontinued, the length of time the manufacturer remains liable is specified in the warranty’s documentation or “fine print”.) Exclusions are often similar and run along the lines of

  • normal wear and tear (Everything wears out over time.)
  • abuse, accidents or alterations
  • exposure to the elements (unless the product is specifically made for outdoor use)
  • failure to follow product instructions or incorrect measurements or installation
  • cost of removal or installation of replacements and shipping costs for returns or replacements
  • occasional time limits on certain components of the product

In the case of window blinds and shades, there are three companies that offer the best warranties in the industry:

  • O’Hair
  • Hunter Douglas
  • Springs/Graber

Only manufacturers of the highest quality products would offer such excellent warranties, and it’s a testament to their high level of confidence in their products that allows them to do so. Read on to see why these three industry leaders offer better warranties than their competitors.

O’Hair

The tagline on O’Hair’s Warranty reads, “good for the life of the home, not just the homeowner”. You’ve got to be hugely confident in your product’s quality to make that statement, and O’Hair has every reason for possessing that level of confidence. Their beautiful interior and exterior shutters are made in the U.S.A., which in itself is an unusual claim to make in today’s global economy, and an extremely important one to many consumers. They use only responsibly harvested American hardwoods in their product line, offer the most weather-resistant finishes for their exterior shutters, and produce truly beautiful, traditionally crafted products.

Their warranty has few exclusions — the normal wear and tear clause is there, along with a few other minor exclusions, but in general, it covers defects very well. The most amazing part of their warranty, though, is that it’s transferable. The warranty actually transfers to the new owner when you sell your house. That’s a very good warranty!

Hunter Douglas

Nearly everybody recognizes the HunterDouglas name, which is certainly a testament to the quality of their products. They offer energy-efficient design, cordless and motorized options that focus on child and pet safety, and design and assemble all of their products in the U.S. Their warranty covers things like defects in materials and workmanship and failure to operate properly, and excludes the usual circumstances listed above. Since the company has been around for nearly a century and is still going strong, the “lifetime” in their warranty is a pretty solid one.

Springs/Graber

Graber Blinds is one of the brand names produced by Springs Window Fashions. They’re known for their high-quality materials, commitment to safety (offering cordless options for homes with children), and a focus on a great customer experience. In recent years, they’ve also instituted a strong eco-friendly manufacturing focus with things like energy-efficient products and materials and minimal packaging that uses at least 44% of post-consumer recycled materials.   The company has been around for over three-quarters of a century, so it’s obvious they’ve earned a reputation for excellence that’s sustained them in a highly competitive industry.  All this enables them to offer a stellar warranty  that covers virtually everything with few exclusions (normal wear and tear, damage caused by abuse, mishandling, alterations, etc.).

If you’re looking for the best-quality window fashions with the very best warranties, look no further than Just Blinds of Montgomery, Alabama. We’ve been serving Central Alabama for more than 30 years, and have built a reputation for top-of-the-line products, expert measuring, professional installation, and outstanding customer service. Contact us today and find out for yourself why our first-time customers become customers for life!

By Autumn Hooper 07 Feb, 2024
Each year, styles in window treatments come and go. Trends that were hot last year may carry over to the new interior decor season or may be replaced by something new. In 2024, we are looking at a delightful set of trends in blinds, shades, and curtains that embrace the developing attitudes and popular colors that are already giving the year a unique stylistic personality. At Just Blinds, we are delighted to keep up with the trends, helping homeowners, designers, and property managers to create stunning spaces that align with the latest in window treatment trends. The Hot Trends of 2023 Blinds and Shades Last year in 2023, we saw a great collection of trends, many of which have evolved and strengthened with the new year. 2023 explored the innovations of cell shades and honeycomb shades for the benefits of insulation and light control. Motorization gained a prominant place in both home and office design, and decorators discovered the dynamic possibilities of shades that operate from both the bottom and the top on floor-to-ceiling tracks. Texture saw a real debut with natural colors like wood finishes, linen, dusty rose, and moss green. Though bold patterns also had their day in the sun. The Trending 2024 Window Treatments In 2024, you may recognize a few trends still going strong from the year before, which is good news for those who decorated last year because your style is likely still right on-trend. But we are also seeing new trends developing with elegant enthusiasm. Smart Home Blinds The trend for motorized shades has naturally evolved to favor smart home controls. With a simple voice command, you can take control of all the motorized shades in a room, in your entire home, or set each shade to exactly the height and opacity you desire. Warm Neutrals and Bold Natural Colors Color trends favor a more natural palette. Neutral colors are warmer, even the grays and charcoals have a honey undertone, while natural colors like mossy and forest green are growing stronger in hue paired with a jewelbox of flower petal colors. If you're following the Colors of the Year, you may have also noticed an adoration of ocean blues, and you can match those blues with slightly darker or lighter blinds for beautiful effect. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Materials Natural materials and textures were popular in 2023, and 2024 takes this trend even further. Blinds made out of recycled materials are now on the rise alongside the growing popularity of blinds made from super-sustainable plants like bamboo, hemp, jute, and grass cloth. These offer natural colors, dynamic textures, and the delight of eco-friendly design. Gauzy Sheer Elegance Sheer curtains and semi-sheer blinds are also in fashion; a classic style that has been floating near the top of popularity for literal centuries. Sheer curtains and blinds maintain privacy while allowing sunlight into the room in a gently diffused glow. They also layer excellently with more robust window treatments. Creative Window Treatment Layering Speaking of layering, we are seeing an enthusiastic embrace of creatively layered styles. Wooden shutters, gauzy curtains, and black-out blinds are among the most popular layers, but decorators are getting creative with how they choose to to layer their window treatments, using both multiple fabrics and structures at the same time. Find the Blinds that Best Suit Your Needs How can you choose fantastic and on-trend blinds that perfectly suit your design needs? Fortunately, the diversity of this year's trends leave room for almost any personal sense of style and the individual needs of each room's windows. Start with the size of your windows and your room's existing color palette. Decide if you want to match, accent, or contrast the colors of the room. Then choose the opacity, privacy, and level of motorized control you desire. This should guide you toward a specific selection that will work well for your room. From there, it's a matter of specific features and your personal sense of style. Reach Out for Expert and On-Trend Advice If you are getting ready to decorate a room and want the perfect window treatments for 2024, we are only a phonecall or a visit away. Give us a call for expert advice in the right blinds or shades for each window in your home. Our on-trend window treatment experts will be glad to help tailor your window treatment design to your personal tastes, the latest trends, and the style of each of your rooms.
20 Jul, 2023
Is your AC bill keeping you down this summer? Is your home too hot? Window treatments can help cool your home, but you need to choose the right ones and use them correctly. Not all window coverings are made equal. Here are some of the best options to help keep your home comfortable and reduce costs this summer: Cellular or honeycomb shades. These are specifically designed to provide a high level of insulation that keeps the heat out of your home. They also don't block the view when completely drawn. As a bonus, you can get them in a wide variety of colors and patterns to match your home and in both top-down and bottom-up configurations. Drapery. Old-fashioned curtains can be surprisingly effective. Choose a medium color and have us add a white plastic backing to reflect heat out of your home. You can also use drapes to block some of the heat without excluding much light, allowing you to enjoy natural light flowing through your drapes. Fabric Roman shades. These are a distinctive option that really dresses up a room, and if you choose the kind with several layers they will definitely help keep the heat out. We have light filtering and blackout options and everything in between. Why Should You Use These Types of Shades or Blinds? The two reasons are to save money and help protect the environment. Good shades keep your home cooler and this means your air conditioning systems don't have to work as hard and use as much energy. In the northern hemisphere, it's most important to have heat-reducing treatments on your southern windows and you can allow more light in through windows that face north. Both cellular and Roman shades can also be motorized and even put on timers to close the shades when you are not there and then let light in when you return. The small amount of energy used by motorized shades is much less than that lost through naked windows. All of these shades can also add to the aesthetics of your room. Cellular shades are great to add a pop of color or a subtle pattern. Both drapery and Roman shades give a soft feel to your windows that then spreads to the rest of your room. What is the Best Choice? The best choice of the three depends on your personal aesthetics. Our designers can help you make the right choice. If you want motorized shades, cellular shades are the lightest and thus use the least energy, and can roll all the way up and down, leaving your windows completely unrestricted. Roman shades are more visible, but can be used to add fabric and color to a room. Many people still love the look of traditional window drapes. Note that you can also combine shades and drapes for the effect you want, both in terms of reducing heat loss and in terms of aesthetics. How Much Can I Actually Save? The amount you save depends on the kind of window covering you use and how much thermal gain your house typically experiences. The larger your windows, in general, the larger the benefit, especially south-facing windows. For example, medium-colored draperies with a white plastic backing can reduce heat gain by as much as 33% for that window. Most window treatments, though, reduce overall heat gain by about 10%. This can significantly reduce your bills, by $100 to $200 a month during the summer. Using the right window treatment can make your home more comfortable in the summer and save money while preserving the environment. For advise on which window treatments to choose for your home and to see our selection of blinds and shades, contact Just Blinds today.
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