Curtain Tracks & Drapery Hardware Blog

Need Inspiration? Visit Our Gallery

June 18th, 2013

You already know that you want a new look for your business or home, but where do you start? There are many ways that curtains and tracks can enhance your space and make it more productive. If you are stumped for ideas of what to do or how to use your curtains or tracks, check out our gallery. There, you will find ideas for the home, workspace, school, sports and for RVs, buses or boats.

FOR THE HOME

There are many ways to use your curtains in the home, and not all of them have to do with windows or showers. Though you can get shower curtains and window treatments here, the uses for indoor curtains extend beyond these. Among these uses is the ability to softly partition rooms with divider curtains, which allow you to open up the space when needed and close it off when you want privacy.

Room divider curtains

FOR THE OFFICE

No matter where you work, you will likely find a use for curtains and tracks. The gallery features uses that include hospital room separators, conference room dividers and retail or trade show displays. You will be able to get inspiration for your office space or where ever you work.

FOR SCHOOL USE

Schools can use curtain tracks and curtains, too. While many of the office uses can also be applied to schools, there are some unique uses for curtains in school settings. The nurse’s office needs to have partitions to provide students with privacy while in the nurse’s office. Photo backdrops for school pictures is another use presented in the gallery. Storage areas can also be concealed with curtains.

FOR PLAY

There are many ways you can use curtain tracks for recreation or to show off your recreational skills. The tracks can be hung to support medals or pictures. They can also be used to hold up sports netting, such as batting cage nets and golf practice nets.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Whether you have a boat, bus or RV, there are curtain tracks that you can use. There are even uses for horse trailers for the curtains. The many uses of vehicle curtains are seen in this section of the gallery, designed to get you to thinking about how to improve your ride.

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?

If you want your project using our curtains or tracks to be a part of our gallery, contact us. You can also use that section to ask any questions you might have about curtain tracks and their uses. If you need even more ideas, check out our blog, which is constantly updated with the latest ideas, usage tips and news about our curtains and tracks.

Tags: Curtain Track, Curtain Tracks, Curtains, Privacy Curtains
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The Two Faces of Snap Tape

June 11th, 2013

You cannot have curtains that pop without a little snap – snap tape, that is. Snap tape has two sides, which must be considered before you decide to use this for hanging your curtains.

WHAT IS SNAP TAPE?

Snap tape as the name suggests is fabric tape that is sewn into the top edge of the curtains. The tape has male snaps attached that connect to the snap carriers hung from the curtain track. The snaps on the 1-inch-wide snap tape are set 4.25 inches apart. You should get carriers for ever 4.25 inches of the length of your curtains to be sure that you have enough glides to use for every snap on the snap tape.

This tape makes it easy to connect the curtains to the hardware, and it is easy to pull the curtain down if you change your mind. For convenience during and after hanging curtains with snap tape, the small time investment to sew in the tape is worth it.

WHY USE SNAP TAPE

Snap tape is usually used in situations where, for safety reasons, you do not want to have curtains with hooks or if you need curtains to easily and quickly be removed from the track. Snap tape is great for use in RVs, boats and buses. Snap tape is also often used in commercial applications. Whether in commercial applications or in vehicles where an occupant may lose his balance and instinctively grab a curtain for balance, curtains may be yanked or pulled. The snap tape helps avoid damage to the curtains as the snaps disengage before the curtains rip or tear.

Snap tape is also the approach to use to achieve a ripple fold look. The appearance of a ripplefold curtain resembles that of a sin wave as the curtain stacks. As the curtain is closed and the curtains are extended, the folds flatten out over the length of the track. Some people prefer to maintain the wave or ripple fold look when the curtains are closed. This can be achieved by adding width to the curtain panels and by using a corded carrier.

BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY

When you install curtains, sometimes you only have to see the front of them, but if your curtains are being used to cover a bunk bed or as a divider for a room, you will see both sides of the curtains. If the appearance of both sides is important, you may consider masking the snap tape with matching fabric. Check out both sides of a curtain with snap tape in the images below to see how it looks on all sides.

The front of a curtain with snap tape.

Snap tape as seen from the back.

ABOUT TO SNAP?

If you are ready to snap to it and use this type hardware, you can purchase it by the yard or in 100-yard rolls. If you have any questions about how to use snap tape or for alternatives, contact us for more information.

Tags: Carriers, ripple, ripplefold, Snap Tape, wave
Posted in Curtains & Draperies, Drapery Hardware Uses, Installation | No Comments »

A Mount-ainous Task

March 14th, 2013

Do you ever feel like installing curtain tracks is a mountainous task? Well, in some ways, it is. This is because the track must be mounted to the wall or ceiling. If you have rudimentary do-it-yourself skills, you can mount the track where it needs to go, but not everything you need can be found from our online catalog.

WHAT YOU WON’T FIND

You may be surprised that we don’t sell everything you need for every step of the installation process for your tracks. While you can find the tracks, batons, carriers, hooks and other accessories, you will not find the mounting screws that hold the track to the wall or ceiling.

WHY NOT SCREWS?

We’re not screwy when we tell you that we do not have the mounting screws for installing the track. There is a high likelihood that your track will not be installed in the same type of ceiling or wall as someone else’s track. Do you want to add curtain dividers to a basement with cinder block walls and ceiling? You should use masonry screws, but if you want to install the track into another type of material, you will need another sort of screw. The screws and anchors needed are dependent on your specific project. Talk to your local hardware store to find the best screws for your particular needs.

DRILLING DOWN TO THE POINT

Drills are not something only a dentist uses. You will use a drill for creating the pilot hole through the track and ceiling or wall as well as driving in the mounting screws. A light-weight, cordless drill is great for simple, around-the-house projects like this. When drilling the holes through the track or ceiling, use a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the screws you are installing to get a tight fit. Ceiling mounting clips have the holes pre-drilled in them. Watch out while drilling to not bend the track. If you do, the carriers will not glide smoothly.

This 84003 ceiling-mount curtain track kit is one of the tracks that hangs from mounting clips from the ceiling.

OTHER MOUNTING PROCEDURES

The exact mounting procedures for your track will vary. Luckily for you, we have an easy-to-find listing of installation instructions for our tracks. Just look up the track number and download the details. There are even pictures to help you out. If you need any other help from us, let us know. We will be glad to assist you with installing your curtain tracks.

Tags: anchors, Installation, Mounting, screws
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Want Free Stuff?

March 12th, 2013

Who doesn’t like free stuff? Believe it or not, you can get a free gift from us when you place an order. Not only is the free gift you get with your minimum order free, but it is also extremely useful when it comes time to install the curtain tracks you ordered.

WHAT YOU GET

So, you may be asking, “What’s this free gift?” It’s a multi-tool that has a carpenter’s level, a Philip’s head screwdriver and a flathead screwdriver on it. You can use it during installation for screwing in the mounting screws that you purchase separately. This little gift is our way of saying thanks, and you will be able to use it for more than just curtain track installation.

Since it has two screwdrivers and a level on it, this multi-tool is infinity useful around the house or workplace for general DIY projects. A small LED light at the end of the tool lets you see into dark places while using the adjustable screwdriver (Flat head and Phillips). You will not stop finding uses for this pocket-sized tool.

ORDER MINIMUM

To get the free tool, there is an order minimum. You must spend at least $175 dollars. If you are ordering multiple pieces for several curtain projects, you should order them all at once to take advantage of the free gift.

For instance, instead of measuring track lengths at different times and placing separate orders for the two lengths of track, get the measurements for both and order them at the same time. Not only will this save you time when it comes to ordering, but both track pieces will likely get to your home or business at the same time, along with the free gift, if you order was over $175. You can also add curtains, accessories or carriers.

ORDERING ASSISTANCE
So, if you already need to order tracks or curtains, check out our site. You can find everything you need for your curtain tracks. You will still have visit a hardware store to separately purchase the mounting hardware required for your specific building’s needs. If you have any questions about the accessories you need for hanging your curtain tracks and whether we have them, just ask us. Our experts in curtains and tracks will help you with your queries on ordering, installation or your free gift. Let us be your one-stop shop for all your curtain and track needs.

Tags: flashlight, free, gift, Installation, level, screwdriver, tool
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Give Us a Hand

March 11th, 2013

Some of our customers have wondered why we don’t sell cord-drawn curtains? Hand-drawn curtains have many advantages over cord-drawn, especially for the uses our customers have for the curtain tracks they order from us. Check out the many reasons that make hand-drawn such a popular option for curtains.

EASE OF INSTALLATION
Our curtains and tracks are designed to easily be installed by do-it-yourselfers (DIY). With hand-drawn systems, the installation is simple and it allows you to use a variety of compatible carriers with each track. You don’t have to worry about threading a cord through the track or establishing the correct tension during installation. All you have to do is slip the glides into the track and attach the curtain to the hooks hanging from the glides.

FLEXIBILITY

Hand-drawn curtains are great for hotels because they are easier to use

Not everyone knows how to operate cord-drawn curtains. The advantage of hand-drawn systems is that everyone can use them without having to be able to reach a cord. Children and the disabled can pull the curtains easily across the track. Since more people are familiar with this type of curtain system, hotels choose it for the curtains in their rooms, where guests from all of the world may be staying and needing to open the curtains.

SAFETY

Cord-drawn systems can pose a problem for those with pets or children. Small children or pets can get entangled in the cords, which pose a choking hazard. With hand-drawn systems, there are no cords that children could choke on, so the entire system is safer.

LOW-MAINTENANCE

Since cords can get tangled or break, cord-drawn systems require more maintenance. With hand-drawn systems, this maintenance chore is removed. This makes hand-drawn systems better for use in areas with numerous curtains, like hospitals or hotels.

CONCERNS WITH HAND-DRAWN CURTAINS

If you are concerned about stains on your hand-drawn curtains, there are options to get around that. You can add a wand or baton to the curtains with a master carrier. The wand can be used to open or close the curtains easily. Handicapped wands are available for customers with special needs. The wands can be installed in front of the curtain to encourage use, or behind the curtain to enhance appearance.

NEED HELP?
If you need help choosing your curtains, tracks, batons or carriers, let us know. We can answer any questions you might have about our products, selecting them, ordering them or installing them.

Tags: baton, hand drawn, hotel curtain, wand
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Bathroom Style With Curtains Beyond the Shower

February 19th, 2013

Shower curtains are just one way to use curtain in a bathroom

Quick Quiz (Don’t worry, this won’t be graded.): Name all the places you can use curtains in a bathroom. If you mentioned shower curtains, you only got part of the answer correct. There are many other ways to use curtains in the bathroom that you may not have thought about.

KEEP IT PRIVATE

Many bathrooms are shared spaces. If you want to be able to use the toilet in private, you can install a privacy curtain in front of or around it. This gives you the privacy you need but using the softer look of fabric instead of a door. Curtains also have the advantage in a small bathroom because you don’t need extra floor space in front of them when they are opened, as you would if you had a door in front of the toilet. The toilet alcove in the image below used privacy curtains and 84004 curtain track.

Curtains can add privacy just about anywhere

KEEP IT HIDDEN

Got open storage in your bathroom? Hide it with curtains.

Too often, bathrooms in homes have open storage. It may be built-in shelves or shelving that you added later yourself. The problem is that the cleaning products, towel and rolls of toilet paper on those shelves can be unsightly. There is a way to keep the shelves and what’s on them out of sight. Yup, you guessed it – curtains. A flexible curtain track can be hung from the ceiling and bent around to cover exposed shelving. If you have built-in shelves, a simple straight track hung from the ceiling will work.
YES, SHOWERS, TOO

Of course, there are curtains for showers, too. We have several types of water-resistant materials to choose from when picking your shower curtains. All of them have a 1 3/8-inch triple-thick top hem and a 1 1/8-inch reinforcement header strip. Width tolerance with within 2 inches short or long and height tolerance is within 1 inch short or long. No matter which type of curtain you get, be sure to multiply the length of your shower curtain track by 20 percent and add that to the track length to find the correct curtain width for your shower.

RAISE YOUR HAND FOR QUESTIONS

Okay, now that the quiz is over, if you have any more questions about curtains and tracks and their uses in your bathroom, contact us. We will be more than happy to answer your queries.

Tags: bathroom, modesty, Privacy, Storage
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Keep Out

February 16th, 2013

Did you ever make a clubhouse when you were a kid? Maybe it was behind a stack of sofa cushions, inside a tree house or under a snow fort, but the greatest thing about it was that it was your own personal space that no one could intrude upon. Today, even as adults, we need privacy, especially in certain situations. How can you get privacy in open spaces? Privacy curtains.

I FEEL SO USED

Hospitals are not the only place to use privacy curtains.

Privacy curtains should be used. They create partitions within open spaces such as large hospital rooms, office work spaces, medical examine rooms, spas, salons, and homes. The curtains themselves are designed to not be see-through to afford the greatest sense of privacy possible.

DECISIONS…DECISIONS

You have a myriad of choices for privacy curtains. Different patterns on the material can be chosen to match you decor. You can also opt for antimicrobial curtains, which prevent bacteria from growing on their surface. This is the ideal option for health care facilities like hospitals, clinics or nursing homes where bacteria can pose a severe threat to the health and well-being of patients.

If light is a problem, there are even light-blocking options that keep light from leaking through the material. These curtains are a great option for closing off home theaters from outdoor light. You can use them to cover windows, doors or other openings to stop light. Try putting these curtains up over your bedroom window to keep an annoying streetlight from keeping you up all night.

For easy cleaning, the shadow cube privacy curtains release stains and odors better than some other materials. These are a good option if you want to hang your privacy curtains in a place where they might get stained, like in a kitchen or lab.

WHAT WE DON’T HAVE

There are some things that our privacy curtains don’t have. They don’t have the ability to catch on fire or rip because they are both flame retardant and tear-proof. The curtains also don’t have frayed edges because their triple-thick hem is sewn with a double-needle Safe-T-Lock stitch.

WANT CURTAINS?

If you decide that you want to order your own privacy curtains, let us know. We will be happy to help you pick the right curtains for your needs. You can order any height you need and any width in 18-inch increments. Just let us know if you have any questions or comments about ordering privacy curtains.

Tags: Blackout Curtains, cubicle curtains, Divider Curtains, hospital curtains, Privacy Curtains
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Ship Shape

February 15th, 2013

So you have just ordered something from our website? Now your next question is how long will it take to get to your home or business. The answer depends on how much the initial shipping charges were, where you live and whether you opt for faster shipping options.

TRACK AHEAD ENDS

You may notice that even if you order a 12-foot bit of track, it comes cut into an 8-foot and a 4-foot section or into two 6-foot sections. The reason behind this is to cut down the shipping costs and to ensure that the tracks fit into our shipping tubes. If you need help with how to open our shipping tubes, check our one of our previous blog posts addressing how to open them with a hammer and flathead screwdriver.

USPS vs. FEDEX

Most of our smaller orders will ship via the US Postal Service. These include orders with under $10 shipping charges. If your order requires more than $10 to ship, it will ship via FEDEX. We can’t ship the long shipping tubes with curtain tracks via USPS.

FASTER SHIPPING

If you need your order as soon as possible, it is possible to have it next day to your home or business if you order it by 2 p.m. central time. Second-day delivery is also available, but both of these options require an additional shipping charge that is added to the base charge.

DAMAGED ORDERS

As soon as your order comes, check over the shipping tubes. While we use the strongest tubes we can find to ship, rarely problems do occur while the packages are en route. If you spot any damage to your shipping tubes refuse the order and tell the delivery driver to note the damage and have it sent back to us. Another option for orders that are dropped off without you speaking to the driver is to contact us for having the damaged order sent back to us.

NORTH OF THE BORDER DELIVERY
If you live or work in Canada and would like to order from us, you are more than welcome to do so. Your order will incur additional international shipping charges, which you are responsible for. We will not pay the extra charges for any orders shipped internationally.

SPECIAL CASES

If you order a 12-foot track and do not want it cut for shipping, we can still deliver it, but it must be sent via a freight company. Should you opt for this service, call us at (888) 434-7444 to make the arrangements and discuss the cost.

Estimated Transit Times for Fedex Ground Shipments from Curtain-Tracks.com

Tags: Federal Express, Fedex, freight, Shipping, UPS, USPS
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Double Your Fun

February 14th, 2013

If one set of curtains covering a window is great, then two must be even better! But how can you hang two sets of curtains over the same window? The answer is to use a 84172 double wall bracket. This bracket lets you have two curtains over a single window.

WHY USE DOUBLE BRACKETS?

One of the most common uses for a double bracket is to hang a pair of sheer curtains behind a pair of light-blocking curtains over a window. This configuration lets you have the light-blocking curtains open when you want to let in filtered light through the sheer curtains, or have the light-blocking curtains closed when you want to keep out light. You can open both sets of curtains to enjoy the view.

A double bracket hangs on the wall and lets you hang two sets of curtain tracks from it.

MAKING TRACKS

Not all tracks are compatible with a wall-mounted double bracket. You must use a track that hangs from wall brackets. Examples include the 84003 ball bearing carrier track. This track is also available in a kit, which comes with single-track wall brackets. You can purchase two kits, which also have the carriers and end stops and get a double wall bracket to hang both of them.

I NEED SPACE

So, how much space is between the tracks when they are hung up on the double wall bracket? There is 4 inches of space between the tracks when they are hung. This should be ample room to allow the curtains space when they are pushed back. The location on the bracket for hanging the outer track keeps it 6 1/2 inches from the wall.

MOUNTING SCREWS NOT INCLUDED

The only part that is not included with the double wall brackets are the mounting screws. This is not an oversight on our part. It is simply because people have different types of walls that require different screws to mount the wall brackets into. For instance, you will not use the same types of mounting screws for sheet rock as you would for a brick wall. Because there are so many possibilities, that is why we do not sell the mounting screws with our brackets.

READY TO ORDER

You can easily order your double wall brackets from the product page on our website. Ideally, you should order enough wall brackets to space them every 24 inches for places where the curtains are stacked and every 48 inches for the span in the middle of the track. If you have any questions about these brackets, how to order or install them, contact us.

Tags: Blackout, Double Tracks, Sheers
Posted in Drapery Hardware Uses, Installation | Comments Off

Save Your Walls!

December 11th, 2012

Tired of sticking holes in your walls or struggling with the sticky residue from adhesives and tapes just to hang pictures or posters? You can still hang them without turning your walls into Swiss cheese. A curtain track installed along the top of your wall provides a convenient, unobtrusive way to hang all your pictures, like in the image below.

LET’S PLAY A GAME

Okay, look in the picture above and try to spot the curtain track. Can’t find it? Don’t worry. It looks like a strip of molding along the seam between the wall and ceiling. If you weren’t specifically looking for it, you would probably not notice it. By fooling you into thinking the track is molding, no one will have to know your secret.

THE CHAIN GANG

So how do you suspend your pictures from the track once it is up and in place? One option is using beaded chains with adapters to hold a hook at the end. You can get the 7185 hook and chain set. You can get these in three different lengths up to 28.5 inches. These have a tensile strength of up to 30 pounds. Other options include using high strength fishing line, which can be almost transparent, or picture wire.

If you have multiple pictures that you want to hang at more than three levels, opt for 7181 beaded chain by the yard. Then all you have to do to make the hanging chains for your pictures is to cut the beaded chain, add a 7183 eyelet connector to both ends and hang a hook on it. The top of the chain will also need a curtain glider that has a hook on it. Examples of these include: 7122 button carrier with hook, 88100 privacy cubicle two-wheel carrier with hook and the 88106 privacy friction carrier with hook.

HANG TIME

Once your track is up and your carriers, hooks and chains are installed on it, you can hang your pictures. Use the hook at the bottom of each chain as you would a nail for holding up the picture. If you have an extra wide picture, use two hooks set about 6 to 12 inches apart.

WEIGHT A MINUTE

You must consider the weight of each picture and frame when selecting hardware. Keep in mind that this hardware is designed to support curtains that are attached at multiple points, thus distributing the weight evenly. In the described application, the weight is concentrated on a smaller number of contact points. When in doubt, error on the side of caution by ordering heavier duty tracks and hardware and/or adding additional supports for the suspended object.

CALL US

Do you need further advice about hanging pictures with curtain tracks and hooks? We can help you with any questions you might have. Feel free to contact us with any comments, questions or suggestions you might have. We can help you with your questions or concerns, and we can also assist you with making the best choices for your curtain track projects.

Tags: art, display, hanging, pictures
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