Honeycomb Blinds

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With so many fabrics types, cell sizes, control choices, and extra features to choose from, I completely understand why this particular product group can seem overwhelming to many. We have one of the most comprehensive honeycomb blind offerings in the market. My hope is that the steps below make the process of selecting the right honeycomb blind, for you, somewhat easier. As well as directing you to more related information for further knowledge, where required.

STEP 1: How much light do you want to filter?

There are SHEERS, LIGHT-FILTERING, and BLOCKOUT fabric options available. How much light do you want to enter the room, how much privacy do you want, is it a bedroom or a more common living area. Do you need room darkening qualities or is soft filtered light preferable. A SHEER honeycomb blind is much like a sunscreen roller blind, in that you can see out through it and it cuts back some UV. LIGHT-FILTERING honeycomb blinds provide soft filtered light and give you complete privacy day and night. They don't offer room darkening during the day however. And finally the BLOCKOUT honeycomb blind doesn't allow light to pass through the fabric at all. Thermally, sheer honeycomb blinds don't offer any value; light-filtering fabrics are good, and blockout honeycomb blinds are the best. NB: Light-filtering honeycombs are more economical when compared to blockouts.

STEP 2 & 3: What cell size do you want? And what level of insulation do you want?

There are SINGLE CELL and DOUBLE CELL options available. The double cell honeycomb blinds offer more thermal benefits than the single cell however even the single cell options are so much more superior to any other blind type or curtains out there. View independent tests and results from Consumer NZ. Within the single cell range there are 25mm, 45mm and 62mm cell sizes. Within the double cell range there are the 45mm and the 62mm. NB: If your windows are very large then larger cell sizes may look better aesthetically – they are generally speaking more expensive however. NB: The 25mm and 45mm single cell honeycomb blinds are most economical. For more info on cell sizes see FAQ: 'What cell size are your honeycomb blinds?'

STEP 4: How do you want to control your honeycomb blinds?

You can have CORDED (much like a venetian), CORDLESS (where you use handles on the blind's bottom-rail to raise and lower it, rather than cords), CORDLOOP (much like a roller blind's chain control and ideal if you don't want dangling cords), and MOTORISED (if you like pushing buttons and marvelling at where we've come technologically these days). NB: Corded is most economical. Larger blinds, over 2500mm wide, may need to be 'Cordloop' due to their larger size and weight. Don't panic, I'm always here to direct you through the in's, out's, and finer details of the honeycomb blind world. For more info on control options, see FAQ: 'What control options are available for your honeycomb blinds and how do they effect price?

STEP 5. Do you need any special features or have your honeycomb blinds perform magic tricks?

Like when the top of the blind is able to come down, as well as the bottom raise, independently of each other. This is the 'top down bottom up' feature or for those that love acronyms and sounding like you know what you're talking about – TDBU. For more detailed info on this option, see FAQ: 'Do you offer the 'TOP DOWN BOTTOM UP' feature?' There's also the 'Day & Night' feature which essentially gives you two blinds in one. Another pretty neat trick. For more details on this option, see FAQ: 'Do you offer the 'DAY & NIGHT' feature?'

STEP 6. Pick the colour.

Sounds easy enough. Either choose colours online or ask me to send you the samples. There is no price difference between colours of a specific range. Samples must be returned, with tracking, promptly please. There is also a showroom in Penrose and one in Mt Maunganui – see FAQ: 'Do you have a showroom in which to view your honeycomb blinds?'

With a better understanding of all that; send window dimensions through the Get A Quote form and make some notes in the comment field around your preferred cell size, single or double, control type, and any optional features you may want. I'll fire back a quote. Questions are always encouraged. And if the first quote is over budget; let me know so we can explore other options and get a solution that fits your needs.

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Please note that our honeycomb blind cell size (the total thickness of the fabric) is measured at the cell's widest point (across the cell horizontally). I mention this because while this is usually the norm there are some companies that measure cell size in a different way; just to confuse us all. We do 25mm single cell, 45mm single cell, 45mm double cell, 62mm single cell, and 62mm double cell, honeycomb blinds. Wow, with so many choices it's easy to get overwhelmed, fast. But don't panic I'm here to help; the below guidance is aimed to shed light on the options and help direct your honeycomb blind decisions.

If you want the superior thermal benefits of honeycomb blinds but don't have a huge budget; stick to the 25mm single cell option – these are most economical and still provide excellent thermal efficiency over and above roller blinds, venetians, or any other window coverings including curtains. View independent test reports here from Consumer NZ. If you want the best thermal efficiency possible from your honeycomb blinds; consider using a double cell option. This provides two layers of insulation between you and the window pane. If your window reveals are very shallow you may need to choose a honeycomb blind that will physically fit into your window reveal, without protruding past the architrave. Roughly speaking, a 25mm honeycomb blind will need a minimum window reveal depth of 30mm to comfortably house both the blind and its brackets. For the 45mm honeycomb blind options you'll need a minimum reveal depth of 53mm and for the 62mm honeycomb blind options, a 70mm minimum reveal depth. For those with bigger budgets, bigger windows, and who are aesthetically focused you may want to consider the 62mm honeycomb blind options. Smaller cell size honeycomb blinds may not look in proportion to larger window openings. (i.e.; large widths and drops). This is however subjective and my not be an issue for you.

Again, the honeycomb blind cell sizes available are: 25mm single cell, 45mm single cell, 45mm double cell, 62mm single cell, and the 62mm double cell honeycomb blind.

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A little love and attention go a long way with most things – your honeycomb blinds are no different. Give them some routine care to ensure their beauty remains well into the future. Any of the following are good periodic cleaning practices worth considering.

Dusting: Regularly dust the honeycomb shade with a duster. In most situations this is the only cleaning method required.

Vacuuming: Use a hand-held vacuum on a low suction setting with a long bristle attachment to carefully remove dust.

Spot Cleaning: Dampen a clean cloth with warm water and mild detergent. Carefully dab, without rubbing the honeycomb shade fabric, until the spot has gone. Allow the fabric to dry in its completely lowered position.

Ultrasonic Cleaning: Your honeycomb shades can be professionally cleaned (ultrasonically). Specify that a mild solution must be used and that the headrail should never be immersed. Re-install the blind and allow the fabric to dry in its completely lowered position. I haven't personally used them however Ultrasonic Blind Cleaning Services Ltd (0800 329 858) ultrasonically clean honeycomb shades (Auckland). There is also Easy Clean Blinds in Napier (easycleanblinds.co.nz).

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Mould can grow on pretty much anything in the right conditions; Moisture, in the right environment, can form behind honeycomb blinds; behind any blinds or window coverings; so it is advised, in order to avoid mould, that the honeycomb blind is regularly opened and closed to allow good air flow;

If the honeycomb blind does get moist do not pull it open and keep the fabric stacked together for long periods; this will cause mould and the pleats may also stick together over time;

It is best to open and close honeycomb blinds regularly; If blinds have been exposed to moisture/condensation, they should stay completely lowered to allow the blind to dry before raising again; If the appearance of mould has been noticed, honeycomb blinds can be carefully 'spot cleaned' as per the above FAQ: How do I best clean and maintain my honeycomb blinds?

There are companies who clean honeycomb blinds and can remove mould however you should be inspecting and cleaning them regularly yourself and not letting mould take up home in your honeycomb blinds if you do have moist windows;

All our honeycomb fabrics are durable and water repellent, however they are not mould resistant; if a honeycomb blind is continuously exposed to moisture, there is the potential for mould to develop in time, it most things;

The honeycomb warranty does not cover moisture damage, exposure to the elements, or excessive humidity; All these conditions allow mould to grow and develop; If the appearance of mould has been noticed, we do recommend spot cleaning and/or having the honeycomb blinds professionally cleaned

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We have two showrooms set up for honeycomb blinds. Please note that these two showrooms are for honeycomb blinds only and don't feature any of the other products we offer. Our honeycomb blinds are a Santa Fe product made by NORMAN in China. I work with Santa Fe in a wholesale capacity; my prices are very competitive. Having sold and reviewed many other honeycomb blind products over the years I am very happy to be able to offer these. They tick all the right boxes for lasting quality honeycomb blinds.

PENROSE, AUCKLAND SHOWROOM:
It is essential to phone or email ahead and make a time for the Penrose showroom. This will ensure someone will be there to let you in and show you the product. Please call (021782062) or email Karen Arthur to make an appointment. Bookings can be made for times between 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Weekends are not available. The Santa Fe Showroom is at Unit 4, 761 Great South Rd, Penrose, Auckland. Please advise them Ryan at Blinds Online has sent you.

MT MAUNGANUI SHOWROOM:
The Mt Maunganui showroom is manned five days a week. No appointment necessary here: Santa Fe Showroom, 142 Newton St, Mt Maunganui. Weekdays only (8:30am–4:45pm). Let me know how you go and how I can assist next. Fire any product questions my way. Please advise them Ryan at Blinds Online has sent you.

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Our honeycomb blinds have different control options, ie: different ways in which they can be operated. They can be operated with a cord, as cordless, using a cord loop, or motorised.

CORD CONTROL: The cord control option uses one 'set of cords' which raises and lowers the honeycomb blind (much like a venetian blind). This 'set of cords' (between 2–4 cords depending on the blind's width) join and run through a cord-lock which is how you set the honeycomb blind at the height you want (again much like a venetian). Cord control is the most economical control option. Honeycomb blinds using cord control have a maximum width of 2500mm. Cord control honeycomb blinds are available in the following cell sizes: 25mm single cell, 45mm single cell, and 45mm double cell. The cord can be on either the left or the right, and a cord cleat is supplied, if required, to manage the cords when the honeycomb blind is raised. There is also a child safety device attached to the end of the cord.

CORDLESS (SMARTRISE): The cordless option has a handle on the bottom-rail. You simply lift or lower the honeycomb blind by grabbing the handle and adjusting as you please. It will stay at the height you leave it at. If selecting honeycomb blinds with the cordless option it is important to test whether you can easily access the window and comfortably reach both the top and bottom of it. Max width 2500mm. Cordless is more expensive than corded and the same price as cordloop.

CORDLOOP: The cordloop control option works much like the looped control chain of a roller blind however uses thick cord, not chain. You control the honeycomb blind, up or down, with the cordloop, just like you would a roller blind. The cordloop control option is the most expensive option of the 3 manual options, equal with cordless, however does away with long untidy cords and allows honeycomb blinds of greater widths to be made; up to 3000mm (3m).

MOTORISED:
All our honeycomb blinds (other than the skylight honeycombs) can be motorised. Please see FAQ: 'Can your honeycomb blinds be motorised?' for the full details on this control option.

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Our honeycomb blinds can come with the optional feature of 'top down bottom up' (TDBU) when desired. This feature isn't standard by default and attracts an extra cost (as below). The TDBU option really opens up the possibilities in which you can utilise your honeycomb blinds. With TDBU you can either raise the blind from the bottom (BU) or you can lower the honeycomb blind from the top (TD). Doing the latter can block off the bottom of the opening and leave the top open. This particular shade position really adds value in windows subject to passersby, where you want light coming in over the top of the blind but still want your privacy. The TDBU function provides really precise light and privacy control, and is available in CORDED and CORDLESS honeycomb blinds.

NOTE: If either CORDLOOP or MOTORISED control is required you can have TDBU as an option however it's termed as TD (top down) which means the top can drop but only when the bottom is completely down. The bottom can rise but only when the top is completely closed. This is similar to a true TDBU however each function is one at a time rather than you being able to drop the top or lower the bottom at the same time to different amounts.

TDBU honeycomb blinds are available in all 25mm and 45mm cell sizes. If you want the TDBU function with a 62mm cell size; this is only available with CORDLESS control.

CORDED honeycomb blinds with the TDBU function will have a control cord either side of the blind. The right cord will control the lowering of the top part of the shade while the left control cord will control the lifting of the lower part of the honeycomb blind. The TDBU function adds $52 per blind.

CORDLESS honeycomb blinds with the TDBU function are raised and lowered by hand, using the clear PVC handles on the mid and bottom-rails. NB: there will still be cords visible in the window opening, in the centre of the honeycomb blind when the top is lowered. Cordless refers to how it is controlled; the blind still uses cords within it for everything to work. The TDBU function adds $52 per blind.

DAY/NIGHT: There is no TDBU or TD function available with Day/Night honeycomb blinds. However as SHEER must be one of the two fabric types chosen with Day/Night, and as SHEER is at the top of the blind, you get that effect anyway.

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The 'Day & Night' feature is effectively two fabric types fitted in the one honeycomb blind. One fabric type above the other and separated by a 'middle-rail'. The shade above the middle-rail is a sheer fabric, while the shade below the middle-rail can be supplied as blockout or light-filtering, as required. The middle-rail is lifted or lowered to expose more or less of the sheer fabric, or more or less of the more opaque fabric. The entire blind can be raised from the bottom and stacked at the top of the opening as well to fully expose the window. The top rail is fixed into position and cannot be adjusted, ie: there is no option to have the 'top down bottom up' function with a 'Day & Night' honeycomb blind. The 'Day & Night' honeycomb blind can provide both complete light block and privacy, or alternatively allow filtered light into your room, all in one blind. NB: There is no option to combine light-filtering and blockout. It must be sheer and light-filtering, or sheer and blockout. One shade material must be the sheer fabric.

The 'Day & Night' honeycomb blind can be supplied as Corded, Cordless or Cordloop control. They can be motorised as well if required. If requested as a Corded control, the middle rail will be controlled by the righthand cord and the bottom rail by the lefthand cord. If requested as Cordloop control, the Cordloop will be on the righthand side as default and the shade will open and close in a cycle; if completely raised, the middle and bottom-rails will both descend and when the bottom-rail has reached its limit, the middle-rail will then begin to ascend and can then be positioned as you wish. Retracting the shade will function in the reverse order. NB: The bottom-rail must be lowered before lowering the middle rail. Likewise, the middle-rail must be raised before raising the bottom rail.

'Day & Night' honeycomb blinds are available in all cell sizes however the 62mm cell size is not available as Corded control.

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There certainly is a large price range in the 'honeycomb blind' category. NB: When I say honeycomb blind, I'm including all the different brand names and various terminology used (cellular, honeycomb, thermacell, duette, honeycell, etc). Not all honeycomb blinds are created equal or deliver the same results. There are cheap low quality honeycomb blinds available, and there are expensive, overpriced, honeycomb blinds too. Having been a reseller for the more expensive options for a time I'm familiar with these. I've also examined the cheap end of the market closely and it really is a case of 'you get what you pay for'. Our honeycomb blinds are made in China using higher-grade fabrics and componentry, and are designed to last in our NZ conditions. I'm very happy with the quality we provide and where our honeycomb blinds sit price wise. I get that to the untrained eye honeycomb blinds essentially all look the same. They are not. The below tips may help you choose a lasting quality honeycomb blind.

TIP 1: Have a feel of the operation of the honeycomb blinds you are considering. Pull them up and down to gauge ease of operation. This will also give you a feel for the level of componentry being used. Does it feel like it will last the distance?

TIP 2: Visually inspect the honeycomb blind. Often when comparing options visually you can see differences in fabric quality but more so the differences in componentry, cords, headrails and bottom-rails. Do things look flimsy? What's metal, what's plastic, and of the plastic parts what grade of plastic is being used? Does it look and feel cheap? Beware of thinner fabrics that don't deliver thermally and aren't as robust strength wise. There are fabrics that tear easily to be aware of.

TIP 3: It is at times hard to look at honeycomb blind fabrics and know what's what; how good or not the quality really is. For informed decisions, ask some questions like where the blinds are made? What manufacturer and who else do they supply to. What is the makeup of the fabric itself? Have the fabrics been made with NZ UV levels in mind? You'll get an idea of whether it's just a cheap import for the low end of the market and whether sales staff actually know the answers to these questions. Our honeycomb fabrics are made out of high-grade 100% spun-lace polyester. This means the fabric is very durable and they have higher insulation properties than many others.

TIP 4: Ask suppliers to provide you with official test reports showing the 'R' value of the honeycomb blinds they are offering. 'R' values are a measure of the fabrics thermal resistance. The higher the 'R' value the better the fabric will help insulate your home.

TIP 5: Look at the aesthetic finish the honeycomb blinds have. This isn't an important aspect to all however a product that has had thought put into the finer details is often of an all round better quality manufacture I've found.

TIP 6: The main purpose for purchasing honeycomb blinds is for their insulating function. The trapping of air in the honeycomb blind structure to create an insulating barrier and to minimise the 'passing of hot air' (chuckles). This very key feature is compromised when cheap low quality fabrics and construction methods are chosen.

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After researching and selling different makes of honeycomb blinds over the years; I currently supply what I feel are the best when both price level and great lasting quality are closely considered. I'm not restricted to any particular manufacturer or supplier; like you I research and weigh up the options, pros, cons, and prices to deliver what I consider the best honeycomb blinds available. I'm making these decisions with 12 years of industry experience (as of 2020).

The honeycomb blinds offered here are imported from China from one of the blind industry’s leading manufacturers, NORMAN. They are manufactured with high-end components and fabrics and the honeycomb blinds undergo stringent quality control as well as being extensively tested to ensure top performance for durability, ultra-violet protection, energy efficiency, and that each blind conforms to their own rigid specifications. As well as other aspects, these strict procedures ensure product consistency and the trueness of glue lines and cell configurations. This all delivers truly lasting quality and thermally superior honeycomb products. I work along Santa Fe (in a wholesale capacity) and am proud to be able to offer the honeycomb blind range, available here, to Blinds Online Ltd clients.

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Comparing honeycomb blinds from supplier to supplier can be difficult for the untrained eye. It's best to ask some direct questions; it's surprising how many companies/sales reps don't actually know the material makeup of the honeycomb blinds they offer. There may not be huge differences visually from fabric to fabric however in terms of thermal performance, there certainly can be. You're most likely buying honeycomb blinds for their thermal properties so best get ones that deliver real thermal efficiency. You also want your chosen honeycomb blinds to last in New Zealand's higher UV levels.

Our honeycomb blind fabrics are durable and water repellent; they are made from high-grade 100% spun-lace polyester. The fabrics are all spun by water jets rather than woven, which adds to the strength of the fabric. It also means the fabric is very durable and has higher insulation properties than many cheap honeycomb blinds on the market. If there's a large price difference; keep digging, there are reasons for it. Buying inferior honeycomb blinds will result in poorer insulation results; this is the ability to trap and hold the air in its cell like structure creating that all important barrier of air that stops the passing of cold and hot air in and out of your home.

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When it comes to our honeycomb blinds, there are three main types of fabric we offer. These differ in terms of their translucence and opacity. A fabric can be 'see through', 'light filtering' or 'blockout' depending on your requirements. These three separate ranges are: 'sheer', 'light-filtering', and 'blockout'.

SHEER: is a UV filtering translucent sheer shade. The fabric is very lightweight and allows visibility through the fabric when the shade is down. NB: At night when the lights are on inside a person on the outside of the house could see in.

LIGHT-FILTERING: is a lightweight light-filtering shade. Light-filtering fabrics offer the widest range of colours. You cannot see out through this fabric during the day, nor can anyone see in through it; even at night when the lights are on. Light-filtering honeycomb blinds are great for the common areas of your home; to filter light and create a softly lit ambience. Light-filtering fabrics still form an extremely efficient barrier against cold air entering the room.

BLOCKOUT: (also known as 'room darkening') has a blackout coating of Mylar (inside the honeycomb cells) to ensure the fabric stops light passing through the fabric; to best darken a room. Mylar is a stretched polyester film and is commonly used in products such as space blankets, protective plastic coatings and insulators, because of its proven thermal and insulating properties. Blockout honeycomb blinds have the highest thermal efficiency of the three fabric types available.

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Honeycomb blinds come using either light-filtering or blockout fabrics. No light passes through the blockout honeycomb blinds while soft diffused light does travel through the light-filtering honeycomb blinds. Blockout honeycomb blinds make sense for bedrooms and media rooms. Living rooms can use either blockout or light-filtering honeycomb blinds depending on how you want to use that particular living space; what's important to you. From a cost perspective the light-filtering fabric is more economical so you may wish to consider whether living areas actually need full blockout honeycomb blinds or not. You can't see in or out through light-filtering honeycomb blinds so don't feel you'll be compromising privacy in selecting this option.

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Yes, all our honeycomb blinds can be motorised (except skylight honeycomb blinds). All fabric types, cell sizes, top down bottom up (TDBU) options, and day/night options can be motorised (again, all options except the skylight honeycomb blinds). The honeycomb blind is raised and lowered by a motor located within the honeycomb blind headrail. The motor is rechargeable and the remote uses an easy to replace battery. The motorised honeycomb blind is operated by using either the remote control or the manual control button located on the blind headrail. The blind raises and lowers smoothly and quietly. The motor is neatly concealed inside the headrail and located on the left hand side of the blind with the charging port on the right hand side. The motor must be located on the left hand side; there is no option to have the motor on the right hand side. Expected battery life is approximately 6 months however this really depends on how often you are using the motorised honeycomb blinds. White 5 channel remotes at $82 each and extra to your quote are available and are paired to each motorised honeycomb shade at the factory. Each remote can do up to 5 blinds. It is usually more practical to have multiple remotes if blinds are spread throughout different rooms in your home. When ordering please advise me how many remotes are needed and what blinds should be grouped together on which remote.

Each remote requires 2 X 3V CR2032 batteries which are included. The ‘0’ channel on the remote is an ‘ALL’ channel and operates all honeycomb blinds at once. The expected battery life of the remote control is approximately 10 months, again depending on usage. When the remote is not handy for some reason, remember there is the manual button on the blind headrail as well.

There are some manufacturing size limitations when motorising honeycomb blinds, which we can alert you to when enquiring, however they are here as well: The minimum ‘standard’ motorised honeycomb blind width is 610mm, minimum drop is 250mm, max width is 3000mm, max drop is 3600, however max m2 is 7.5m2 per blind. Minimum ‘TDBU’ or ‘Day/Night’ motorised blind width is 610mm, minimum drop is 250mm, max width is 3000mm, max drop is 3600, however max m2 is 4.64m2 per blind.

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The motor will always be on the left hand side for standard motorised honeycomb blinds, with the charging port on the right hand right. There is no option to have these the other way around. For motorised honeycomb blinds that require two motors, i.e; motorised honeycomb blinds that include the TDBU or the DAY/NIGHT options, there will be one motor per side and the charging point on the right hand side.

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Yes, we offer wire tensioned honeycomb blinds perfect for most skylight applications. They are available in either blockout or light-filtering fabrics, in the colours shown on this product page (see the COLOURS section above). While all the skylight honeycomb blind details aren't on the website yet, they essentially look like the images above, however for skylights. An extendable pole is used to adjust the skylight honeycomb blinds when required. For a quote please email me direct on ryan@blindsonline.net.nz with the rough skylight width and drop (length). Include the height from the floor to the high end of the skylight and the height from the floor to the low end of the skylight (roughly measured is fine). Please also include a photo of the skylight and its surrounds. This all helps me gauge access and install points, and makes for an accurate quote first time round. Skylight honeycomb blinds cannot be motorised.

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Honeycomb blinds provide one of the smallest 'stack' heights available when compared to many other window covering types. This means when you want the honeycomb blind up and out of the way it doesn't take up too much extra real estate at the top of the window. You maximise your view out. Below are stack heights for different honeycomb blind drops. The stack size given includes the brackets, headrail and bottom-rail to give a true stack height. For drops in-between the given data, please extrapolate.

Light-filtering honeycomb blinds with a 600mm drop will have a 56mm stack height. 900mm drop = 63mm stack, 1200 = 70mm, 1500 = 78mm, 1800 = 89mm, 2100 = 97mm and 2400 = 105mm.

Blockout honeycomb blinds with a 600mm drop will have a 54mm stack height. 900mm drop = 60mm stack, 1200 = 67mm, 1500 = 73mm, 1800 = 83mm, 2100 = 90mm and 2400 = 96mm.

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Our honeycomb blind headrails, bottom-rails, and cords aren't just one standard colour across the entire range. These aspects of our honeycomb blinds have been considered and matched with the available fabrics as best as can be expected. Headrails and bottom-rails have a powder coat finish so it is impossible to perfectly match a fabric colour exactly. The default colours used have been considered and we deem to be the best matches available.

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Honeycomb blinds are not covered by their warranty if used in bathrooms. However I've had clients who have used honeycomb blinds in their bathrooms with no issue. The key thing is adequate ventilation (air movement) and to ensure the bathroom is aired out on a regular basis. Allowing things to dry out properly. The honeycomb blinds use a polyester fabric – if the fabric gets too wet too often and isn't allowed to fully dry out, there can be a tendency towards mould build-up. The mechanisms and headrails are not stainless steel, they are powdered coated aluminium. So while the powder coating does provide protection, being wet for long periods isn't ideal. The fabric can be immersed in water (and dried out), but the rails should be kept dry.

If moisture is trapped and not allowed to dry out it will cause mould over time. If the honeycomb blind fabric breaks down in a bathroom environment this wouldn't be covered by the honeycomb blind warranty. If you are choosing honeycomb blinds for your bathroom, the best option would probably be the 'Smart Fit' option, which has the top down bottom up function and is locked in place on the sill as well as at the top. Therefore a window can be left open regularly, for ventilation, without the honeycomb blind blowing about excessively.

If you feel excess moisture is going to be an issue in your bathroom you may be safer off considering either PVC shutters or PVC Venetian blinds instead of honeycomb blinds.

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It certainly is possible to get colour samples sent out to you. I do encourage people get a honeycomb blind quote first to make sure the quote matches your budget, before sending samples out. Colours can initially be viewed higher up this page in the COLOURS section and are accurate enough to give a good idea whether we have something that will suit your taste. Samples are expensive to manufacture and are required to be sent back promptly so they can be sent on to the next client (thank you). There is also a showroom in Penrose, Auckland and Mt Maunganui if that is preferable; see FAQ: 'Do you have a showroom I can visit for viewing your honeycomb blinds?'

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Our honeycomb blinds have a range of different cell sizes in both single and double cell – see FAQ: 'What cell size are your honeycomb blinds?' for more information on that aspect. We do all sorts of control options as well – see FAQ: 'What control options are available for your honeycomb blinds and how do they effect price?' for information on that aspect. This FAQ deals with some specific honeycomb blind terminology that may be confusing people and outlines honeycomb blind functions separate from cell size and control choice.

BOTTOM UP (BU): means the honeycomb blind raises from the bottom and stacks at the top only. This is standard for most honeycomb blinds and is the basic and most economical approach to honeycomb blinds. BU could be corded, cordless, cordloop or motorised.

TOP DOWN BOTTOM UP (TDBU): You could have TDBU honeycomb blinds if required. This option opens up the possibilities in which you use your honeycomb blinds. With TDBU you either raise the blind from the bottom (BU) or you can lower the honeycomb blind from the top (TD), which blocks off the bottom of the opening and leaves the top exposed. The most common time this function is requested is from people that live in ground level apartments or near the street and want the blind in action for privacy however want light coming in over the top of the blind. The TDBU function combines TD and BU and is available in corded and cordless.

NOTE: If either CORDLOOP or MOTORISED control is required you can have TDBU however it's termed as TD (top down) which means the top can drop but only when the bottom is completely down. And the bottom can rise but only when the top is completely closed. Similar to a true TDBU however each function one at a time rather than being able to drop the top or lower the bottom at the same time.

*More features to be confirmed.

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Whether you choose a blockout roller blind or a blockout honeycomb blind, no light passes through the fabric itself. All blinds however have light leakage around the edges to differing degrees. You may have seen 'inside mounted' roller blinds installed before – there is a light gap along the top (this may be between 10-15mm, depending on a few factors, eg: bracket projection and tube size) as well as light gaps down the sides (a 17mm gap on the control side and a 15mm gap on the non-control side of the roller blind). The gaps are needed, as beyond the edge of the roller blind fabric you still have the blind componentry and brackets. For complete fabric coverage of a window using a roller blind you'd need to consider 'outside mounting' the roller blind. This is however a totally different look and not ideal for all tastes. Honeycomb blinds mounted inside the reveal offer a far 'tighter' fit as the headrail sits near flush at the top and the gaps on the sides are far smaller at between 2-4mm each side. Of all inside mounted blind types, in their standard forms, honeycomb blinds offer the best room darkening results. If you want to further improve the room darkening you could treat those minimal 2-4mm side gaps by adding 'light guards'. These are PVC L-shaped strips that get fixed to the sides of the window frame behind the blind. (see FAQ: 'How do I reduce the light gaps on the side of honeycomb blinds?' for more info on those).

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Standard honeycomb blinds already offer the best room darkening results of any standard blind solution (when compared with rollers, venetians, verticals, etc) and for the most part that's just fine. However if you want to go a step further in your room darkening efforts you may want to consider adding honeycomb blind 'light-guards' to your order. These are aluminium L-shaped strips which get fixed to the sides of your window frame behind the blind to further reduce light leakage between the reveal and the sides of the honeycomb blind. Brilliant. Light-guards run from the top to the bottom of your window reveals. Bear in mind that you will see these strips when you raise the honeycomb blind and that they'll block 35mm of the window on each side. They are a tidy looking solution and come in 5 colour options: Black Ink, Silver, Sahara (Tan Brown), White, Cottage White (Cream), and Chocolate. Light-guards can be used with any honeycomb blind cord type and are easily adhered to the reveal sides with double sided tape which is already attached to the correct side of the L-shape strip. Made of aluminium these light-guards are robust and won't bend over time. They have a coloured co-ordinated end-cap at the top ends of the aluminium strip so there is no risk of damage to your blinds. Priced at $45 per metre of blind drop (i.e.; you get both sides of the blind)(plus freight).

This light-guard video isn't 100% up to date however will give you a good idea of how these light-guards work and what they look like. Light-guards don't include the strip along the top as per the video; the two side light-guards are available.

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Our honeycomb blinds have been used a lot in boats, motorhomes and caravans, and are ideal in these situations. To stop the blinds flapping about while you are travelling, or cruising at sea, the best option is the 'Smart Fit' option which has the honeycomb blind supported on wire guides. This also means the honeycomb blind can be used for windows up to 15º off vertical. The 'smart fit honeycomb blind' can be raised from the bottom and lowered from the top, so you have ultimate control over how you adjust your blinds. I would encourage you to send in photos of the windows you are considering honeycomb blinds for (when doing these non standard type applications), as well as commenting on what material you would be fixing into, so I can comment on the suitability of a smart fit honeycomb blind for your project.

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Our blockout (room darkening) honeycomb blinds have a blackout coating of Mylar on the inside the honeycomb cells. This is black in appearance (if you were to peer into the cells from the side of the blind) however you can't see this black layer in the normal fitting and operation of the honeycomb blinds. The black layer of Mylar ensures no light passes through the fabric itself and is essential toward delivering the best room darkening results possible. It also adds to the insulating results delivered by honeycomb blinds themselves. Mylar is a stretched polyester film and is commonly used in a variety of products; such as space blankets, protective plastic coatings and good insulators, due to its proven thermal and insulating properties.

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All blockout and light-filtering honeycomb blind fabrics are white on the back side of them, ie: the side that faces outside. This is irrespective of the blind colour you have chosen on the inside face, ie: facing into the room and on display. Having the outward facing side white is done to keep the look of your house neutral from the outside but also and more importantly to reflect as much outside radiant heat as possible, rather than the honeycomb blind absorbing outside heat unnecessarily.

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Honeycomb blinds, especially the smaller cell-sized ones, are pretty much the shallowest blind type available on the market. NB: The only other 'shallow depth blind' (but a completely different solution type) is the 25mm aluminium venetian.

With so many different combinations between cell size and control type, within honeycomb blinds, it is hard to list all the required reveal depths here. However, for the smallest (and most economical) honeycomb blind, the 25mm cell size, as a CORDED blind, you'd need a minimum of 30mm of clear available depth to comfortably house the blind and bracket together in the reveal. 30mm minimum to ensure the front face of the blind is flush with the architrave. At the other end of the scale, depth wise, the 62mm double cell size honeycomb blind in the CORDLESS control type would need 70mm to comfortably house the blind and bracket within the reveal. Deeper reveal depths are fine obviously, and reveal depths slightly shallower than the minimums may be ok, however the blind would protrude past the architrave slightly. Best to have at least the minimum depth required to keep things easy. If your specific honeycomb blind control type and cell size combination isn't mentioned above, and you have a critical reveal depth, somewhere between 30mm and 70mm, please email me with your desired honeycomb setup and your available reveal depth so I can double check we're all good to go.

In summary if you have somewhere between 30mm and 70mm (greater depths are fine) then there'll be a honeycomb blind type available that will work perfectly with your window reveals. Keep in mind we're talking about 'clear and available' reveal depths here; look for and keep in mind things that rob reveal depth, like hinges, handles, mullions, and window stays.

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The FAQ before gave an overview of what minimum reveal depths are required to comfortably house the smallest, and largest, honeycomb blinds available. Diving into specifics a little further (for those that need to know) here's a list of all honeycomb combinations with the minimum reveal depth required to comfortably house both the blind and its brackets within the jamb.

CORDED HONEYCOMB BLINDS: (includes Day Night & TDBU options).
EG: A corded 25mm single cell honeycomb blind requires a minimum of 30mm reveal depth.
Corded 25mm single cell – 30mm.
Corded 45mm single cell – 53mm.
Corded 45mm double cell – 53mm.

CORDLESS (Smartrise) HONEYCOMB BLINDS: (includes Day Night & TDBU options).
Cordless 25mm single cell – 57mm.
Cordless 45mm single cell – 57mm.
Cordless 45mm double cell – 57mm.
Cordless 62mm single cell – 70mm.
Cordless 62mm double cell – 70mm.

CORDLOOP HONEYCOMB BLINDS: (All designs)
Cordloop 25mm single cell – 57mm.
Cordloop 45mm single cell – 57mm.
Cordloop 45mm double cell – 57mm.
Cordloop 62mm single cell – 69mm.
Cordloop 62mm double cell – 69mm.

SKYLIGHT HONEYCOMB BLINDS:
25mm single cell – 32mm.

SMARTFIT HONEYCOMB BLINDS:
Smartfit 25mm single cell – 32mm.
Smartfit 45mm single cell – 49mm.
Smartfit 45mm double cell – 49mm.
Smartfit 62mm single cell – 67mm.
Smartfit 62mm double cell – 67mm.

Any confusion or concerns, don't hesitate to email me your questions.

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While it’s true that larger honeycomb blind cell sizes provide better insulation than smaller cell sizes, the inverse is true when considering the air gap behind your blind, i.e.; between the back of your honeycomb blind fabric and the cold glass. The smaller the gap behind the honeycomb blind the less cold air is being held there; so thermally speaking the smaller the gap behind the blind the better. Up to a point anyway; don’t go so close that the fabric is touching the glass. There still needs to be adequate clearance so the fabric isn’t getting wet. Moisture on anything causes mould over time so keep that in mind. If you get plenty of condensation I’d widen the gap between glass and fabric and ensure you pull your honeycomb blinds up regularly to allow plenty of air circulation behind them. If there is a lot of moisture at the window, ensure the blinds can dry out fully and regularly.

I personally wouldn’t lose sleep over trying to calculate the ultimate placement of honeycomb blinds. No matter what cell size you choose or at what depth in the reveal you place them, honeycomb blinds are miles ahead of any other blind types out there when it comes to keeping your home the warmest it can be (that includes curtains). If I personally had ample reveal depth to play with I’d still favour the front of the reveal and place them 10 or 20mm back from the architrave face; I think this looks better than having the blinds too deep in the reveal. Your eye for what looks good may be different, or you may rather set them back toward the glass; it’s up to you. All this, of course, is subject to how much available depth in the window reveal you have to play with in the first place. I hope this information helps your individual situation – weigh up available reveal depth, thermal aspects, moisture, and the aesthetic approach, knowing that you can’t really go wrong because honeycomb blinds are really great insulators. The human body isn’t going to detect the small variances between different honeycomb blind placement.

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Yes, all colours are the same price. There are however price differences between honeycomb blind type, cell sizes, and control types. For example: blockout honeycomb blinds cost more than light filtering honeycomb blinds. Double cell honeycomb blinds cost more than single cell options. And for some price guidance on control types, see FAQ: 'What control options are available for your honeycomb blinds and how do they effect price?'. But to answer the question again, yes all colours within a particular category are the same price as each other.

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The maximum width honeycomb blind possible is 3000mm (3m wide). If you have a window space over this maximum width we'll need to do it as two blinds and ideally butt the two honeycomb blinds over a vertical mullion to maintain privacy. The gap between two butting honeycomb blinds is minimal at approximately 5mm. A small gap between butting honeycomb blinds isn't a big deal; there are already minimal light gaps on each side of the honeycomb blind. This is so the fabric doesn't rub on the window frame. To get that max width of 3000mm we need to use the CORDLOOP control option. The max CORDED honeycomb blind is 2500 wide. The max CORDLESS honeycomb blind is also 2500 wide, and the maximum MOTORISED honeycomb blind is 3000 wide however do bear in mind at these wider widths we sometimes can’t get the same maximum drops. The maximum Smartfit honeycomb blind is 1800 wide by 2200 drop. The max skylight honeycomb blind is 1500 wide by 3000 long. However don’t worry, I’ll advise if window spaces are oversize and make suggestions as to how we best approach them.

CORDED: Max width: 2500mm, Min width: 220, Max height: 3600, Min height: 250mm.
CORDLESS: Max width: 2500mm, Min width: 280, Max height: 2200, Min height: 250mm.
CORDLOOP: Max width: 3000mm, Min width: 380, Max height: 3600, Min height: 250mm. Max blind: 7.5m2.
MOTORISED: Max width: 3000mm, Min width: 380, Max height: 3600, Min height: 250mm. Max blind: 7.5m2.
SMARTFIT: Max width: 1800mm, Max height: 2200. Max vertical angle: 15º.
SKYLIGHT: Max width: 1500mm, Max length: 3000. Max angle: blind can be installed flat.
DAY NIGHT CORDED: Max width: 2500mm, Min width: 220, Max height: 3600, Min height: 250mm.
DAY NIGHT CORDLOOP: Max width: 3000mm, Min width: 380, Max height: 3600, Min height: 250mm. Max blind: 7.5m2.
DAY NIGHT CORDLESS: Max width: 2500mm, Min width: 250, Max height: 2200, Min height: 250mm.

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We (myself and Santa Fe) have had no problems or negative feedback using our honeycomb blinds in skylight applications. They are such a great solution for skylights as far as I am concerned. I used to do roller blinds for some skylight situations however they were always so problematic. I am very happy to be able to offer skylight honeycomb blinds these days. At the very high end cost wise you can make roller blinds work however they are expensive and tricky to tension so the fabric doesn’t sag. Our skylight honeycomb blinds are easy to install by a trained installer and are far more economical than many expensive roller blind solutions. They are easy to adjust with the supplied telescopic pole, or by hand if the skylight window is low enough.

Most companies don’t offer honeycomb blinds for skylights so I don’t think they really understand them or their merits. There are always cheap products in all categories too that can give good things a bad name. I’m sure you can tell from reading this that I’m a fan of these; I’m happy to be able to offer skylight honeycomb blinds. They are neat, tidy, and a professional looking solution for skylights. NB: There is just enough complexity to these in terms of both measuring and installing correctly that I don’t offer skylight honeycomb blinds as DIY. They are SERVICE only. And they all come with a 5 year warranty.

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If you have single glazed windows, or mould, moisture, or condensation at your windows you will need to ensure that the honeycomb blind fabric doesn't touch the glass. Give some space between the fabric and the glass. Excess moisture will cause mould over time. Pull your honeycomb blinds up regularly so you get plenty of air circulation at the window and around the honeycomb blind. If there is a lot of condensation please ensure your honeycomb blinds are in a situation where they can dry out regularly.

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Occasionally I get concerns from people before purchasing, that they feel honeycomb blinds feel paper thin; that they feel they would tear and wrinkle quite easily. Firstly, I can't speak for all honeycomb fabrics and suppliers; there are plenty of cheap honeycomb blinds offered out there. I can however say that I have never had feedback from my clients, along those lines; that their blinds have ripped or have been damaged in the above ways.

Our honeycomb blinds are made of 100% spun polyester, which is what they make 'spunlace' and CHUX Multi-cloths from, so it is thin but very robust. Google 'spunlace'; it is known for its great strength. I have also spoken to blind cleaning companies that say they have not seen these sorts of problems with honeycomb blind fabrics; even with older honeycomb blinds. The honeycomb blind fabric can be scrunched up with the hand and the pleats will return to their normal form. Obviously, with any home furnishings there is due care required, but in terms of normal wear and tear this is a very solid product.