Success with side-by-side window treatments
If you have 2 or more horizontal, louvered blinds within a single window opening, you will probably expect those louvers to line up, at least approximately. See photo A.
FYI, manufacturers do not guarantee alignment unless the “align louvers” or “side-by-side” box is checked on the their order entry screen. Knowledgeable pros, such as designers or business owners with a vested interest in a successful outcome, will note this without mentioning it to you. Once they’ve lived through a customer’s reasonable but costly complaint they will want to avoid repeating that error. So, if everything turns out OK, you would never even know that you’d dodged that bullet.
But what happens if you’re ordering through a box store?
Sub-contractors might understand louver alignment but only if they’ve had enough time on the job to experience this situation going bad. Such a person will make the appropriate note on the measurement form. But now you must hope that the associate at the store sees that note AND knows what to do with it. I’ve seen some truly mindboggling mistakes made from good measurements by inexperienced or careless store personnel. In fact, I made some of them myself in the early days. See photo B.
Imagine the possibilities when an inexperienced measurer doesn’t send ANY notes!
So, what can you, the consumer, do to prevent these errors and get your louvers in line?
Before your measurer arrives, note any multiple windows, including bays and bows. Point each one out to the pro and insist (gently, at first) that a notation be made for each. Next, make sure your sales associate at the store is aware of your situation and also knows how to check the “align louvers” or “side-by-side” box on the order entry screen.
And then, cross your fingers because you’ve done your part.