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Window Coverings Officially Going Cordless

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New Requirements for Corded Window Coverings – What You Need to Know

As we covered last year, cordless window coverings are here to stay and will become the only option for personalizing and beautifying your windows and doors.

As of May 1 of 2022, the Government of Canada will not allow any blinds, draperies, or shades with an exposed cord of any kind to be sold in Canada. 

The reason? Safety. Child safety and pet safety are of utmost importance. In this article, we’ll cover what these new regulations for corded window coverings mean and how manufacturers and retailers like Ruffell & Brown will adapt to these changes. We’ll also cover which products are changing and which are being officially retired.

New Corded Window Coverings Regulations in Canada

With window covering regulations changing on May 1, 2022,  many products will be affected. 

The rules regarding cords and small parts on corded windows will have to be modified to meet these new standards. This means that many products will have to be replaced or adjusted, and a select few will have to be discontinued completely. 

Our most popular manufacturer, Hunter Douglas, will stop accepting orders for discontinued products by April 15, 2022.

Starting on April 16, they will not be accepting orders for products that do not meet these new window covering standards. 

For a business to successfully grow, it needs to change with modern times. This is why the safety of consumer products needs to be taken seriously. 

That can be a challenge in any industry, but finding the right solution is what separates an industry leader from the rest. At Ruffell & Brown, we’ve been preparing for these changes for many months and are confident that these new regulations for window coverings will not affect our business or the satisfaction of our consumers.

What Window Coverings Are Changing?

The following products will be replaced with more innovative designs. These intelligently designed products meet new window covering standards while retaining all the beauty and convenience that you’d expect from us.

PRODUCT:

Duette® & Applause® Top-Down/Bottom-Up
REPLACEMENT NOTES:

Duette & Applause Duolite® is now available in larger sizes. For improved view-through, Duette will offer a brand new ClearView® sheer for Canada only.

 

PRODUCT:

UltraGlide® with Cord Operation for:

  • Designer Screen Shades
  • Designer Roller Shades
  • Designer Banded Shades
  • Provenance® Woven Wood Shades
  • Design Studio™ Roman Shades
  • Solera® Shades
  • Alustra® Woven Textures® Roller & Roman Shades
  • Silhouette® Window Shadings
  • Nantucket™ Window Shadings
  • Pirouette® Window Shadings
  • Vignette®
REPLACEMENT NOTE:

Cord Operation will be replaced by UltraGlide with Wand Operation.

 

PRODUCT:

Luminette® SofTrak™ Hardware System
REPLACEMENT NOTES:

The new Luminette® hardware system has been completely redesigned for each of the three operating systems: Combination Wand/Cord, Traveling Wand, and PowerView®.The Combination Wand/Cord will have a Concealed Control when in a static position.

 

PRODUCT:

Designer Roller Shades, Designer Screen Shades, and Alustra Woven Textures Roller Shades with Custom Clutch and Clutch Operation
REPLACEMENT NOTE:

Custom Clutch and Clutch Operated shades will have a Concealed Control when in a static position.

 

PRODUCT:

Parkland® Wood Blinds, EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds, and 2″ Modern Precious Metals® Aluminum Blinds:

  • Cordlock
  • LiteRise®
  • SimpleLift™
  • PowerView Automation
  • SimpleLift with PowerView Automation
REPLACEMENT NOTES:

An entirely new operating system, SpringRise™, has been designed for horizontals. This system keeps the bottom rail under constant tension and is held down at the bottom of the window with hold-down brackets.

Tilt will be controlled by a wand only. To raise the blind, simply release the bottom rail from the bracket and guide the blind upward as it automatically raises to the fully lifted position.

While these changes may seem overwhelming, our team of professionals at Ruffell & Brown will guide you every step of the way. 

What Window Coverings Are Discontinued?

These window coverings may be missed, but it’s important to know when to retire products that can’t be replaced or meet new safety standards.

The following products will be discontinued as of April 15, 2022. 

Alustra Woven Textures Roman Shades:

  • Top-Down/Bottom-Up
  • Cordlock Operating System
  • EasyRise™ Operating System

Alustra Woven Textures Roller Shades: 

Cadence® Soft Vertical Blinds 

  • Cord and Wand Control
  • Cord and Chain Control

Design Studio

  • Roman Shades with EasyRise Operating System
  • Drapery with PowerView Automation
  • Drapery with Cord Control
  • Roller Shades with Custom Clutch

Designer Banded Shades

  • Custom Clutch Operating System

Designer Roller & Designer Screen Shades

  • Hardwired Somfy Motorization
  • Designer Screen Patio Shades
  • Blockout System with Custom Clutch

Duette & Applause Honeycomb Shades

  • Top-Down Design Option
  • Top-Down/Bottom-Up Design Option
  • All ⅜” pleat fabrics
  • EasyRise Lift System
  • SkyLift™
  • Operable Sidelights
  • Simplicity™
  • EasyView® Arch (*stationary specialty shapes remain available)
  • TrackGlide™ Standard ¼” Track (*Extended track remains available)
  • Cut-Outs

EverWood Alternative Wood Blinds

  • Cord tilt
  • Cut-outs
  • Decorative tapes
  • de-Light™ light and privacy feature
  • Multiple blinds on one headrail

Modern Precious Metals Aluminum Blinds

  • ½″ slat size
  • 1″ slat size (.006 and .008 gauges)
  • 2″ Reveal® with MagnaView®
  • Cord tilt
  • Cut-outs
  • Decorative tapes
  • de-Light light and privacy feature
  • MagnaView tilt feature
  • Multi-color blinds
  • Multiple blinds on one headrail

Parkland Wood Blinds

  •  Cord tilt
  •  Cut-outs
  •  Decorative tapes
  •  de-Light light and privacy feature
  •  Multiple blinds on one headrail
  •  Operable specialty shapes

Pirouette Window Shadings

  • EasyRise Lift System

Provenance Woven Wood Shades

  • Cordlock Operating System
  • EasyRise Operating System
  • Top-Down/Bottom-Up
  • Vertical Drapery with Cord Control

Silhouette & Nantucket Window Shadings

  • EasyRise Lift System

Skyline® Gliding Window Panels & Alustra Woven Textures Skyline Panels

  • Cord Control
  • Returns on Sleek Metal Valance 
  • Box Valance
  • Room Divider Kit

Solera Soft Shades 

  • EasyRise Operating System
  • Top-Down/Bottom-Up

Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds & Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds

  • Cord and Wand Control
  • Cord and Chain Control
  • Fabric Vanes with Bottom Chains
  • Motorized Tilt Only
  • Vertical Specialty All Systems

Vignette Modern Roman Shades

  • Stacking Style – All Operating Systems
  • Rolling Style with EasyRise Lift System
  • Rolling Style UltraGlide and EasyRise Two-On-One Headrail

Child Safety Tips For Window Coverings

If you haven’t made the switch to cordless window coverings yet, it may be time to do so. After all, keeping your children safe is a top priority. 

In the meantime, if you do have corded window coverings in your home, here are some helpful safety tips:

  • Make sure all cribs, beds, furniture, and toys are moved away from windows and window cords
  • Keep window cords well out of reach of children
  • Install a tie-down device or cord cleats up high on the wall
  • Remove any dangling cords by making pull cords as short as possible
  • Permanently anchor continuous-looped bead chains and cords
  • Ensure that cord stops are installed properly
  • Adjust the limit in the movement of inner lift cords

Adapting to Safer Window Treatments

Keeping your children and pets safe in your home gives you ultimate peace of mind. At the same time, our vast selection of custom window and door coverings offer the best of convenience and style.

At Ruffell & Brown Window Covering Centre, our team of design experts will help you find the best window coverings for your interior space that also comply with the new Health Canada corded window covering regulations. Explore our incredible selection of stylish products, and inquire about professional installation. 

For more information about cordless window coverings and so much more, come visit our Victoria showroom or book a free consultation today!

Cordless Window Coverings are Here to Stay

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Modernize your Interior Design with Cordless Window Treatments

Cordless blinds and shades have come a long way from the first heavy vinyl roller shades that blocked light but weren’t so easy on the eyes. Today’s cordless window fashions are on-trend, with luxurious fabrics and textures and eye-catching designs. They also have the ability to open and close with the touch of your hand, the sound of your voice, or operate from an app while you’re away on business. No matter your style or preference, today’s cordless window treatments work seamlessly and look fantastic doing it.

Is it Time to Upgrade Your Blinds or Shades?

When you stop and really look at the windows around your home, what do you see? Is the colour or pattern outdated? Are you bothered by bulky blinds with dangling cords and pulls?  Do you find yourself wrestling with them every time you want to let some light in, or find the perfect height? Maybe you’ve clipped cords up to keep them out of reach of your children or pets, telling yourself that you’ll sort them out in time.

Next, ask yourself if your window treatments function the way you want them to. Are they letting cheerful ambient light in, or are they darkening your living space too much when they’re in use? You should be able to enjoy natural light throughout your home all day long, without compromise. That’s exactly what we offer at Ruffell and Brown, home of the largest selection of custom cordless blinds and shades on the West Coast.

Cordless Systems are #1 in Safety for Window Coverings

From the nursery to the family room, there are elegant cordless options for every space in your home. More importantly, you should feel confident that your window coverings are safe for everyone in your home, whether that’s your pets, your kids, or visiting grandchildren. No one wants to worry about loose window cords and our wide variety of window treatments take care of that concern. Cordless window coverings are also now officially recognized by the Government of Canada to be the safest option. As of May 1, 2021, it will still be possible to buy corded blinds and shades, but the lengths of cords and sizes of loops on all new window coverings will be restricted for child safety.

Cordless Window Treatments are Available in an Endless Array of Designs

We’ve been leaders in the window fashion business since 1987 and we’ve seen all the trends come and go as designs have evolved. The one feature that our designers know is here to stay is cordless operation. The cordless window treatments on the market today are user-friendly, sleek and can completely update your interior design.

The multiple functions in modern cordless blinds and shades, plus the endless options for patterns, colours, materials and opacities make them an ideal choice for any home. You’ll love the simplicity and style of cordless window treatments by top brands like Hunter Douglas, Shadeomatic, Graber, Brite Blinds and more.

The Most Popular Choices for Cordless Blinds, Shades and Shutters

Our most popular options are the best-selling Hunter Douglas Honeycomb Cellular Shades, followed closely by Silhouette Shades. In a recent blog post, we highlighted the differences between the Honeycomb and Silhouette models, so you can easily compare and contrast each style to discover the best fit for your home. Both models provide superior UV protection, excellent energy efficiency and are available in many different opacities. These are offered in both cordless and a exclusive UltraGlide retractable  cord or wand system, for assured safety.  They complement standard and specialty-shaped windows, doors and even skylights.

Other sought-after cordless models are Skyline gliding window panels, vignette roman shades and vinyl shutters, which all bring their own special qualities to the mix. For instance, Skyline gliding window panels are a contemporary twist on panel track blinds, ideal for large types of windows or as a room divider for added privacy. Available in textured, sheer or semi-opaque fabrics, they seamlessly add drama to any space. On the other end of the spectrum are our vinyl interior shutters. Created with a unique polysatin compound, these shutters are naturally cordless and designed for use in any area of the home, including humid, warm spaces like sunrooms, bathrooms and even pools.

Choose from Automated or Manual Cordless Operation for your Window Coverings

3 Popular Automated Cordless Options for Blinds and Shades

  1. PowerView Motorization– An extremely popular system from Hunter Douglas, operate your window coverings with your mobile device, Pebble remote or Smart Home system. Pre-program your blinds or shades to adjust positions throughout the day, and control your window covering position while away from home. The convenient Pebble remote even lets you operate six groupings of window coverings individually as a group.
  2. QMotion– From Ruffell & Brown, this battery powered lift and lower system can be preprogrammed. It will also learn preset opening positions based on the height of your window. An industry leader in battery life, the Q Motion battery will last for up to 5 years based on 4 motions per day.
  3. SoftTouch- A discreet battery-powered system, just pull on the wand to lower cordless shades or push up on the wand to raise them.

3 Popular Manual Cordless Options for Blinds and Shades

  1. Cordless Lifting System– From Hunter Douglas, this system uses a simple spring-assist system for larger, heavier cordless roller and screen shades.
  2. LiteRise– From Hunter Douglas, simply push up to raise and pull down to lower. Your vertical blinds and shades will stay at the level you choose, with no adjusting.
  3. UltraGlide – From Hunter Douglas -Features a single retractable cord or wand depending on your window treatment choice. The cord and wand always remain a constant length when raising and lowering your window treatments. With no long, dangling cords, UltraGlide® offers enhanced child and pet safety

At Ruffell & Brown, we look forward to helping you find the perfect custom cordless window fashions for your home. We encourage you to come in and view our extensive selection of designer window fashions, fabrics and finishes. Just stop by our showroom in downtown Victoria, BC at 1-2745 Bridge St.  We’re open Monday to Friday from 9:00-5:00 and by appointment on Saturdays. You can also book a free estimate at your convenience by phone or email. Our design team will be happy to get back to you as soon as possible, to answer your questions and get you started in the design process.