What should I ask a curtain retailer before ordering?
Ask what the quote includes, which heading, fullness, lining and track it is based on, who takes the final measure, how long it is expected to take, and how the fabric should be cared for. A made to order curtain is made for one window, so it pays to settle the details first.
A retailer will be glad to answer all of these. Most are things they need to decide with you anyway.
About the quote
- Does it include the track, the brackets and installation?
- Is it based on a final measure, or on my rough sizes?
- If I compare two quotes, are they for the same heading, fullness, fabric and lining?
About the curtain
- Which heading is it: Wave Fold, S Fold, pinch pleat or something else?
- What fullness is it made at, and can I see that hung?
- Is it lined, self lined or unlined, and what does that mean for light?
- Where will the joins in the fabric fall, and will a pattern be matched?
- How will the curtain finish at the floor: clear, touching or puddled?
About the fabric
- What is it made of, and how will it behave over time? Natural fibres crease and move more.
- Can I see a large sample, in my own room's light?
- How do I clean it?
About the track and how it is worked
- Ceiling fix or face fix, and what will it be fixed into?
- Where will the curtains stack when open?
- Hand drawn, wand, cord or motorised? If corded, how is the cord made safe for children?
About timing and afterwards
- What is the estimated time from order to installation, and what could move it? The weeks before Christmas are the busy season.
- Who do I call if something does not look right after installation?
On the last one, the answer is the retailer you bought from. They hold your order and can raise a manufacturing question with their workroom.
Speedy Blinds is a trade only workroom, so we do not quote, measure or install for homeowners. Take these questions to a curtain retailer near you.
Other ways people ask this
What should a curtain quote include?
The fabric, heading, fullness, lining, track, installation and an estimated time.
How do I compare curtain quotes?
Line up the heading, fullness, fabric, lining and track first. A lower price can mean a different specification.
What questions should I ask at a curtain consultation?
The ones on this page.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.
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