Curtains are a staple part of upholstery in our homes for a
number of reasons; they keep our rooms dark to help us sleep at night, they
keep the warmth in when it’s cold and they provide aesthetic value. But whilst
some people can simply pull their curtains open and close by hand, for others
this can prove to be trickier due to the circumstances.
For example, if you have a particularly large window (such as
floor to ceiling windows), are elderly, or maybe even have a window that is an
awkward shape to cover (such as bay windows), then perhaps you should consider cord curtain tracks. Trust us, they can make your life a
whole lot easier.
Read on to discover why.
How Does a Corded
Track System Work?
As the name suggests, a corded track system uses a cord to
open and close curtains. The curtains are attached to the track via little
hooks, then there is a pulley system at one (or either) end of the curtains
that will pull the track in order to open and close the curtains.
These should only ever be operated using the cord. If they
are pulled open or close by hand, this can damage the system and displace or
break the cord.
What are They Best
Suited for?
Like we previously mentioned, there are some situations where
using corded track curtains are easier and better suited than hand operated tracks.
We’ve listed some examples below of circumstances in which corded curtains are
the most convenient option.
1 | Large Areas
If you have extra tall windows or a large area of windows
that need covering, for example if one end of your kitchen features floor to
ceiling glass windows and patio doors, then corded track curtains will make it
much easier to cover these.
Though you may be able to find standard curtains that are
long enough to cover these, trying to close and open them by hand would most
likely involve you having to tug them closer to the bottom of the curtain and
would make it more likely that you would damage them, or in the worst case pull
them off the curtain pole or track. Not to mention, it would be unnecessarily
difficult.
Using a corded track would instead allow you to shut and open
the curtains with ease and efficiency, whilst keeping the way they drape
staying sleek and attractive.
2 | Heavy and/or
Delicate Fabric
Many curtains are made out of thick or lined heavy duty
fabrics, which many people like due to the insulation and black-out properties
they offer. However, this can result in very heavy curtains. Heavy curtains can
be an awkward pain to pull open and close for anyone, let alone for people such
as those who are elderly or have reduced mobility.
Corded curtains are much easier to operate, since they simply
require you to pull a cord, which bears a lot of the curtain weight for you,
furthermore it is much easier to use your strength and dexterity to pull a cord
whilst stationary than it is to grasp curtains and pull them along.
On the other end of the scale, you may have curtains that
aren’t heavy but are instead made of a delicate fabric, such as decorative silk
or brocade, or voile or lace for sheer curtains. The issue with these is that
they can be easily damaged, torn or soiled if being constantly handled by hand.
Using a cord track system with these prevents this from happening and keeps
both their structural and visual integrity intact.
3 | Obstacles
Sometimes there can be a number of obstacles that make it
difficult to access or operate your curtains with ease. It may be that you have
a curved window, such as a bay window, that makes it particularly difficult to
get your curtains around, or that you have something in front of your curtains
that makes them inaccessible, such as a television or dressing table, or maybe
even both - making things twice as difficult.
Rather than struggling to shut your curtains and potentially
damage them by pulling or tugging them too hard, using a curtain rail track
will allow you to easily open and close your curtains without struggle.
Furthermore, since there will be a cord on one or either side of the curtains
(for those that meet in the middle), this will be easily accessible for you,
meaning you won’t have to reach over anything and potentially knock things over
whilst you do in order to try and get to your curtains.
Benefits of Using
a Corded Curtain Pole
Can be Bent for
Curved Applications
One of the great things about using corded tracks is that
they can often be made bespoke to whichever window space you wish for them to
fit into, including curved or angular spaces.
For example, if you have floor to ceiling windows that
continue round a corner of your room or if you have large bay windows, then the
tracks can be curved around these areas so your curtains cover them smoothly
without getting stuck or needing to be tugged.
Since they can easily be bespoke made, this means they can be
made to measure no matter the size of your space. Even if you don’t have a
curved area that needs to be covered, corded tracks can be made to fit any
space, with the option of having a single cord that pulls them to one side or a
cord on either side for curtains that meet in the middle.
Protection from
Constant Handling
Corded curtains tend to last longer than non-corded curtains
before they need washing or replacing since they will not be subject to
frequent handling.
If your curtains are made of a delicate fabric or are light
in colour, then they can easily be damaged or dirtied with frequent handling -
as is the case when they are opened, closed and neatened by hand. This handling
is reduced with the use of a corded track system, since it is only the cord
that needs to be touched to move the curtains.
Ease of Use
Similar to how corded blinds work, you simply need to pull a
cord in order to open and close corded curtains - it really is as easy as that.
This makes corded curtains a convenient choice for people who
have heavy or large curtains that are laborious to pull across. The cords that
are used for these curtains also adhere to safety standards, so they are out of
reach of children and the loop of the cord is not large enough to pose a safety
hazard.
Suitable for Heavy
Fabrics
Though it may seem that corded tracks wouldn’t be as heavy
duty or strong as a traditional curtain pole, they are actually able to hold
weights over 60kg.
This means corded curtain tracks can hold heavy fabrics in
both domestic and commercial properties, having the ability to hold and operate
heavy-weight stage curtains, for example. So, there is no need to compromise
your favourite pair of curtains for the convenience of using a cord track
system simply because they’re too heavy.
Seamless Design
Whilst some people may integrate a curtain pole into the
design of a room or see it as a statement piece, for others they are unsightly
and space-consuming. Corded curtain tracks, on the other hand, allow your
curtains to appear to hang directly from the ceiling, creating a seamless
appearance that gives the illusion of a larger space.
The cord system also allows your curtains to keep their
‘accordion’ folds when drawn and to drape attractively without creases, because
of the consistency with which they are opened and closed using a cord.
Brands and
Alternatives
There are a number of alternatives that can be used to cord
curtain tracks.
One such is a curtain pole. Curtains can be attached to poles
in two different ways; the first is to use curtain rings, which are rings that
go around the pole itself in order to slide across and pull the curtains with
them - curtains can have these rings built into them, or they can be attached
to the rings and hang from them.
The other is using a track, whereby the curtain hangs from
hooks that move along a track to allow your curtain to slide across easier and
without the resistance that you may otherwise get when using curtain rings.
Tracks can also be placed and used to hang your curtains without a curtain pole
for those who don't like the appearance of these; usually a valance is used
with these to keep the track hidden from view. Again, these require you to
physically pull the curtains across.
A final alternative to cord curtain tracks, and perhaps the
easiest to operate, are electrical tracks. Electrical tracks work in the same
way as cord tracks, however the difference is that they are controlled by a
remote that allows them to open and close along the track automatically, rather
than requiring any manual action. Although, these tend to be more expensive and
will require more technical maintenance.
Some well-known brands of cord curtain tracks include:
● Silent Gliss
● Integra
● Speedy
● Swish
SG-S
If you’re looking to convert to using cord tracks for your
curtains, SG-S is a main supplier of Silent Gliss complete systems, including
cord curtain tracks.
We have over 35 years of experience with the Silent Gliss
range, offering bespoke blinds, electrical tracks and more, as well as being
able to provide spare parts and offer advice on how to use and maintain your
Silent Gliss systems.
Contact us today if you have any questions regarding the Silent Gliss
systems we offer.