Outdoor Drapes

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Outdoor Draperies
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Decorative Panels
Do you have a patio attached to your house or out
in your garden? Is it exposed to the weather and
unsuitable to use during rainy and bad weather?
If you answered yes to any of these questions,
you might want to consider sprucing up your patio
with some drapery panels.
You can choose to use decorative or functional
panels on your patio, and both have their pros
and cons. Decorative panels arent made to keep
out the bad weather, but they do provide some
shelter, and they can also keep out the wind,
which will make your patio a bit warmer in cool
weather.
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Functional Panels
Functional panels can still be decorative, but
they are much sturdier than purely decorative
drapery panels.
You can choose to have them permanently in place,
or you can choose panels that draw across your
patio when you want to protect your extended
living space from the weather.
Functional panels keep out the rain and wind, but
they can also be used in the summer to add a bit
of shade to your yard and keep out the worst of
the heat.
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Drapery Headers
If your drapery panels are going to be
functional, you must consider what type of header
you will use.
If you choose a rod pocket type of header, you
must have 1.5 times fullness so that there will
be enough space. If youre going to use an
oversized grommet header style with an inside
diameter of 1.5 or more, you will need a minimum
of 2 times fullness.
If youre going to use a tracking system, youre
going to need 2 sized grommets with 1.5 times
fullness.
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Selecting Your Fabric
After you have decided which header you will use
for your drapery panels, its time to choose what
type of fabric you want.
For decorative panels, you can choose whatever
you like, just make sure you can keep it clean.
For functional panels, you need something a
little more sturdy and ideally waterproof or made
from outdoor fabric of some kind. Two of the most
popular outdoor fabrics are Sunbrella and Bella
Dura.
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Ordering Your Fabric
Ordering your fabric online isnt as hard as you
might think.
Though you can only see the style and color of
the fabric you choose, most sites will also have
a description of how durable the fabric is and if
its suitable for outdoor weather.
Also, you can order samples of fabric. That way,
you can feel it and see the colors up close and
personal. This will allow you to be really sure
that its right for your patio.
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Caring for Your Drapes
Even if the fabric you choose for your drapery
panels are waterproof and meant for the outdoors,
you will probably need to clean them at some
point.
When you buy your fabric online, there should be
instructions for washing and drying.
For Sunbrella fabrics, you should brush the dirt
off, then make a mixture of gentle dish soap and
water, and then scrub the fabric with a bristle
brush. Let the soap soak in, and then hose it off
with water and let it air dry.
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Custom Drapes
Though you can order the fabric and make your own
drapes, you can also order custom made drapes as
well.
The first step to ordering custom drapes is
filling out a cost estimate .
After you find out what your drapes will cost,
you can start figuring out how many panels you
want and how you want to hang them. Then simply
send in your order along with the required
measurements and what kind of fabric you would
like.
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Patio Accessories
After hanging your drapes, you may want a few
more accessories for your patio to make it more
comfortable.
A nice set of cozy chairs and a table makes any
patio more welcoming and friendly.
Also, the material you used for your drapes can
just as easily be made into pillow and cushion
covers as well. That way, your accessories can
stay outside and you dont have to worry about
them getting moldy or covered in mildew.
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Drapery Panels Built to Last
When you start a drapery project, remember to use
fabric that will last a long time.
Taking proper care of your drapes will also
ensure that they stay nice looking and hold up
for many years.
Finally, dont forget to choose a color and
pattern that you will like for several years at
least. If youre remodeling your house or
painting it, keep in mind that you want your
patio to be decorated in matching or
complimentary colors.
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For More Informationwww.outdoorfabrics.com1-800
-640-3539