Thermal blockout curtain fabric backing breaking down « Alternative Technology Assn Forums

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Thermal blockout curtain fabric backing breaking down

(7 posts) (4 voices)

Started 3 years ago by Annette
Latest reply from Annette

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Annette
Member

Just two years after hanging, the backing on my heavy duty blockout curtains has broken down.

The white coating has turned to powder, and dropped off exposing the black coating inside the curtain. Brushing my arm against the backing leaves a white talcum powder like coating on my skin.

The windows face East, no eaves. The parts that are out of the sun are fine.

I have double glazing, energy efficient glass and a shade cloth blind on the out side of the window that is always down (some sun still shines through this as is the 50% UV blockout shade cloth).

Has anyone else experienced this with newish blockout curtains?

I took them back to the shop and was told one else had returned any!

Posted Sunday 21 Jan 2018 @ 1:11:26 am from IP #
axess
Member

Hi Annette,

Did they give you a refund? I wonder what constitutes a reasonable warranty period for these products.

Posted Sunday 21 Jan 2018 @ 8:34:11 pm from IP #
Lance
Key Master

Backed curtains are generally a real pain, I made the mistake of washing one in the washing machine, the acrylic backing stuck to itself like glue and pretty much destroyed the curtain.

The better solution for blockout curtains is the layered type which have your choice of fabric each side and the black fabric as the middle layer. Sometimes these are only "darkening" level, but some are rated as blockout curtains. Some of the online curtain mobs sell them in this material, but you have to look around.

If you are not happy with the quality of what you bought (and you shouldn't be), talk to consumer affairs/fair trading in your state, under Aust consumer law, a product has to be fit for purpose, and a 2 year lifespan on curtains due to a lack of UV stability doesn't sound fit for purpose to me.

Posted Sunday 21 Jan 2018 @ 8:40:31 pm from IP #
Annette
Member

At first, the shop (national department store) said they would give me a credit note but I refused that. Then said they could give me a refund because they would be able to resell the curtains still in the packaging!

I actually bought three different types of the same brand of curtains. Most are the same as the ones that failed and I'll return those.

However, I also bought two other colours/fabrics in the same brand and I'm not sure whether to risk hanging these. The issue is that I would need to prove somehow that I only hung them now, otherwise if these fail in two years the shop may be reluctant to give me a refund.

Posted Sunday 21 Jan 2018 @ 8:58:48 pm from IP #
Annette
Member

No refund yet - I had to go in a couple of times and the store had to call the manufacturer.

A set of blockout curtains should last for at least 10 years I would say. In fact they would usually last a lot longer. Mine started to break down after a year.

Posted Sunday 21 Jan 2018 @ 9:19:53 pm from IP #
Catopsilia
Member

Seeing this thread, I checked my sun-resistant curtains that have been up for nineteen years.
I find that, in every case, the block-out curtain is a separate curtain hung behind the curtain of decorative fabric.
They are a heavy fabric, coloured off-white, with a glazed finish facing out. I recall the phrase "double-pass" being used.
To me, their condition appears to be "as new". I have never attempted to clean them.

Posted Tuesday 23 Jan 2018 @ 7:21:08 am from IP #
Annette
Member

Professionally made curtains tend to have two layers. Backing fabric works the same way though.

My curtains say 'triple pass'. Which gives an extra layer of insulation - well usually anyway., just not in my case.

Posted Tuesday 23 Jan 2018 @ 7:40:35 am from IP #

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