| How will the motorized curtain be mounted? Will it be | | | | ‘stacking'. First consideration is which side of the |
| inside mount, ceiling mount or outside mount? Inside or | | | | track will the motor be on, this is informed by how the |
| ceiling mount means that the top of the motorized | | | | motorized curtains should open; left, right or center |
| curtain will be mounted to something horizontal (a | | | | open. This brings up Clients are frequently surprised to |
| ceiling or a pocket or a door/window frame) outside | | | | learn that curtains, when fully open (ie letting light in), |
| mount means that it will simply be mounted to a wall | | | | frequently do not clear the glass of the window on |
| with room above the motorized curtain. The more | | | | each side. , unless there is room on one or both sides |
| challenging is the inside mount, since there is no room | | | | of the opening. This is called ‘stacking off the glass'. |
| for error. Here, proper measuring and deductions are | | | | The stack of the fabric is typically 25 – 33% of its |
| especially important to ensure that the end product fits | | | | width when the curtains are open. This means that if |
| perfectly inside the opening. A perfect fit is a matter of | | | | the window width is 12 feet, that the drapery, if it is a |
| taste and should be carefully reviewed with the client. | | | | center open, will stack approximately 4 ft total or 2 |
| Some prefer the fabric to literally skim the floor, others | | | | feet per side. This can block sliding door openings as |
| like a more standard ¼' gap between the floor and | | | | well as views! To have sufficient room to stack off |
| the bottom of the lowest part of the drape. Inside and | | | | the glass would require wall space on one or both |
| ceiling mount applications, when they are performed in | | | | sides totaling 4 feet. |
| non-square window openings can look uneven since | | | | How heavy are the fabrics? Fabrics can get quiet |
| the curtain is a straight square and the opening may | | | | heavy with larger curtains, especially if a blackout lining |
| not be. So, the 1/4" deduction from the lowest point | | | | is added. Fabric weight and window size may make |
| may be a full inch or more from the highest point. | | | | manual operation impractical without dividing the |
| There is no real way to solve for this except to know | | | | opening into several smaller sections which will leave |
| in advance and manage expectations. Measuring the | | | | stacks in the middle of the glass. This is one of the |
| opening at multiple points for height will reveal any | | | | benefits of motorized draperies; large spans can be |
| height discrepancies. | | | | covered by single draperies driven by one or two |
| What style will the motorized curtain be? Much like | | | | motors. Knowing the fabric weight, usually expressed |
| motorized blinds, there are two main styles available | | | | as lbs. or oz. per yard in advance allows for proper |
| for motorized curtains / electric drapes; Pinch pleat; | | | | determination, configuration and motor selection. (Note: |
| which is, like it sounds pinches of fabric every few | | | | light sheer fabrics do not have the same weight issues |
| inches and Ripplefold, which is a method of having the | | | | as other fabric materials). |
| fabric without pleats but gently zig sagging in an | | | | There are other factors aside from those listed above. |
| S-shape. Both of these are design considerations. The | | | | However, being informed as to the intended mounting |
| standard pinch pleat, (aka French pleat) is the more | | | | type, pleat style, opening side and estimated stacking |
| common. Also, pinch pleat stacks tighter/smaller than | | | | and fabric weight will go a long way to ensuring that |
| Ripplefold, typically. (see below for stacking definition) | | | | any motorized curtain project is a success. |
| Where will the shades open and close to, also called | | | | |