Lesson Summary

Welcome to our online certification training for installation. This class is focused on hard treatments, which are window treatments made in the factory. They are typically made of durable materials like wood, aluminum, vinyl, fabric, or sheers. Hard treatments provide a sleek and clean look that is suitable for any interior design scheme. They are usually the first and sometimes the only layer of window treatments. Hard treatments are also the easiest to measure and install.

Blinds, shades, and shutters are examples of hard treatments. Blinds are window treatments with slats that can rotate for light control and privacy. Examples include:

• Aluminum blinds
• Wood blinds
• Vertical blinds

Shades, on the other hand, are window treatments made of fabric or textiles. They must be raised or lowered to control light or privacy. Examples include:

• Roman shades
• Roller shades
• Woven shades

Exceptions to the rules are sheer shades, which have slats but are made of soft and delicate material. Silhouette shades, also known as sheer shades, are an example of this. There are also shades made with material that you can see through, but they are still considered shades. These types of shades have different names in the industry, such as banded shades, zebra shades, or dual shades.

To avoid confusion, always clarify the specific details and features when discussing blinds and shades with customers.