Calculator Tips for Top-Down Shade

You use the Finished SHADE Width and Finished SHADE Length when you use the Hardware Calculator. When you make your top-down shade, you will first make the mounting board. This way you can make the shade the correct length since it "stops" at the bottom of the lifting hardware. However, you have to start somewhere, so you can use an estimate of the Headrail Length to determine your folding specifics and hardware requirements.

Referring to the drawing at the top of the page: Finished Length = Headrail Length + Finished Shade Length.

The Headrail Length is the length of the entire mounting "stuff": the board and the hardware (flat pulleys, screw eyes, cord lock pulleys). The assumption is that you are using a standard 1x2 board in a Projected Installation. The measurements below are for the items we sell in our Online Store. If you purchase your parts locally or from another source, then you will have to adjust the numbers.

Board: 3/4" (assumes projected mount using a 1x2 board)
Screw Eye: 7/8"
Flat Pulley: 5/8"
Cord Lock Pulley: 1-1/2"

To get the Headrail Length, you add up the length of the Board and the longest hardware item you are using.

Headrail length using only flat pulleys: 3/4" + 5/8" = 1-3/8"

Headrail length using only screw eyes: 3/4" + 7/8" = 1-5/8"

Headrail length using flat pulleys and a cord lock pulley: 3/4" + 1-1/2" = 2-1/4"

Now you can determine the Finished SHADE Length: Finished Shade Length = Finished (Treatment) Length - Headrail Length.

If you are making an Inside Mount Shade, you should subtract an additional 1/4" which is the diameter of the lift rings. It is better to have a small gap at the top of the shade (this is covered up with the Valance) than to not be able to raise the shade all of the way up.

Using the Hardware (Folding) Calculator for a Top-Down/Bottom-Up Shade

 

FINISHED Width of Shade: same as for Classic Shade

FINISHED Length of Shade: We just calculated it above. It is shorter than the length of the entire treatment.

Ideal Stackage: The shade will stack in the Down position: this is the "Down Stackage". You need to input this for Ideal Stackage. The "Up Stackage" will be larger. The shade will fold up to the same Stackage as it folds down, but you also have the hardware to consider. I usually don't have the shade disappear into the Valance for a Top-Down shade. This way I can make a shorter Valance. However, if you want your shade to disappear into the Valance when you raise it, you should add the Headrail Length to your Ideal Stackage to get your actual Stackage. Then add at least an inch or so to the length of the Valance so that the shade really will disappear when pulled up.

The length of the mounting board and Hook & Loop Fastener requires a little explanation. For an Inside Mount shade, the board is the same size as the Finished Shade Width. The quantity of hook and loop fastener (Velcro) is the same also. This is stapled onto the front of the board and sewn onto the top back of your valance. The shade hangs freely from the top-down lift cords.  For an Outside Mount shade, the calculator assumes that the mounting board extends 1-inch past the shade on each side. That means that the length of the mounting board is 2-inches more than the Finished Shade Width. The quantity of hook and loop fastener allows you to wrap the valance around both sides and the front of the mounting board.