Frequently Asked Questions

1. Privacy & Light Control.

2. Insulation & Sun Protection.

3. Window Shape & Size.

4. Operating System.

5. Room Conditions. 

6. Maintenance.

7. Design Style.

As the homeowner, you need to ask yourself, do I want soft diffused light, room darkening options or a mix of both? How much privacy are you looking for from your window treatments?  Some window treatments also have sheer and room-darkening panels that operate independently for further customization, so you could ask your self if you need both of best worlds in certain rooms or all rooms of your home.

Most homeowners don't realize that you loose up to 50% of your home's heating and cooling energy. If you are looking to enhance the energy efficiency in your home, you may want to look at honeycomb shades as they trap air in their cell structure to help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. If you have a gorgeous view of the mountains or a lake and you aren't as concerned with getting the top energy efficiency, then a roller shade may be your window treatment of choice, since it protects your belongings inside your home from harmful UV rays and slows the fade, all while still getting to take advantage of those gorgeous views! 

Many window treatments also offer fabric with UV protection to safeguard your furniture, flooring and art from sun damage.

Standard picture and rectangular windows can accommodate all styles with few restrictions depending on the window treatment type. There are options though for your windows that are circles, ovals, arches, French doors, and more! Cellular shades can be made to fit triangle and trapezoid windows, while roller shades, shutters, and sheers can glide effortlessly over sliding doors. Don't for get those hard to reach skylights! Those can be covered as well, even with cost effective options.

Ease of use, accessibility, and most important of all, is safety. Safety is a big deciding factor when it comes to selecting an operating system, especially with young kids in the home! A skylight is hard to reach so having the ability to motorize it makes it much easier to use and want to add a window treatment to especially for heating and cooling efficiency. If you have a smart home the motorization options is ideal as you can schedule their movements via an app, link them to your smart home automated system or simply use a remote. 

If you’re concerned about safety, consider a cordless or retractable cord system. Looking for something in the middle? Try a newer simple form of motorized window treatments where you simply pull down on the wand to lower your shades and push up to raise them. 

As a homeowner you want to make sure to pick a window treatment material that suits that room's environment. A bathroom or laundry room for instance, need to hold up against heat and humidity, so a faux wood blind or faux shutter, can withstand the steam or condensation build up. Modern aluminum blinds are also a good option for hot and humid areas! Most of these window treatments have the ability to look like real wood with realistic graining or have been updated in a way to look  more modern to fit the style of your home. If blinds and shutters are not your style, and you want a softer appearance, you can try antimicrobial fabrics that resist mold, mildew, and other bacterial.

It is best to read the care and maintenance instructions for the window treatment options you are looking at purchasing to consider your cleaning tolerance before moving forward with the purchase. You should dust all blinds, shades and shutters regularly. To limit your maintenance you could use your vacuum cleaner for a quick touch up and spot cleaning, but make sure you are careful with this option as more delicate window treatments may not handle this as well. It is usually best for delicate window treatments, to have a professional cleaning company come to your home to keep them in top notch condition! There are also fabrics that you can select that repel dust, soil and stains to simplify the care.

You want to choose window treatments that fit with your home's aesthetics. There are options for every style, whether you prefer country cottage, beach getaway, crisp minimalism, old-world traditional or boho chic. For example, sleek fabric shades suit the luxe contemporary vibe of the modern living room. If you like a more natural look, consider reed, grass or bamboo shades in a warm neutral. Is bold more your M.O.? You could go for sculptural, colorful shades dusted with mica for a mesmerizing shimmer. Whichever window treatments you choose, they’re bound to bring beautiful, practical panache to your home. 

Every manufacturer has its own warranty for each and every individual window covering treatment option. Just ask for the warranty information before purchasing and we would be happy to supply it to you, to help make your decision! 

At Shades by Markham we also have a warranty which is 1 year from the date of installation for any installation related issues  as long as it is normal wear and tear. This automatically comes with every window treatment purchase at no extra cost to you.

Of course! We have several different options with manual and motorized operation to fit your specific needs. Exterior motorized shades can even be customized to reflect the weather. If it's sunny, the added sensor for purchase can put your shades down, or if it clouds up and gets windy, the sensor can detect a certain wind speed so it can retract the shade to prevent any damage to it. We can even customize different components of the shade to be color coordinated with your home so it blends in beautifully! 

There is no consultation fee!

Consultations can last 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the scope of the project and how involved it is. We always take our time and do not rush consultation, so that we can answer any/all questions you may have and help educate you to make the best decision possible for your situation.

Yes! We would like to meet with them as early on in the project as possible so that we can go over all the details, make sure our timelines match up, and coordination efforts go as smoothly as possible over the course of your project. We also want to guarantee all options and selections made with the homeowner will work with their portion of the project/home overall.

Yes! We offer financing, subject to credit approval.

Hunter Douglas, Graber, Lutron, Draper, Levolor, and many more! We are also happy to acquire accounts/partner with manufacturers at your request as well.