Why Choose Cord Curtain Tracks?

10 Mar

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Curtains are a staple part of upholstery in our homes for a number of reasons; they keep our rooms dark to help us sleep at night, they keep the warmth in when it’s cold and they provide aesthetic value. But whilst some people can simply pull their curtains open and close by hand, for others this can prove to be trickier due to the circumstances.

For example, if you have a particularly large window (such as floor to ceiling windows), are elderly, or maybe even have a window that is an awkward shape to cover (such as bay windows), then perhaps you should consider cord curtain tracks. Trust us, they can make your life a whole lot easier.

Read on to discover why.

How Does a Corded Track System Work?

As the name suggests, a corded track system uses a cord to open and close curtains. The curtains are attached to the track via little hooks, then there is a pulley system at one (or either) end of the curtains that will pull the track in order to open and close the curtains.

These should only ever be operated using the cord. If they are pulled open or close by hand, this can damage the system and displace or break the cord.

What are They Best Suited for?

Like we previously mentioned, there are some situations where using corded track curtains are easier and better suited than hand operated tracks. We’ve listed some examples below of circumstances in which corded curtains are the most convenient option.

1 | Large Areas

If you have extra tall windows or a large area of windows that need covering, for example if one end of your kitchen features floor to ceiling glass windows and patio doors, then corded track curtains will make it much easier to cover these.

Though you may be able to find standard curtains that are long enough to cover these, trying to close and open them by hand would most likely involve you having to tug them closer to the bottom of the curtain and would make it more likely that you would damage them, or in the worst case pull them off the curtain pole or track. Not to mention, it would be unnecessarily difficult.

Using a corded track would instead allow you to shut and open the curtains with ease and efficiency, whilst keeping the way they drape staying sleek and attractive.

2 | Heavy and/or Delicate Fabric

Many curtains are made out of thick or lined heavy duty fabrics, which many people like due to the insulation and black-out properties they offer. However, this can result in very heavy curtains. Heavy curtains can be an awkward pain to pull open and close for anyone, let alone for people such as those who are elderly or have reduced mobility.

Corded curtains are much easier to operate, since they simply require you to pull a cord, which bears a lot of the curtain weight for you, furthermore it is much easier to use your strength and dexterity to pull a cord whilst stationary than it is to grasp curtains and pull them along.

On the other end of the scale, you may have curtains that aren’t heavy but are instead made of a delicate fabric, such as decorative silk or brocade, or voile or lace for sheer curtains. The issue with these is that they can be easily damaged, torn or soiled if being constantly handled by hand. Using a cord track system with these prevents this from happening and keeps both their structural and visual integrity intact.

3 | Obstacles

Sometimes there can be a number of obstacles that make it difficult to access or operate your curtains with ease. It may be that you have a curved window, such as a bay window, that makes it particularly difficult to get your curtains around, or that you have something in front of your curtains that makes them inaccessible, such as a television or dressing table, or maybe even both - making things twice as difficult.

Rather than struggling to shut your curtains and potentially damage them by pulling or tugging them too hard, using a curtain rail track will allow you to easily open and close your curtains without struggle. Furthermore, since there will be a cord on one or either side of the curtains (for those that meet in the middle), this will be easily accessible for you, meaning you won’t have to reach over anything and potentially knock things over whilst you do in order to try and get to your curtains.

Benefits of Using a Corded Curtain Pole

Can be Bent for Curved Applications

One of the great things about using corded tracks is that they can often be made bespoke to whichever window space you wish for them to fit into, including curved or angular spaces.

For example, if you have floor to ceiling windows that continue round a corner of your room or if you have large bay windows, then the tracks can be curved around these areas so your curtains cover them smoothly without getting stuck or needing to be tugged.

Since they can easily be bespoke made, this means they can be made to measure no matter the size of your space. Even if you don’t have a curved area that needs to be covered, corded tracks can be made to fit any space, with the option of having a single cord that pulls them to one side or a cord on either side for curtains that meet in the middle.

Protection from Constant Handling

Corded curtains tend to last longer than non-corded curtains before they need washing or replacing since they will not be subject to frequent handling.

If your curtains are made of a delicate fabric or are light in colour, then they can easily be damaged or dirtied with frequent handling - as is the case when they are opened, closed and neatened by hand. This handling is reduced with the use of a corded track system, since it is only the cord that needs to be touched to move the curtains.

Ease of Use

Similar to how corded blinds work, you simply need to pull a cord in order to open and close corded curtains - it really is as easy as that.

This makes corded curtains a convenient choice for people who have heavy or large curtains that are laborious to pull across. The cords that are used for these curtains also adhere to safety standards, so they are out of reach of children and the loop of the cord is not large enough to pose a safety hazard.

Suitable for Heavy Fabrics

Though it may seem that corded tracks wouldn’t be as heavy duty or strong as a traditional curtain pole, they are actually able to hold weights over 60kg.

This means corded curtain tracks can hold heavy fabrics in both domestic and commercial properties, having the ability to hold and operate heavy-weight stage curtains, for example. So, there is no need to compromise your favourite pair of curtains for the convenience of using a cord track system simply because they’re too heavy.

Seamless Design

Whilst some people may integrate a curtain pole into the design of a room or see it as a statement piece, for others they are unsightly and space-consuming. Corded curtain tracks, on the other hand, allow your curtains to appear to hang directly from the ceiling, creating a seamless appearance that gives the illusion of a larger space.

The cord system also allows your curtains to keep their ‘accordion’ folds when drawn and to drape attractively without creases, because of the consistency with which they are opened and closed using a cord.

Brands and Alternatives

There are a number of alternatives that can be used to cord curtain tracks.

One such is a curtain pole. Curtains can be attached to poles in two different ways; the first is to use curtain rings, which are rings that go around the pole itself in order to slide across and pull the curtains with them - curtains can have these rings built into them, or they can be attached to the rings and hang from them.

The other is using a track, whereby the curtain hangs from hooks that move along a track to allow your curtain to slide across easier and without the resistance that you may otherwise get when using curtain rings. Tracks can also be placed and used to hang your curtains without a curtain pole for those who don't like the appearance of these; usually a valance is used with these to keep the track hidden from view. Again, these require you to physically pull the curtains across.

A final alternative to cord curtain tracks, and perhaps the easiest to operate, are electrical tracks. Electrical tracks work in the same way as cord tracks, however the difference is that they are controlled by a remote that allows them to open and close along the track automatically, rather than requiring any manual action. Although, these tend to be more expensive and will require more technical maintenance.

Some well-known brands of cord curtain tracks include:

● Silent Gliss

● Integra

● Speedy

● Swish

SG-S

If you’re looking to convert to using cord tracks for your curtains, SG-S is a main supplier of Silent Gliss complete systems, including cord curtain tracks.

We have over 35 years of experience with the Silent Gliss range, offering bespoke blinds, electrical tracks and more, as well as being able to provide spare parts and offer advice on how to use and maintain your Silent Gliss systems.