What Is a “Limited Lifetime Warranty”?
bwsit • December 12, 2016

Human nature is a funny thing. People see the words, “Limited Lifetime Warranty”, and they tend to focus on the word “Lifetime”, when the word they should pay the most attention to is “Limited”. Very few manufacturers of any product you can think of would think of offering a no-holds-barred “Lifetime Warranty”. That would be like handing out a coupon for a free replacement under any circumstances — something that plenty of people would undoubtedly exploit!

Still, even though there are limits to most “lifetime” warranties, they’re usually not unreasonable, and in general, limited lifetime warranties by well-established, reputable companies are some of the best available. (It’s important to note that the “lifetime” referred to is rarely the lifetime of the purchaser , but rather the lifetime of the business or product itself. Once a product is discontinued, the length of time the manufacturer remains liable is specified in the warranty’s documentation or “fine print”.) Exclusions are often similar and run along the lines of

  • normal wear and tear (Everything wears out over time.)
  • abuse, accidents or alterations
  • exposure to the elements (unless the product is specifically made for outdoor use)
  • failure to follow product instructions or incorrect measurements or installation
  • cost of removal or installation of replacements and shipping costs for returns or replacements
  • occasional time limits on certain components of the product

In the case of window blinds and shades, there are three companies that offer the best warranties in the industry:

  • O’Hair
  • Hunter Douglas
  • Springs/Graber

Only manufacturers of the highest quality products would offer such excellent warranties, and it’s a testament to their high level of confidence in their products that allows them to do so. Read on to see why these three industry leaders offer better warranties than their competitors.

O’Hair

The tagline on O’Hair’s Warranty reads, “good for the life of the home, not just the homeowner”. You’ve got to be hugely confident in your product’s quality to make that statement, and O’Hair has every reason for possessing that level of confidence. Their beautiful interior and exterior shutters are made in the U.S.A., which in itself is an unusual claim to make in today’s global economy, and an extremely important one to many consumers. They use only responsibly harvested American hardwoods in their product line, offer the most weather-resistant finishes for their exterior shutters, and produce truly beautiful, traditionally crafted products.

Their warranty has few exclusions — the normal wear and tear clause is there, along with a few other minor exclusions, but in general, it covers defects very well. The most amazing part of their warranty, though, is that it’s transferable. The warranty actually transfers to the new owner when you sell your house. That’s a very good warranty!

Hunter Douglas

Nearly everybody recognizes the HunterDouglas name, which is certainly a testament to the quality of their products. They offer energy-efficient design, cordless and motorized options that focus on child and pet safety, and design and assemble all of their products in the U.S. Their warranty covers things like defects in materials and workmanship and failure to operate properly, and excludes the usual circumstances listed above. Since the company has been around for nearly a century and is still going strong, the “lifetime” in their warranty is a pretty solid one.

Springs/Graber

Graber Blinds is one of the brand names produced by Springs Window Fashions. They’re known for their high-quality materials, commitment to safety (offering cordless options for homes with children), and a focus on a great customer experience. In recent years, they’ve also instituted a strong eco-friendly manufacturing focus with things like energy-efficient products and materials and minimal packaging that uses at least 44% of post-consumer recycled materials.   The company has been around for over three-quarters of a century, so it’s obvious they’ve earned a reputation for excellence that’s sustained them in a highly competitive industry.  All this enables them to offer a stellar warranty  that covers virtually everything with few exclusions (normal wear and tear, damage caused by abuse, mishandling, alterations, etc.).

If you’re looking for the best-quality window fashions with the very best warranties, look no further than Just Blinds of Montgomery, Alabama. We’ve been serving Central Alabama for more than 30 years, and have built a reputation for top-of-the-line products, expert measuring, professional installation, and outstanding customer service. Contact us today and find out for yourself why our first-time customers become customers for life!

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

What Your Window Treatment Says About You: A Personality-Based Guide

April 23, 2025
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world.  Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.

5 Unexpected Places Homeowners Are Installing Outdoor Shades

March 13, 2025
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project.  There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.