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

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.

The #1 Blind Mistake People Make in Each Room- And How to Avoid Those Mistakes

February 7, 2025
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to someone trying to improve their home is to find that they have somehow made a common mistake. That person will be upset that they didn't stop and do a little research prior to making a change. That is why you are here today, and that is why we want to provide you with some details about the most common mistakes that people tend to make when putting up blinds in various rooms. Let's also examine how you can avoid making those same mistakes. Living Room - Let the Sun Shine In! A major mistake that many people make when setting up blinds in their living room is that they select an option that does not permit enough natural light to enter the room. Heavier blinds like this might have a look that you like, but you certainly don't want them to block out all of that natural light. That is just setting yourself up for a living room that is gloomy and unnatural. Go with a more lightweight option that allows plenty of light into your living room. Bathroom - Avoid Moisture Sensitive Blinds Do you know what there is a lot of in any bathroom? Moisture! From the water running in the faucet to the moisture that gathers in the air after a shower, there is plenty of moisture in the atmosphere in any bathroom. Therefore, you must make sure that you don't use any kind of material that is moisture sensitive when it comes to your blinds in the bathroom. Kitchen - Keep it Easy to Clean The blinds that you set up in your kitchen should be easy to clean. These blinds are more likely to attract things that you want to clean off of them. Why? Because you will be doing all of your cooking in the kitchen, and it is all too easy for things to splatter or otherwise cause issues for you while you are working in the kitchen. Make sure you use blinds that are straightforward and easy to clean when you set them up in your kitchen. Make things as easy as possible on yourself. Home Office - Watch Out for Glare Many people have a home office set up so that they can get things done even while they are at home. That is a wonderful thing, but you also need to think carefully about your lighting needs when it comes to this. This is to say that you should look for blinds that do not cause excessive glare on the screens that you have in your home office. When you have blinds that keep the glare off of your screens, then you won't have to strain your eyes quite as much as you might have otherwise. Dining Room - Don't Forget to Keep it Stylish One room where you can truly focus on the stylish nature of your blinds is in the dining room. In fact, this is one area where style outweighs so many other considerations. You want blinds that go well with the other colors and styles that you have set up throughout your living room. It is very easy to fall into making common mistakes when selecting blinds for different rooms in your home. Don't fall into the same traps that others have before you. It is now clear and obvious what you should do for each room in your home. Keep these tips in mind as you begin the search for the blinds that you require. For more detailed information about the mistakes that people commonly make with this purchase, reach out and contact us today.