A zebra shade has two layers of fabric on one roller, with alternating sheer and solid bands. As you move the continuous-loop chain, the roller moves the fabric and changes how the bands line up. Line the bands up for privacy, or offset them for filtered light. The chain also raises and lowers the shade, so you can adjust the bands or roll the fabric up.
What happens when I pull the chain?
The chain turns the roller and moves the banded fabric. As the layers move in relation to each other, their bands change position. You watch the bands as you pull and stop when they reach the position you want. That is how you adjust a zebra shade while keeping fabric across the window.
Keep moving the chain to roll the shade up. Moving it back lowers the fabric across the opening. The same control handles the band position and the height of the shade. Our chain-operated shades use a continuous loop, sold shrouded and anchored to the wall with a tension device.
You choose which side the chain hangs on when you order. We set its drop length in the workshop. Any shade can be motorized for $115.00 more. A motorized shade has no chain at all. One remote costs $50.00 and runs up to 15 shades.
How do I adjust a zebra shade for privacy?
Line the bands up for privacy. Offset them for filtered light. You make that adjustment with the chain while the shade is lowered. Look at the bands as they move rather than judging only by how much fabric is hanging across the window.
The alternating sheer and solid bands are what give you those positions. You can change their alignment without rolling all the fabric away. If you want the opening uncovered, use the chain to raise the shade.
For room-darkening zebra shades, the materials are 1, 2, 5, 9, 13 and 30, in the dark colours. We identify our materials by the numbers we cut them by. You can order free material samples on the website before choosing what we will make for your window.
How is a zebra shade different from a roller blind?
A zebra shade uses alternating sheer and solid bands in two layers on one roller. A roller blind uses one panel of fabric with no bands. With a roller blind, you move that panel up or down. For a 24 by 48 inches window, the chain-operated zebra shade is $150.20 before tax, with shipping in Canada included.
For the same 24 by 48 inches size, a roller blind is $103.80 before tax. We make roller blinds in materials 20, 21, 22 and 31. You can compare the material samples before you order.
Shangri-La shades have soft fabric vanes held between two sheer layers. Their chain tilts the vanes open or closed and then rolls the shade up. We make them in materials 33 and 35. They are priced by size on their own line and ordered online.
How much does a made-to-measure zebra shade cost?
Every shade is priced from the measurements of the window it is for. These are examples of common window sizes. A chain-operated zebra shade at 24 by 48 inches, for a small bedroom window, is $150.20. At 30 by 72 inches, for a tall window beside the door, it is $237.00.
A chain-operated zebra shade at 36 by 84 inches, for a tall stairwell window, is $311.40. At 72 by 80 inches, for a patio door, it is $547.00. All four together come to $1,245.60. These prices are before tax and include shipping in Canada. GST or HST is charged by delivery province.
A motorized zebra shade at 72 by 80 inches is $662.00 before tax. The remote is extra, once. There is no minimum order, so you can order one shade. Widths of 94 inches and over travel by courier in their own carton, with a charge of $85 once per order.
How do I measure for a zebra shade?
Decide on an inside or outside mount before measuring. An inside mount sits within the opening. Check for at least 2 inches of flat depth inside the frame for the cassette. If you have less, choose an outside mount. An outside mount fixes to the wall above the opening and overlaps it. Add at least 2 inches each side and 2 to 3 inches above.
Measure width first, then height, to the nearest 1/8 of an inch. For an inside mount, measure the opening at the top, middle and bottom. Use the narrowest width. Give us that exact opening measurement without subtracting anything. We make the deduction in the workshop.
Measure the height from the top of the opening to the sill at the left, middle and right. Use the longest height so the shade covers the full drop. If you are ordering for several windows, measure them all with the same tape. We make shades from 9 to 109 inches wide and up to 130 inches high, to the eighth of an inch.
What to do next
Order free material samples on our website if you want to see the fabric before choosing. Measure your window, choose your material and control, and enter the size on the site for its price. We make your shade to order in Richmond Hill, Ontario and dispatch it within three working days of a confirmed order; transit is on top.
Made to measure in Richmond Hill and shipped free anywhere in Canada. Or ring us on (289) 210-3254.