When it comes to choose between aluminum vs. vinyl blinds there are a number of factors to take into account. For most people price, availability, and construction all come to mind. Overall both choices would be a great option to your home. At Florida Blinds and Drapery we carry a wide variety of both aluminum and vinyl blinds for you to choose from. All of which can be customizable to every room in your home.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Aluminum and Vinyl Blinds
Blinds made of aluminum are made of stronger material compared to vinyl blinds making them stronger and less likely to break. Blinds made of vinyl however can flex easier than aluminum and are less likely to dent or crease.
Vinyl blinds are easier to maintain as well as clean compared to aluminum.
Repair wise aluminum blinds are easier to repair; when vinyl blinds break customers tend to simply discard then replace them.
Vinyl blinds made in the United States do not contain any lead, vinyl blinds made in other countries tend to contain trace amounts of lead.
Compared to aluminum vinyl is made of a weaker and lighter material and can tend to break easily.
Aluminum blinds have one main disadvantage being that they are not easily manufactured with special textures in mind, for example wood grains, compared with vinyl blinds which are customizable.
Energy Efficiency
Aluminum blinds are more energy-efficient compared to vinyl blinds because they reflect the suns rays more effectively leading to cooler rooms in the summer and warmer in the winter months.
Vinyl blinds are prone to absorbing the sun’s rays causing a warmer room. Rooms that tend to receive a lot of sun would be better off with aluminum blinds.
Cost Factors
The bigger the blinds, the more they will generally cost no matter which material is chosen. Vinyl blinds tend to cost less than aluminum and the price difference between them can increase when the size of the blind increases as well. Other factors that can add to the overall price includes texture. Vinyl blinds that are manufactured to look like wood blinds may cost more compared to blinds with no texture.
Aluminum and vinyl blinds come in various prices, basic aluminum blinds can cost less than a highly designed vinyl blind.
Styles
Aluminum and vinyl blinds are both available in a variety of styles along with sizes that are available in horizontal and vertical designs.
Individual slats widths can vary from ¼ in to 4 inches. Vinyl blinds offer a larger range of looks and textures that include faux wood finishes as well of a choice of colors.
Construction
Aluminum blinds are constructed in 6, 8, and 9-gauge thickness. The higher the gauge the more durable the blind is. Aluminum blinds can be bent and crinkled while vinyl blinds cannot and aluminum blinds tend to hold better than vinyl over time.
Slat sizes
Aluminum blinds come in various slat sizes, from ½ inch to the standard 1 inch slats, along with the 1 ⅜ inch and the macro blind that has a 2 inch slat.
Vinyl blinds are only available in two slat sizes, the standard 1 inch and the wider 2 inch vinyl blind.
Color Options
Vinyl blinds are usually stocked in two colors, white and alabaster. To receive other colors special ordering needs to be done, with a wider option being available in aluminum blinds.