PVC strip curtains seem easy enough: just hang a couple of overlapping strips in the doorways. However, quite a large percentage of people make this purchase and installation but fail to see the benefits of reduced electricity bill, reduced noise and improved cleanliness. It turns out that the reasons behind this mistake are several rather obvious oversights.
Here are the ten most typical mistakes in PVC strip curtains and how to do it right.
What Are the Most Common Mistakes with PVC Strip Curtains?
Most errors are usually made because of picking the wrong PVC material, wrong measurements, poor installation, and lack of maintenance.
Here are 10 mistakes businesses should avoid:
1. Choosing the Wrong PVC Thickness
One of the biggest errors is when picking the PVC material on the basis of cost only.
Each kind of usage requires a certain level of thickness. Light-weighted strips will suit perfectly well an entryway in a building that receives few customers, whereas heavy-duty strips will be better in an industrial area where there are many vehicles moving through the entrance.
Why is this a problem?
Thin PVC material will become easily torn and damaged. On the other hand, very thick material may cause unnecessary difficulties for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Better strategy: Selecting the PVC thickness depending on traffic levels, temperatures, size of openings, and types of activities in the entrance.
2. Using the Same Curtain for Every Application
The entrance of a warehouse, cold storage unit, commercial kitchen, factory floor, or air-conditioned office might require curtains made from different kinds of PVC.
In case of a cold environment, it might need curtains that can withstand cold conditions, while in an industrial environment, there would be a need for curtains that can endure high traffic.
Solution: Understand the need for installing the curtains before choosing them.
3. Measuring the Opening Incorrectly
The strips will be too short to fit and gaps will occur leaving room for air, dust, insects, or outside air to pass through. On the other hand, the strips will be too long and will drag on the floor making it hard for them to move freely.
Measure:
- Total opening width
- Height of the opening
- Space available for mounting
- Overlapping required
- Floor space needed
- Requirements for traffic
Properly measured ac curtain installation provides a better barrier without hindering movement.
4. Ignoring Strip Overlap
The PVC strips should not be left hanging adjacent to each other but with considerable spaces between them.
The overlapping distance will affect the efficiency of the curtain to regulate the flow of air and partition the two different sections.
What will happen if there is not enough overlap?
Large spaces may cause the temperature control to become inefficient and allow air, dust, and insects to pass through them.
Conversely, too much overlapping will make the movement difficult through the curtains.
5. Installing the Strips Without Proper Alignment
Even the best PVC curtains will work badly when they are not installed correctly.
Inconsistent strips, wrong strip spacing, poor hardware installation, or wrongly installed mounting rail can impact the performance of the curtain.
While installing PVC curtains, strips need to hang evenly, leaving enough space for normal operation.
The good thing is that the well-aligned curtain will look better and reduce unnecessary wear.
6. Choosing Poor-Quality Mounting Hardware
This PVC strip alone does not constitute the whole system.
There must be proper installation materials like railings, hooks, brackets, clamps, and others that will be able to hold the strips together.
Poor installation materials will weaken in the course of time, and will eventually result in the falling off and misalignment of strips.
Fix: Use installation materials that can resist the load of the strips.
7. Neglecting Regular Cleaning
Since PVC Strip Curtains are placed at the entry points and other openings, they may collect dust, grease, fingerprints, and other dirt particles.
Dirty strips may obstruct visibility and create an unhygienic appearance at the entry point. In cases such as food processing, hotels, hospitals, and others where maintaining high hygiene is essential, it becomes crucial to clean them.
How can we maintain the PVC curtains?
Cleaning of the strips needs to be done periodically, and for this purpose, appropriate cleaning solutions along with a soft cloth need to be used.
8. Continuing to Use Damaged Strips
These small tears, cracks, scratches, or highly distorted strips should not be overlooked.
The damaged strip will not hang properly anymore and will hinder the function of other strips around it.
If there are just a few damaged strips, it may be better to replace just those damaged strips alone without replacing the whole curtain. Inspection is important to prevent bigger problems from happening.
9. Pulling or Handling the Strips Roughly
The PVC Strip Curtains have been made to naturally flow when individuals or machinery go through them. The pulling, tying, folding, and pushing of the strips is a waste of energy.
It is especially important in an industrial or commercial environment where there is a lot going on.
What is the proper method?
Let the strips flow naturally and teach employees how to pass through the curtain properly. Even the proper selection of strips for high-traffic areas can make the passage smoother.
10. Choosing PVC Strip Curtains Based Only on the Lowest Price
Price is an important factor, but it should not be the only one to consider.
A less expensive curtain could be made of inferior materials, have insufficient thickness, have poor hardware or a relatively shorter lifespan.
Buying new curtains repeatedly due to the inferior quality of the previous ones can eventually prove to be more expensive.
When comparing the PVC AC Curtains, some factors to consider include:
- PVC quality
- Thickness
- Transparency
- Durability
- Suitability for temperature
- Installation needs
- Hardware quality
- Maintenance needs
- Service life
Conclusion
PVC Strip Curtains may be simple, yet they are very effective in regulating the flow of air, dust, temperature, and motion from one area to another. But if the wrong specification is selected and there is no proper installation and maintenance of the curtains, it will affect its performance.
Not making these 10 mistakes from incorrect measurements, poor overlapping, bad hardware, and poor maintenance will ensure that businesses get maximum benefit from their curtains.
For effective PVC AC Curtains, selecting a manufacturer like Qlarity Covers, with experience in manufacturing these products, will ensure that the right curtain is selected for the right application.