stack back for curtains
how do you measure for stack back for curtains?
How to measure for stack back for custom curtains and draperies is not complicated. In a nutshell:
– Add 30% to the width of the window for lined custom curtains
– Add 20% to the width of the window for unlined custom curtains.
You can maximize both the view and available light when your curtains are fully drawn to the sides. The solution is in the stack back, or the amount of space the curtains occupy when in the fully open position. Stack back dictates the width of the curtain rod as well, so knowing how to calculate stack back helps you get the right draperies and hardware of the appropriate size and style to suit the curtains.
steps to calculate stack back
1. Measure outside the window frame from the left to the right, outside the window frame.
2. For unlined drapes, constructed with light to medium-weight fabric, add 10% on each side. For example, if the window is 100 inches wide, add a total of 20 percent for a width of 120 inches. The curtain and rod must be a minimum of 120 inches wide in order for the curtains to clear the window when in the drawn-open position.
3. For blackout-lined or privacy-lined curtains, add 15% on each side. For example, if the window is 100 inches wide, add a total of 30 percent for a width of 130 inches. The curtain and rod must be a minimum of 130 inches wide in order for the curtains to clear the window when in the drawn-open position.
4. For extra heavy curtains, like velvet curtains or chenille curtains, add 35% to the total width of the curtain rod.
HOW TO reduce the stack back?
Here are a few tips on how to reduce curtain stack back when ordering custom drapes:
– For hardware, use a rod with rings instead of a traverse track. When pleated drapes are mounted on a rod with rings, the stack back is less. The reason is that traverse tracks have plastic carriers that take more space than a metal ring.
– Go with a drapery fullness of 2 instead of 2.5. Fullness is the amount of fabric used to pleat your drapes. The higher the fullness number, the more fabric is used. A fullness of 2 means that the amount of fabric used is twice the width of your window.
– For the type of pleat, go with a Ripplefold pleat. Ripplefold is a wave pleat. A Ripplefold with a fullness of 2 is a great way to reduce the stack back for your curtains.
About us: KOPA Drapes is a custom curtain manufacturer serving New Jersey and New York. Our products are handcrafted in Belleville, NJ since 1957. We offer complimentary at-home design consultation and measure for our curtains and custom shades in NJ and NYC. Call us for advice on how to reduce the stack back for curtains in your home.