Broken Window Coverings: Repair or Replace? A Homeowner’s Guide

Window coverings should improve the form and function of your interior or exterior space. They can provide light control, energy efficiency, security, and beauty in your residential and commercial space. But what happens when they break? At Letters from Luke, we offer expertise that you can use when considering window coverings for your home or business. In our last blog, we explored the best products for covering patio doors. Today, we will discuss the options for consumers who have broken window treatments.

Rely on the Warranty

Most window covering manufacturers offer a product warranty to the original purchaser of their products. If you are faced with a broken treatment, start with the retailer who sold you the product. The retailer can request replacement parts or, in some cases, entire replacement treatments to rectify the issue. Each manufacturer’s warranty may vary in term and components covered. For example, Graber and Alta offer limited lifetime warranties on the general treatment. However, components like strings, cords, and motors may have shorter warranty periods.

What if you aren’t the original owner?

I would recommend that you still contact the retailer or manufacturer who produced or sold the product. Even though you aren’t the original purchaser, they may be willing to send you parts under warranty. If it’s a simple part swap, you may be inclined to tackle it by yourself.

If you aren’t a DIYer or the manufacturer won’t provide the parts under warranty, you still have “paid” repair options. Contact a retailer like your local Bumble Bee Blinds to see if the treatment can be repaired and what it will cost to do so. Repairing your existing treatment(s) may be a much less expensive option than replacing them.

How do I determine whether I should repair or replace?

Typically, the answer comes down to two things: product lifespan and money. Newer window coverings are a good candidate for repair while older window coverings are a good candidate for replacement. It typically doesn’t make sense to put money into a product that is near the end of its lifespan.

Another consideration is the cost difference between repairing and replacing the window covering. If you are dealing with a single window covering, replacement may not be much more expensive than repair. As a bonus, a replacement window covering will come with a new warranty.

So why wouldn’t you just want to replace a broken window covering? The answer is that many times the window covering in question is part of a larger set of window coverings in a room or area of your home or office. Replacing the window covering may lead to a situation where it no longer matches the other window coverings in the immediate area. In this case, repair can be a simple way to extend the life of your group of window coverings without breaking the bank.

In summary, when your custom window treatments break, you have several options. When available, warranties can be a convenient solution and a money saver. Paid repairs for treatments from providers like your local Bumble Bee Blinds can extend the life of your treatments that aren’t outdated.

Lastly, complete replacement of window treatments may make sense when the product is outdated and isn’t part of a large set of windows.

Your local and trusted Bumble Bee Blinds professional can assist you. To find a Bumble Bee Blinds location in your local area, click here.

Luke Schwartz is the Brand President of Bumble Bee Blinds. His family has more than 60 years of experience in the window covering industry. Each month, Luke shares this experience and perspective through informative blogs about the window covering industry to educate our customers about products, features, and questions to consider when buying window treatments. Regular readers hopefully won’t have to ask, “Where do I start?” when in the market for window coverings.