Wider Thermal Curtains

Danny30

Hi, I am in the process of trying to insulate as best as possible my 1930's house for the winter. I have already put up thermal lining paper and have put draft excluders where possible. 

I am looking to purchase thermal curtains for a reasonable price e.g from Dunelms, however I am a bit stuck as the biggest width they seem to have is 284cm wide but when I measure my bay window it needs at least 290cm+ (assuming I measured correctly). Any idea where I can get wider curtains at a similar / slightly more expensive cost of if there is any other solution?

[Deleted User]

Before doing anything else search the companies that manufacture made to measure and thermal linings.
Here is a company i've used Mayfair, White - Made to Measure Curtains | 247Curtains 

I chose white chenille curtains with blackout, thermal linings and they're excellent.
Bought them 5 years ago and still in excellent condition.

FreeBear

Curtains are usually sold in pairs, and the quoted width is for a single curtain. So a pair of 112" (2840mm) curtains will cover 5,6m of window when stretched to the max. But you need to allow for pleats & stuff - A pair of 90" (228cm, 2280mm) curtains may suffice.

Danny30

FreeBear said:

Curtains are usually sold in pairs, and the quoted width is for a single curtain. So a pair of 112" (2840mm) curtains will cover 5,6m of window when stretched to the max. But you need to allow for pleats & stuff - A pair of 90" (228cm, 2280mm) curtains may suffice.

@FreeBear Really, I didn't know that. We actually have 228cm pleat curtains on that bay window already that we purchased previously but they come out to short when closing. 

Danny30

Do you think that 284 cm pencil pleat curtains would suffice?

FreeBear

Danny30 said:

FreeBear said:

Curtains are usually sold in pairs, and the quoted width is for a single curtain. So a pair of 112" (2840mm) curtains will cover 5,6m of window when stretched to the max. But you need to allow for pleats & stuff - A pair of 90" (228cm, 2280mm) curtains may suffice.

@FreeBear Really, I didn't know that. We actually have 228cm pleat curtains on that bay window already that we purchased previously but they come out to short when closing.

For a pencil pleat, you'll want curtains up to double the measured width to allow for the gather of fabric. You may well be better off with 112" curtains - Much of it will depend on the type of curtain pole you are using - I'm using a hook & ring type pole.

This page explains the "fullness" of curtains - i.e. Pleats and how much extra you need to allow.. https://www.linenfabrics.co.uk/curtain-width-fullness-cm-64

Danny30

I am using something like this:

Silver Bendable Curtain Track | Dunelm

If I require double then I would need at least 294cm - 300cm per curtain so presumably the 112cm will come out just short?

FreeBear

Danny30 said:

I am using something like this:

Silver Bendable Curtain Track | Dunelm

If I require double then I would need at least 294cm - 300cm per curtain so presumably the 112cm will come out just short?

You are confusing & mixing your measurements - 112" is 284cm (more correctly, 2840mm). So it would just be big enough if you are prepared to accept a slight loss in pleating. The alternative is custom made curtains, but they get darned expensive.

Danny30

Thanks. So I will order the 284cm and just lose some pleating. Sounds like a good compromise. Thank you very much for your help

FreeBear

Now to throw some flies in to the ointment...

That thermal wallpaper, whilst it may reduce the effects of condensation, does very little to improve the thermal performance of a wall. To get anywhere near current Building Regulation recommendations, you need 50-75mm of Celotex/Kingspan. Thermal wallpaper is about 5mm thick.

Plugging the draughts is always a good thing. A 1930s property, I'm guessing you have a suspended timber floor on the ground floor - Go around the perimeter of all the rooms and plug the gap between skirting & floorboard. Either use a draught excluder type foam poked in with a paint scraper, or expanding foam applied with a gun.

Danny30

@FreeBear - Yes, I have read differing things but the reviews online do seem positive. Whilst it obviously won't be as good as 50-75mm of Celotex/Kingspan, it should hopefully help a bit. If the walls are not as cold, surely that would make the place lose heat slower / retain heat a little longer? The wall even currently feels warmer to touch then without the insulation on.

I have gone around under the skirting with a mix of expanding and regular draft excluder. Unfortunately we do have suspended floors that get cold in the winter but not much we can do about it now unless we rip it all out.