Terminology

Listed below are common abbreviations for the window treatment industry. The list below are words that are used over & over in everyday tasks. Using abbreviations helps you record phone messages, fill out a measuring form & create work orders faster.

 
General Abbreviations

FW	Finished Width
FL	Finished Length
SP	Short Point
LP	Long Point
RP	Rod Pocket
Dec	Decorative
Spec	Special
W	White
I	Ivory
BO	Blackout Lining
RR	Railroad
Ret	Return or Projection
RM	Room (Name of room)
MT	Mount, indicate IB or OB
	IB	Inside Bracket/Mount
	OB	Outside Bracket/Mount
HLD	Hold-down brackets

 
Room Abbreviations

DR	Dining Room
LR	Living Room
MB	Master Bedroom
Mbath	Master Bath
Kit	Kitchen
Break	Breakfast Room

 
Window Terminology

The window diagram below displays the terminology of a window. Carpenters refer to windows in these terms. The sashes were left off of all Measuring Forms to keep the forms simple and easy to read.

A sill is the exterior lip and a stool is the interior lip on a window. Most carpenters refer to trim as the casing. The wood along the top of the window is referred to as the top casing, along the side is referred to as the side casing. On a double hung window, the wood trim around the glass on the top part of the window is referred to as the upper sash, likewise, the lower part is the lower sash.

Window diagram

 

Fabric Definitions

Acrylic: Wool-like in texture, resistant to mildew & sun. Holds color well. Fabric can pill up, it also stretches slightly and is burns easily.

Brocade: Used in fine, formal upholstery, it has raised surface patterns resembling embroidery, often uses gold or silver thread.

Chenille: Plain-weave cotton with high-luster glaze & some have floral motifs. Used in draperies & upholstery.

Cotton: A very strong fiber makes this fabric durable. Fabric wrinkles easily and will shrink & stretch if not treated; sunlight is also an enemy of this fabric. Used in all window treatments & upholstery applications.

Damask: In a variety of fibers & weights with textural contrast between satiny & dull, damask makes lush, durable draperies & upholstery. With its elaborate pattern it is inherently formal. It can, however, take on a more casual look when used for washable loose-fitting slipcovers.

Matelasse: A compound fabric with a raised design or an embossed look. Traditionally used for coverlets or bedspreads, but is now used throughout the home.

Linen: Has a very strong fiber, nice texture & is some what resistant to sun. Linen wrinkles easily & is somewhat stiff, inconsistent in quality & shrinks unless treated.

Moiré: A design pressed on silk, rayon, etc. by engraved rollers. Fabric has the appearance of a watermark or wood grain. It has a very traditional appearance.

Plisse: This fabric has a puckered or blistered effect that is produced by a chemical treatment. The stripes in the fabric give it the look of overscaled seersucker. It has a casual feeling but can blend into traditional schemes.

Polyester: Fabric has a strong fiber and resists wrinkles & does not stretch or shrink.

Silk: The soft, lustrous fiber obtained as a filament from the cocoon of the silkworm. A gracious fabric with a soft sheen. Fabric is very thin. This fabric is great in window coverings because it retains its shape with little support. Sun rots easily.

Strie: Slightly varied warp-thread colors produce an irregular streaked effect. The fabric has a subtle look.

Taffeta: A smooth and crisp lustrous fabric of silk, rayon, acetate or various other fibers, in a plain weave, with a fine horizontal rib. This fabric is great in window coverings because it retains its shape with little support.

Tapestry: A fabric consisting of a warp upon which colored threads are woven. Due to the thickness & pictorial design, woven tapestries suit simple upholsteries and some window treatments.

Toile de Jouy: A tightly woven fabric with a pictorial printed in one color on a neutral ground. Toiles look great on large seating, walls, and flat drapery panels.

Twill: Tightly woven with a diagonal ridge, twills, such as denim & herringbone, are ideal for casual upholstery.

Velvet: A fabric made from silk, nylon, acetate, rayon, etc., with a thick, soft pile formed of loops of the warp thread, either cut at end or left uncut. Velvet has a soft shimmering look in the light.

Wool: Has the look & feel of short fine hairs. This fabric insulates, handles & drapes easily, however, it is weakened by the sun.

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