There are many ways of saving energy and thermal curtains (or blinds) made from Baize are a good way to do so.
Why Use Thermal Curtains or Blinds?
In the UK house building isn’t our nation’s strongest trait. Period buildings from Gerogian or Victorian times look beautiful. Often with their large sash windows, but those same windows tend to let in drafts. Even double glazed sash windows can still be drafty. It’s just the nature of the design.
Furthermore if you live in a conservation zone, you may be stuck with original single glazed windows that can’t be changed.
Secondary Glazing
One option to cut drafts is to have secondary glazing installed. This involves installing an internal window and frame. It’s a neat way to trap warm air, though it does require sufficient depth in the original frame to install an opening design.
Curtains or Blinds
This is where thermal curtains or blinds come in. Installation is far easier due to most homes already having curtains or blinds in place. They work simply by trapping the cold air by the window and blocking drafts coming into the room.
Additionally thermal curtains are easy to install between rooms in doorways. Especially when using extendable or telescopic curtain rails. This prevents internal drafts moving cold air around your home.
Thermal Properties of Baize
As a specialist supplier of Baize it stands to reason we would recommend Baize to make energy saving thermal curtains. Baize is perfect for the job for many reasons.
Made from Wool – Wool is Warm
All of the fabrics that we stock are either pure merino wool, contain a high percentage of merino wool or use a high content of regular sheep’s wool.
Wool has been worked into textiles for centuries to keep us warm. Prior to that sheep skins as well as other animal skins were used.
Baize is Tightly Woven
The tight weave of Baize was one of the main reasons a specific type of baize called Pilot Cloth was adopted by the navy for jackets.
Pilot cloth in particular is windproof as well as being highly durable and hardwearing.
Wool Fabrics are Flameproof and Fire Retardant
Another reason baize and other woven woolen cloths, were used historically as fabrics to make naval and military clothing, is that wool doesn’t readily burn or melt like plastic based textiles do. Additionally many of the fabrics that we stock all go through rigourous British Standards safety testing and conform to British Standards cigarette and match tests.
Available in Many Colours
Not only is baize a highly practical fabric it is also available in a wide range of colours with different finishes and weights – an important consideration when making curtains.
Unsure Which Fabric to Use?
For ease we have created a side-by-side comparison guide to see how all the fabrics we stock compare. From grams to square metre (GSM) to the roll widths and available finishes.
Composition | Weight | Thickness | Finish | Max Roll Width | |
100% Merino | 100% Merino Wool | 390gsm | ~1.15mm | Faced | 140cm |
Vivid Hues Baize | 100% Merino Wool | 340gsm | ~0.85mm | Unfaced | 140cm |
Heritage Baize | 95% Merino Wool / 5% Nylon | 570gsm | ~1.75mm | Unfaced | 190cm |
Extra Wide Baize | 95% Merino Wool / 5% Nylon | 460gsm | ~1.25mm | Faced | 220cm |
Barathea | 100% Merino Wool | 400gsm | ~0.75mm | Faced | 148cm |
Cavalry Twill |
100% Merino Wool | 660gsm | ~1.75mm | Faced | 150cm |
Duffle | 80% Merino / 20% Nylon | 590gsm | – | Faced | 150cm |
Melton | 100% Merino Wool | 470gsm | ~1.65mm | Faced | 150cm |
Pilot Cloth | 100% Merino Wool | 505gsm | ~1.5mm | Faced | 150cm |
Pioneer | 100% Merino Wool | 500gsm | ~2mm | Faced | 150cm |
Natural Collection | 90% Merino Wool / 10% Nylon | 340gsm | ~0.85mm | Unfaced | 195cm |
Upholstery Classics |
90% Wool / 10% Nylon | 425gsm | ~1.16mm | Unfaced | 195cm |
Why use Baize as Thermal Curtains for Saving Energy?
We’ve shared the amazing properties of wool before and it’s use for sound proofing, or for seating upholstery. The beauty of using a wool based fabric such as baize for thermal curtains or blinds is that it is inherently warm. The tight weave of most baize fabrics helps to keep drafts at bay, while looking both elegant and stylish.