Scalloping: Why Outdoor Blinds Wave

What is Scalloping?

If you've spotted a slight curve or wave along the bottom edge of your outdoor blinds, you're looking at what us blind guys call 'scalloping'. We see it all the time up and down the Coast, from the windy headlands at Moffat Beach to the quiet, sunny streets up in Buderim.

A lot of folks worry a scalloped edge means their blind is busted or poorly made. But honestly, it's rarely a defect. It's just a normal thing that happens when you stretch fabric over a wide gap.

Why Does Scalloping Happen?

It all comes down to basic physics acting on flexible materials. The main culprits are:

• Heat: When a Queensland summer really kicks in, the fabric and threads soften and stretch out a bit, making the middle droop.
• Gravity and Tension: That heavy bottom bar pulling down all day means the middle section stretches a bit more than the edges, which are held up by the side tracks.
• Over-cranking: If you wind a manual blind down too hard or force it past where it naturally wants to stop, you'll put way too much stress on the fabric.

How Fabric Choice Changes Things

The type of gear you choose makes a difference. Woven mesh fabrics like Vistaweave tend to behave a bit differently than solid clear PVC because of how the yarns are stitched together.

At our Warana factory, we cut and weld everything dead-on to keep that initial scalloping to an absolute minimum. But some minor movement as the blind settles in is just part of the deal.

Tips to Keep Scalloping in Check

You can't fight gravity forever, but you can definitely manage the tension to keep your blinds looking sharp.

What to Expect Down the Track

Over the first few months, your new blinds will 'settle' into their spot. A few millimetres or a centimetre of scalloping over a wide drop is completely normal. It won't mess with the wind rating or your warranty, so no stress.