Drapery track styles vary as much as the locations in which they are used. Choose a style that fits the surroundings in your home, office, hotel or medical facility. Each drapery track style will vary in width, shape and durability, depending upon the function and expected frequency of use of the drapes they will hold. In addition, some drapes are operated manually, while others are operated electronically.
Wall-Mounted Tracks
Drapery tracks are not the same thing as a curtain rod, although they can both be wall-mounted. Drapery tracks allow for greater drapery movement, with more track placed along the wall than most rod lengths cover. Wall-mounted track styles can extend the length of the wall as well as to adjoining walls, providing flexibility in how far the drapes are opened or closed. Curtain rods typically don't extend the wall's length, and they don't bend or extend to adjoining walls, restricting your potential view.
Heavy-Duty Wall-Mounted Tracks
Hotels typically favor heavy-duty wall-mounted track styles, as they have guests who are not as concerned with taking care of their accommodations as they would be in their own home. Likewise, children may play with the long drapes hanging in a hotel room but never dare to in the home. The wall-mounted heavy-duty tracks have sturdier ball-bearing tracks than the standard home version. This helps ensure repeated use (as much as 365 days of the year) will not result in malfunction for a hotel guest.
45- to 90-Degree Ceiling-Mounted
Choose the ceiling-mounted 45- to 90-degree drapery track style if you are decorating a medical exam room, hospital emergency (or patient) room or a spa guest treatment room. This ceiling-mounted track affords privacy for a specific area extending out from a wall or located in the middle of a room.
Oval Ceiling-Mounted
A ceiling-mounted track isn't just for commercial settings; you can also use one over your claw-foot tub at home. The oval ceiling-mounted track style is favored for this type of use, and some suppliers offer the ability to move the drape hanging from this ceiling mount from the ceiling downward, instead of side-to-side like wall drapes or medical treatment rooms. Lowering the drape on an oval ceiling-mounted track provides more flexibility regarding the amount of privacy desired.
Electronic and Manual
You can choose whether to pull your drapes open manually or install a track style that enables you to operate them electronically. Motorized drapery tracks provide more flexibility in operation from another area of the room, limiting the touching of your drapes, which can help lengthen their life and reduce wear and tear due to touch and hand oils or debris.
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