Cost of really thick curtains?

[indiesearcher]

I'd like to have some noise reducing curtains made (inspired by another thread)!

I've already got secondary glazing, but I'm lying here thinking some heavy curtains on top of the shutters on top of the secondary on top of the double glazing might help...!

We stayed in a posh B&B recently that was on a main road and had curtains that felt like they had a thin duvet inside. They were beautiful.

How much do such things cost??

The room is big, bay window and then a second window (would you do both??).

And what about the maintaining on them? Presumably they need cleaning every so often? That must cost a fortune too??

My mum and I both managed to get hold of some 2nd hand. Less than £100 for 4 full length windows. I also made another by lining it with fleece but apparently that could be a fire hazard 😂

It really depends on big the windows are. I'm making a set soon for a 1m x 2.5 m window and its going to cost about £1,000 for the fabric and lining.

Depends completely on the windows measurements and fabric chosen.

eBay!

You want black out lining and interlining. Will need to get them custom made most likely. But they are brilliant and if we’ll made will last a lifetime

Oh absolutely I need them to last a lifetime, if spending ££££!

So the height would be about 2.7m, and width say 3m? That should do the bay. The other window same height and about 110cm wide.

Any guesses on even a rough cost would be much appreciated - and then any advice on how to hang? Presume need some very strongly fixed curtain poles as I guess the curtains are v heavy?

And then any advice on how often to dry clean?? And the rough cost on that too would be gratefully received (complete curtain novice!)

Those are big windows. So you might find ready made difficult to source, which means getting them made up.

£15-20 per meter for outside fabric then lining and if you want thick good quality then at least £10 per meter.

Average fabric width is 54" though can be as low as 48"

2.7m x 3m would need 4 widths of fabric at 3.5 m length to allow for hems and gathering.

3.5 x 4 = 14metres

14 x 20 = £280
14 x 10 = £140

£420 plus labour costs.

Obviously that is very rough and could be reduced by picking cheaper fabrics.

For our patio doors we had them made with black out lining and thick interlining and i think they were about £600. Beware they will be very heavy, so you'll need a decent rail with good fixings...i am constantly worried my toddler will pull the whole thing off the wall!

Would triple glazing not be cheaper ?

We have ENORMOUS windows (needed 33m of fabric type enormous). And we got them made. Obviously the fabric is the biggest expense, I’m lucky that I live near an amazing store that had reasonably priced fabric.

I got 5 pairs of curtains with thermal lining (single glazing😫) made for just under £2,000.

We have blackout lining and interlining for our bedroom curtains - two sets as it’s the typical Victorian semi set-up with two tall windows, one and one much wider (non-bay). Cost about £1000 - I actually wish we’d budgeted more as they don’t hang well due to the fabric being a stiff man-made material. In fact, they originally had an even heavier lining which had to be removed as the combo of the curtain material and interlining meant they really did hang like a duvet! The curtain on the narrower window barely pulled back when open.

Bay window downstairs the best part of £1000 too, but much better fabric and no heavy interlining.

I don’t think the people who made them knew what they were doing tbh and I’d rather spend more on better fabric and workmanship.

Curtains made to insulate a triple glass door panel cost about £900 for fabric and making up, plus a new sturdier curtain pole. There wasn't much change from £1100 all told. My mum used to make our curtains but finds it too hard to wrangle 10m of heavy fabric and lining at 87.

If you live near a shop called The curtain exchange - they sell really good quality interlined curtains 2nd hand. thecurtainexchange.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/20667898_1457267437653136_1364159694_n.jpg

Ballpark figure: our bespoke bay window curtains - lined but not interlined - were £900 about five years ago.

The best thing I did in m previous home was to take the curtains over the French windows and sew fleece blankets (£2 from IKEA!) in between the curtain and the lining.
They were fabulous - cut all draughts and a lot of light.

Are fleece blankets and clothing not non-flammable ?

Ours have a thin layer of wadding type material sewn between the lining and the fabric. They are superbly insulated. I'm intending to recreate this when I get my next curtains. Sewing linings in is quite easy.

I think custom made interlined curtains have a fire safety certificate ( I had to show one when I sold some when we moved house. )

Just bear in mind that while thick curtains will be great for heat insulation and blocking light at night, I really don’t think they will do much to reduce noise.

Our bay window measures 280cm drop by 220cm width x 2. To get really nice, full, plush curtains would have cost £2-3k for the decent material that I was after. The material alone would have been over a grand so I didn’t want to spend that much and make a mess of it. I kept a look out for years looking on EBay, local antique shops, face bay before finally getting a pair for the bargain price of £300. You’ve no idea how happy I am about this. They came from an old hotel and the owner told me they cost over £4k to make so I’m thrilled beyond.

I was once told by an interior designer friend of mine - if you have a budget - save on the fabric not the making up. ( & you can always find nice fabric) - so curtains well made with a less expensive fabric will look better than expensive fabric but not made well.

There are often people who make curtains at home who are quite reasonably priced. But I'll second @bluechinavase - if you can find a really good quality set 2nd hand in a fabric you like - that is brilliant

A quick ebay search for used ‘bay window curtains’

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=bay+window+curtains&_sacat=0&_oaa=1&_dcat=45515&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=3000

I was looking at £550 for one small window 😞 I think I’m going to make my own as I haven’t come across any second hand ones anywhere

@bluechinavase thanks for that link lol - having just said I never see second hand curtains I like I’ve just bought a pair of eBay! I was lucky today.

I have made my own for covering french doors in the winter. they really look cosy with the interfacing.

You need interfacing (called 'bump' ) and I used a fabric with a woven pattern which was strong but not necessarily expensive. There are websites that sell all the interfacings and tapes and linings ( I have found fabrics harder to come by these days - got mine off John Lewis but you could always try remaking ready made curtains). Use proper furnishing fabrics.

I hand sewed them mainly (except for joining the panels together - usually I only need one fabric width for my house).

The are not perfect but I didn't want to spend a huge sum as they are in a room where the sun fades them quickly. I take them down in the summer and put voile up.