FINDING THE CORRECT WAND LENGTH
While the length of the wand may seem like an aesthetic choice or even an afterthought to some, it is actually quite important. This is especially true when the end client is a little person or in a wheelchair, as the standard height that most wands are mounted are too high for comfortable operation. If accessibility is a concern or if working with a difficult window, use the following steps to find the best length of wand to use.
KEY:
W: Total wall height, ceiling to floor.
CB: Ceiling to top of bracket base.
D: Diameter of Track/Traverse Rod
F: F-Space on Bracket
A: Top of rod to top of pinset for Ring
PS: Pinset
2” Clip: Clip length from top of clip to top of wand
WL: Final Wand Length
STEP 1
Find the Wands mounting position, AKA the distance from the ceiling to where the top of the wand will sit.
To find this for a rod and ring treatment, you will need to add CB, F, and A together to find the distance from the ceiling to where the wand clips onto the ring. This is needed for all wands.
STEP 2
Figure out how much sidewall you want on each side of the window.
- Leave room for the drapery stack/overlap
- Factor in your end bracket.
- On the stack side, add the width of the bracket arm.
- Strap Brackets: Use ½” for petite brackets, 1” for standard.
- Other Brackets: Measurements needed.
- If there is no stack, use the bracket base plate width instead. This is to make sure there is enough space to mount the end brackets on either side of the window frame.
- On the stack side, add the width of the bracket arm.
Step 1 and 2 provides the rod length needed for ordering.
STEP 3
Add the width of the Finial and the length added by the collars (see Standard Deductions below)
Step 3 provides the total or max width of the entire treatment, so you know how much space it will take up on the wall.
Formula:
CB + F + A = Wand Mount
Example 1:
Client has a CB of 7 ½”, a standard strap F-Space of 1”, and is using a Small ring with an A measurement of 2 ⅛”
7 ½ + 1 + 2 ⅛ → 7.5 + 1 + 2.125
8.5 + 2.125
10.625 → 10 ⅝”.
The wand will mount to the rod 10 ⅝” from the ceiling.
To find this for a traverse track or rod, you would instead add the CB, F, and D for your assembly, as traverse rods do not have rings. You will also need to factor in the thickness of the bracket arm into the F-Space, as it sits on top of the rod and will add to the overall length.
- Standard Ruffino bracket arms are ¼” thick.
Formula:
CB + D + (F + ¼”) = Mount
Example 2:
Client has a CB of 10” and is using a Ruffino 1 ¾” rod with a standard Ruffino bracket, which has a F-space of 1” or 1 ¼” with the arm.
10 + 1 ¾ + 1 ¼”
10 + 1.75 + 1 ¼
11.75 + 1.25
13”.
The wand will mount to the rod 13” from the ceiling.
STEP 2
There may be additional measurements needed depending on whether the wand is a wand with clip, wand welded to a ring, or a wand with an adapter (traverse only). Use this guide and add the following to the result from STEP 1.
- Wand Welded to a Ring: no extra measurements needed.
- Wand with Clip: Add the Pinset and the length of the clip.
- Clip Length: 2” from top of clip to top of wand. (2 ¼” overall, mounted ¼” from top of wand)
- Wand with Adapter: Add the Pinset for the carrier (if attaching wand to carrier or master carrier) or the length added by the adapter.
- Adapter Length: NEED
Example 1:
Client above is going to use an Iron wand with a clip. The pinset on her Small ring is ¼”
10 ⅝ + ¼ + 2
10.625 + 0.25 + 2
10.875 + 2
12.875 → 12 ⅞”.
The top of the wand will be 12 ⅞” from the ceiling.
Example 2:
Client above is going to use a Fiberglass wand with a clip on her Overlap/Underlap carrier, which has a pinset of ¾”
13 + ¾ + 2
13 + 0.75 + 2 13 + 2.75
15.75 → 15 ¾”.
The top of the wand will be 15 ¾” from the ceiling.
STEP 3
Find remaining wall height by measuring the total wall height (W) from floor to ceiling and then subtracting the Wand Mount distance result from STEP 2.
Example 1:
Client measures their total wall height at 8’ (96”)
96 - 12 ⅞
96 - 12.875
83.125 → 83 ⅛”.
Client has 83 ⅛” from the top of the wand to the floor.
Example 2:
Client measures their total wall height at 10’ (120”)
120 - 15 ¾
120 - 15.75
104.25 → 104 ¼”.
Client has 104 ¼” from the top of wand to the floor.
STEP 4
Decide how far from the floor you want the wand to end at, or the wand drop.
There are 2 different standard drop distances based on the clients needs:
- For general applications: 60”
- ADA compliant: 48”
- ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities. This standard drop is based on those who are in wheelchairs or are otherwise unable to reach the 60” drop.
STEP 5
Subtract the chosen standard chosen in STEP 4 from the results of STEP 3 to find the optimal wand length.
Either round up to a pre-cut length or use the result as your desired length.
The type of wand material matters at this step, as not all wands can be customized to fit a specific length.
- If the wand is an Iron or Hexagonal Aluminum wand, the length can be cut to fit.
- Pre-cut lengths ranging from 36” - 84” are also available.
- If the wand is Fiberglass or Plated, the length cannot be cut to fit and must be within the pre-cut lengths offered.
Example 1:
Client is going to use the standard 60” drop.
83 ⅛ - 60
83.125 - 60
23.125 → 23 ⅛”.
Client can order her wand cut to 23 ⅛” (or 24”) or she can round up to the nearest pre-cut amount, which is 36”.
Example 2:
Client 2 is going to use the ADA approved 48” because her client is in a wheelchair.
104 ¼ - 48
104.25 - 48
56.25 → 56 ¼”
Since the client is using a Fiberglass wand, which only comes in pre-cut amounts, she would round up to the 5’ or 60” wand.