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HOW TO MEASURE FOR A CAFE ROD




FRONT FACING OR SIDE FACING?


Our stylish 12mm brass cafe rods are designed with 4 bracket styles so you can choose to fit them across the entire width of your window frame in the same way as a traditional curtain pole (front facing), or within the window recess (side facing).


CAFE ROD FITTING OPTIONS

Cafe rod with capped end brackets Cafe rod recess bracket Cafe rod with cupped recess bracket From left: Front facing cafe rod fitted with Cupped End brackets. 
Cafe rod with a standard Recess Bracket
Cafe rod with a Cupped Reccess Bracet



1. FRONT FACING CAFE ROD

calculate your cafe rod length

STEP 1.

Height

Look at your window and where you would like to position your rod. Generally rods are fitted a third to half way up from the sill, or in line with a muntin (horizonal window pane divider) as it looks neater.
  • Decide how high you would like to place your rod and mark the spot with a pencil or masking tape.
  • Measure the height from the window sill to the mark you have made and make a note of it.
  • Measure the same height on the other side and mark the spot. 

STEP 2

Bracket placement

We offer 2 styles of bracket for front facing cafe rods. The 12mm capped end bracket houses the rod within it without the need for a finial. Alternatively, you can use a 12mm sleeve bracket with the 12mm button finial. 
  • Looking at the height marks made in Step 1, decide how far away from the window frame you would like to place your brackets.
  • To make sure they are level and an equal distance from the window frame, use a spirit level to measure the distance from the mark to the outside edge of your window/frame.
  • Measure the same distance the other side. You may need to adjust your marks accordingly.

STEP 3

Width

Measure the distance between your bracket marks on the wall. This will be the length of your rod.
  • Remember to allow room for the finials if you are using them. You will need to take into account an additional 1.2cms (0.6 x 2 = 1.2cms) for the thickness of the button finials.


STEP 4

Centre bracket

If you are fitting a cafe rod across a window that is more than 1.5m wide, and you have a fixed central point on the frame/mullion that you can use, we recommend using a sleeve bracket at the centre for additional support.
  • The sleeve brackets fixing plates are 3cm wide.
  • If you use a central bracket, your voile will need to be made in 2 parts to meet at the centre as it will not pull across the bracket.


2. SIDE FACING CAFE ROD (IN A WINDOW RECESS)

calculate your curtain pole length

STEP 1.

Placement

Look at your window and where you would like to position your rod. Generally rods are fitted a third tlo half way up from the sill, or in line with a muntin (horizontal window pane divider) as it looks neater.
  • Decide how high you would like to place your rod and mark the spot on one wall with a pencil or masking tape.
  • Measure height from the window sill to the mark you have made. 
  • Measure the same height on the other side and mark the spot.

STEP 2

Allow for the brackets

We offer 2 styles of recess brackets for cafe rods. You need to take into account the thickness of the brackets and deduct it from overall length of your rod to ensure it fits into the recess.
  • The 12mm Recess Cup Bracket houses the rod at each end. It is 0.5cm deep so you need to deduct 1cm (0.5 x 2) from the overall length of your pole to allow for the thickness of the brackets.
  • The standard 12mm Recess Bracket slots into the end of the cafe rod. It is also 0.5cm deep, so again you need to deduct 1cm (0.5 x 2) from the overall length of your pole to allow for the thickness.

STEP 3

Measure

Measure the distance between the 2 height marks you made in Step 1.
  • Subtract 1cm to account for the thickness of the brackets. This is the length of your rod.


STEP 4

Centre bracket

If you are fitting a cafe rod into a recess that is more than 1.5m wide, we recommend using a sleeve bracket on the centre mullion for additional support.
  • The sleeve bracket fixing plates are 3cm wide.
  • If you use a central bracket, your voile will need to be made in 2 parts to meet at the centre as it will not pull across the bracket.



SELECT YOUR BRACKETS


We make 4 bracket styles for cafe rods. The 12mm Capped End Sleeve Bracket and standard 12mm Sleeve Bracket are for front facing rods, while the 12mm Recess Bracket and 12mm Recess Cup Bracket are for rods to be fitted within a recess.

Capped End Sleeve Bracket

Sleeve Bracket

Recess Bracket

12mm Recess Cup Bracket



CHOOSE YOUR VOILES & ACCESSORIES


For the perfect finishing touch choose between 2 styles of fabric headings that we have designed specifically for our cafe rods. Handmade by our talented soft furnishings team, here in Suffolk, our Gathered Heading is a 2.5cm (1") header tape with a 1cm upstand supplied with metal tape hooks suitable for unlined curtains and voiles. Our new Pocket Rod style is 5cm or 8cm deep with a 1cm upstand that is also supplied with metal tape hooks suitable for unlined curtains and voiles.
  • For more information on our made-to-measure curtains and how to request a quote, read our guide How to Order for a Curtain.
  • Rod Pocket curtains do not require rings.
  • The 12mm brass curtain rings are the perfect match for your cafe rods.
Gathered Heading

Rod Pocket Heading

12mm brass curtain ring

Sleeve bracket with button finial



HOW TO FIT A CAFE ROD


FRONT FACING

  1. Use the measuring guide above to establish where you want to place your cafe rod.
  2. Use a pencil or masking tape to mark the height and distance from the window frame where you wish to fit the brackets making sure they are the same on both sides. 
  3. Offer the bracket to the wall and with a pencil mark the screw holes. Do the same on the other side.
  4. Drill x 2 screw holes in the wall using a rawl plug if you need to.
  5. Using the supplied screws, screw the bracket into the wall. Repeat on the other side.
  6. Slide the rod through the sleeve brackets or into the Cupped End brackets and secure into place with the grub screws.

SIDE FACING (RECESS)


RECESS CUP BRACKETS

  1. Use the recess measuring guide above to establish where you want to place your cafe rod.
  2. Use a pencil or masking tape to mark the height where you wish to fit the brackets, making sure it is the same at both ends.
  3. Offer the bracket to the the wall/window frame and using a pencil, mark the screw hole position through the bracket plate. Do the same the other side.
  4. At each end, drill the screw holes using a rawlplug if you need to.
  5. If you are using a Recess Cup Bracket, offer the bracket to the wall and scew it into position.
  6. Place the rod in the brackets and secure in place with the grub screws.

RECESS BRACKETS

  1. If you are using the standard Recess Brackets, you will need to install the rod with the brackets already in place at each end.
  2. Carry out steps 1 to 4 above.
  3. Slot the recess brackets into the rod at each end, and getting someone to help you if you need to, position the rod on the wall and screw the brackets into place.
For handy tips on how to screw fittings into place, see our Screw Fitting Guide in the Jim Lawrence Knowledge Base.



FAQS

DO I NEED A CENTRE BRACKET?



12mm Brass Poles - the maximum length we would recommend without using a central bracket is 150cm


WHAT DO I NEED FOR A RECESSED WINDOW?



If your cafe rod is side fitting, ie fixed to the side walls within a window recess, you will need to use either the 12mm Recessed Brackets or Recess Cup Brackets. 
If your rod is front fitting over the window, you can use our 12mm Sleeve Brackets with the 12mm Button Finials, or our 12mm Capped End Sleeve Brackets 


WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM LENGTH I CAN HAVE?


The maximum length of 12mm brass pole we recommend for a cafe rod is 150cm. This ensures your cafe curtain fits fully across the length of the rod. As these rods are custom made, you can have them cut to any length, but we recommend using a 12mm Sleeve Bracket as a centre bracket if over 150cm. This means your curtain will not hang across the full length of the rod but will meet at the bracket in the middle.

WHAT FABRIC SHOULD I USE?




You can use any type of curtain fabric, but cafe rods are primarily designed with lightweight fabrics like voiles, nets or linens in mind, to allow as much light through while affording you some privacy.  


HOW MANY RINGS DO I NEED?


We generally recommend using 1 ring per 7cm of rod depending on the type of curtain heading you like and the thickness of your curtains.
  • We suggest 1 ring per 7cm of rod for voiles and linens with a gathered heading.
  • Our rod pocket headings do not require curtain rings.

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NEED SOME HELP?

OUR ADDRESS


Jim Lawrence, The Ironworks
Lady Lane, Hadleigh
Suffolk, IP7 6BQ

CALL US


Speak to one of the sales team on
01473 826685
Our telephone lines are open:  
Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5pm

EMAIL US


Email us at: sales@jim-lawrence.co.uk