NOT SO DURABLE BUT VERY ATTRACTIVE!
Written: Dec 23 '06 (Updated Dec 23 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Attractive, decorative, very effective
Cons: Expensive, medium durability.
The Bottom Line: I love the attractive look of this fan. However, it's not easy to clean and is very expensive. May not be for everybody.
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| 42ENGLISH's Full Review: Fanimation FP4320TS Belleria™ Tourtoise Shell Ce... |
I have a large deck on the front of my house that has an arched roof. In the summer, the Texas sun beats down on it and so I had a ceiling fan installed to give us a bit of a breeze on those really calm days.
My electrician and friend did the work and also picked up the Famination Islander FP320BL Outdoor Ceiling F with me from Lights Unlimited in Houston. I wanted something tropical to go with the rest of my décor. This fan was not cheap by any means at $275.00 but was worked into the building costs. I had it installed about six months ago.
About the manufacturer:
Tom Frampton is well known for his creativity and entrepreneurial spirit and gets his design inspirations when traveling around the world. Tom began Fanimation in his garage, with three fan designs and the company was then founded in 1984. The growth of Fanimation’s outstanding collection of fans has been nothing short of spectacular. Through the years, the company grew its collection to include more than 31 fan designs. With numerous fan blade, lighting, finishing and accessory options, the number of ways the fans can be customized is practically limitless.
The product:
Specs:
• FP320BL Black Motor with ISP1 22" Wide Oval Natural Palm Leaf Blades
• FDK-2100 motor
• 20° blade pitch
• 80-inch lead wires
• Three forward and three reverse speeds
• Light Kits Available (sold separately)
• Woven Wicker, Woven Bamboo, Canvas, and The Ococee Blades Available (addition)
• Extension poles range from 12" to 72" (sold separately)
• Damp location UL listed
This fan originally had a black mounting and motor but I decided to paint it white first because my whole patio is light colored. When my electrician bought it, he had originally suggested the palm leaf blades because of their originality but I opted for the woven wicker as an alternative in hopes that it would be more durable. The five fan blades are relatively small for an outdoor fan but are very wide and are pitched at a very steep angle. This allows for fine gusts of air on those hot summer days. The first time we placed this fan, it was too high at about 15 feet but when we lowered it to 10 feet, it worked great. I had it wired into a switch and when it is turned on, it is virtually noiseless. The 3 forward and reverse speeds are perfect for transition from summer to fall to winter.
The fan motor has a limited lifetime warranty but other parts of the fan are only warranted for a year from the purchase date. I find this a little unsettling since these fans are not made of the most durable products. However, mine seems to be doing fine.
Cleaning:
This is the only problem I have. Woven wicker is not easy to clean and I have to dismantle and clean the blades separately in order to get them clean. I should have taken into account that outdoor fans get much dirtier than indoor fans and a soft brush is the most I could use without damaging the wicker. The woven wicker was probably not the best choice I made but I deal with it.
Durability:
Wicker is quite durable when it is woven tight as this is. It really has the feel of a hard plastic. I have dropped the blades a couple of times without any damage but I couldn’t say that if a hard object was accidentally lifted and caught in the fan that it would not break the blades. I haven’t noticed any damage from daily use of this fan and the mechanical parts are still performing like new.
Conclusion:
The Famination Islander FP320BL fan is very attractive and goes great with my tropical décor. It is practically silent and puts out a nice breeze with its wide blades. I doubt I would pay this price for a fan in the future. It is rather expensive but I just had to have it.
I wouldn’t recommend this fan as a heavy duty outdoor fan but I would as a most decorative, well-made outdoor fan. I mainly bought it for the style and I do love it but I fear it would not last as long as most outdoor fans because of the materials it is made from.
For more information, go to: http://www.famination.com
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Thank you for reading.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
42ENGLISH
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Member: JULIE
Location: Gulf Coast, Texas
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