As with all products, indoor plantation shutters have their advantages and disadvantages. It helps to know the pros and cons to make an informed decision when you are shopping for new window treatments. Some window coverings are better at certain qualities, while others are not. You can learn about the different types of shutters and the benefits they offer from this information.
What Are Plantation Shutters?
Plantation shutters are timeless and classic window treatments that have been in use since back in the plantations of the old south many years ago. They are simple but effective in controlling heat, sunlight, and UV rays in your home. Shutters are a contemporary alternative to other types of window treatments, and they offer you as a homeowner many benefits.
How Do Plantation Shutters Operate?
Plantation shutters have removable slats or louvers on them for adjusting your filtered light, much in the same manner as window blinds work with vanes. You get plenty of light when the slats are open and complete privacy and insulation when they are closed to block out heat and sunlight. The most common slat width or louver size is 2.5, 3. and 3.5 inches. The wider slats allow you to have a better view when they are tilted open and look best in large windows with expansive views to the outside.
What Are Indoor Shutters Made Of?
Indoor shutters can be constructed from real hardwood, or they may be composite or faux wood. Both are very beautiful and can be painted or stained in any color you desire to highlight the gorgeous wood grain patterns. Composite shutters are man-made to resist cracking, fading, peeling, or splitting when exposed to the hot sunlight from your window, and they hold up well in hot and humid areas such s bathrooms and kitchens. Hardwood shutters work well in any other window or door in your home.
Pros of Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters have many great benefits in any setting.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Plantation shutters have a beauty that is unsurpassed by any other window treatment product, and they match any interior decor you may have seamlessly. Wood shutters are a great option for any home.
Energy Efficiency
Indoor shutters are very energy-efficient window treatments because they insulate your windows all year round. When closed, your home will be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter to save you valuable money on heating and cooling bills.
Versatile Light Control
Shutters give you better lighting control than window blinds and shades, which can only be raised or lowered. You can keep them closed entirely with the slats closed for room-darkening effects, open the slats only for filtered light or swing them all the way open for enjoying some sunshine and natural light on a nice day.
Easy Maintenance
Homeowners love the easy care and maintenance of plantation shutters because they are quite easy to clean. You merely close them and give them a quick swipe with a feather duster on both sides of the shutter panels, then open the slats fully and dust across the horizontal slats to keep them dust and debris free. This is the perfect solution for tilt-in windows because they allow you to reach the glass easily to clean them as well.
The Cons of Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters do have a few cons to them, but they are less significant than the pros.
Outside Visibility
From outside of your home, passersby can see that you have shutters in your living room windows when they are closed or if the slats are tilted open. Some people prefer a different type of window treatment, such as drapery panels that are not as visible from the street side.
Up Front Cost
The upfront cost of shutters is usually about the most expensive option of window treatment you can secure. However, since they are so energy efficient, they will pay for themselves in a short amount of time with your heating and cooling bills being lowered. They also add tangible value to your home in case you want to sell it in the future.
Repair Difficulties
At times an accident may happen, and you will need your shutters repaired, which can be hard unless you contact the window treatment company that you bought them from. However, shutters are the heaviest and most sturdy products for window shading solutions, and they rarely break—this is why they usually carry a lifetime warranty.
Secure Plantation Shutters from The Experts
At Clear Fortress Window Solutions, we are your premier window treatment company in Michigan. We have almost 50 years of combined experience in beautifying homes with plantation shutters. We offer a FREE in-home design consultation with an expert designer to help you achieve all your goals in shading products with the highest quality products available. Call us today to learn more about the purpose of plantation shutters, wood blinds, and any other type of window treatments for your home and all their benefits!