Plantation
Shutters – A beautiful window treatment for your
home
A plantation shutter is a solid and sturdy
window treatment consisting of a frame of vertical stiles and
horizontal rails. It is basically a shutter that has a louver
blade on the wide side. Depending on the material it is made
of, it can be an exterior or interior window covering.
Plantation shutters have a timeless beauty and
never go out of style. Their simple elegance is what has made
them a popular choice for years. Like any good window treatment
they allow the user to control the amount of light entering the
room and provide the necessary degree of privacy as well. Their
wide slats can be adjusted to any angle to allow the desired
amount of light to enter the room. There is a lever mechanism
that is used to open and close the slats. A major advantage of
the lever is that there are no cords involved and so there is
no nuisance of tangling and no danger of accidental
strangulation for kids or pets.
Plantation shutters are available in a wide
range of colors, materials and styles. The good thing about
them is that they can be painted or stained to coordinate with
different types of decors. You also have to decide on the type
of blades that would suit your needs and whether you want your
shutters on the exterior or interior of the window. If you do
not find the right sized readymade shutters you can get them
custom made to fit the dimensions of the window. The blades
must be chosen with great care because they are responsible for
light control and they also change the look of the shutters
quite dramatically. Besides windows these shutters can be built
to fit around custom door
frames or even used as partitions or room dividers.
How to choose
the right interior or exterior plantation shutters:
Aluminum, wood and vinyl are some popular
materials of choice for plantation shutters. Aluminum is a good
choice for exteriors because it can stand the wear and tear of
rain, sunlight, snow, etc. they can be painted to different
colors. Wood is a good choice for interior shutters. Not saying
that you cannot have exterior wood shutters. You will find many
wood plantation shutters that are especially made for exterior
use. There are a few popular varieties in wood plantation
shutters:
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Hardwood Plantation Shutters
– The pros of these shutters are
that they are strong, durable and easy to maintain.
The beauty of hardwood is not debatable and they
look elegant and appealing. Poplar, Alder and Cedar
are commonly used to manufacture hardwood
plantation shutters. The downside of these shutters
is their price. They are quite expensive and may
not be suitable for all budgets.
-
Vinyl Plantation Shutters
– Vinyl shutters are far more
affordable compared to wood shutters. However, they
are not as aesthetically appealing as wood
shutters. They can stand wear and tear and are
weather resistant which makes them a good choice
for exterior use. They do not fade or develop
cracks. They are easy to clean and do not require a
lot of maintenance.
Faux Wood
Plantation Shutters – The beauty of wood without paying the
high price:
The sheer number of plantation shutter
styles available these days is mind boggling. There are types
with stationery louvers, ones made of PolyCore, wood, vinyl,
aluminum, etc. The louver
sizes also vary greatly. A lot of people love the look and
elegance of wood plantation shutters. However, not everyone
can afford hardwood. But you don’t need to worry because you
can opt for faux wood plantation shutters. They look
appealing and give a warm and cozy feel to the room but at a
fraction of the cost. These shutters are usually made from a
PVC based material or vinyl. This makes them very easy to
maintain, which is another bonus over real wood
shutters.
Hardwood shutters are difficult to maintain.
If they are not cleaned and polished regularly, dust and grime
will settle on them and this is very difficult to remove. If
you use cleaning agents you run the danger of damaging the
varnish or paint. If the surface of the wood is exposed to
these chemicals, its sheen and texture may be affected. Faux
wood plantation shutters are not damaged by detergents or by
scrubbing hard. They can be wiped clean with a wet cloth. If
they are very dirty or dusty you can use some detergent without
worrying about ruining their appearance. Even dusting with a
feather duster will suffice if they are not installed in areas
where they are likely to be exposed to grease.
People cannot tell the difference between
hardwood plantation shutters and faux wood ones unless they
examine them from close. You can buy them in all types of
different finishes like wood grain, stain or painted. Vinyl and
PVC materials are well suited to changing weather conditions
and do not warp or retain moisture in humid conditions. They
are not affected by water so they are safe even in the
monsoons. They are easy to install and will last you for a long
time to come.
Hunter Douglas Plantation
Shutters – A bang for your buck:
Hunger Douglas plantation shutters are very
popular because they are a perfect combination of functionality
and style. They protect your home from UV rays, are energy
efficient, offer privacy and good insulation to your home. The
slats are treated with a special chemical that makes them water
and heat resistant. This allows them to regulate the
temperature within the room. The slats are also capable of
blocking out vibrations and noise. Besides being useful they
look beautiful too. Hunter Douglas gives you a choice of
several different finishes, colors, textures and type of slats.
They are easy to coordinate with any type of décor and give
your home a warm ambience.
Hunter Douglas shutters come in hardwood,
poly satin and hybrid compounds. This way you can choose the
style that suits your taste and budget. The hardwood variety is
definitely more expensive than the rest. All their shutters are
durable and long lasting. They are also easy to install without
the help of a professional. Many of their shutters even come
pre assembled. You can find instructions on installation on the
internet.
What you will pay for Plantation
Shutters:
The price of your plantation
shutters depends on the style and material you choose for
your home. The size of your window also plays a part in
determining the price. For example, a very high quality variety
of plantation shutters are Alder wood ones. They are very
durable and attractive. But they can cost up to $700.00 for a
set. They are pre painted and stained but you will have to hire
a professional to install them. Other hardwood shutters follow
in price. If you want the look of wood plantation shutters
without the heavy price tag you can opt for faux wood.
Two of the composite shutters are MDF and
Polydesign shutters. They are also very durable but cost much
less than wood as they are easy to mass produce. Polyvinyl and
vinyl shutters are available in several different sizes. They
are practical and can e bought in almost any color to fit the
theme of your décor. They are also one of the cheapest
plantation shutters
available in the market. You can buy a set for as low as
$200.00. They can withstand harsh weather conditions and are
not easily damaged. Aluminum plantation shutters are also a
good choice as they are light weight and quite
inexpensive.
Lastly, you can opt to get custom plantation
shutters made. The pricing of these will depend on what
materials, motifs, textures, etc you opt for.
Discount Plantation Shutters: Think smart
Plantation shutters are by no means
inexpensive. But you do not have to get discouraged if you wish
to have plantation shutters in your home but do not have a huge
budget. You will just need some careful planning and some
good research. You should not opt for hardwood shutters.
You are better off with faux wood or vinyl ones. By choosing a
nice color you can enhance the look of your room. The color and
texture options in these materials are huge. Study different
options before you settle.
When you start looking for cheap plantation
shutters you could try looking in big home improvement stores
like Home Depot or Lowes. Often times they have resale lists
where contractors and builders have had to return unopened
packages of shutters to the store because of some mistake in
taking the measurements. These goods are often on huge
discounts in the store. You might end up getting lucky. The
other good place to look is on the internet. With some patience
you may end up finding a good sale or clearance in an online
store. Sometimes you may even find their pricing cheaper as
they do not have the overheads that are a part of operating a
brick and mortar store. But be very sure you measure your
windows carefully before ordering a set online. You will often
find online stores that offer free shipping as well.
Plantation Shutter Plans- DIY for
creative people
Plantation shutters can turn out to be quite
expensive. However, if you are a creative type of person you
can make your own plantation shutters. This will save you some
money and I’m sure you will have a good time doing this
project. The type of shutters you choose to make should depend
upon your woodworking
skills and your ability to handle tools. For those who are
not very handy you can opt for a set of shutters that are
ready to paint or stain. That way you can do them up to
match your décor.
If you are up for something more challenging
you will find some really good plans to make plantation
shutters on the internet. You could also go to a home
improvement store and consult a professional on what would work
best for you and your abilities and buy a plan there. Louvered
shutters are great because they can be adjusted to control
sunlight, wind, etc and also the degree of privacy you need but
making a louvered shutter is not an easy task. Even the
simplest plans require intermediate woodworking skills. So if
you are not up to the task you should look for a simpler
alternative – and there are plenty available. You could even
see if someone offers ready made slats that can be fitted into
your shutter frame.
When someone says plantation shutters we get
a fixed picture in our mind. But when we delve deeper into the
product we find a vast pool of information that we never knew
about. So if you are considering plantation shutters for
your home, be sure to read up and gather as much information as
you can before you make a decision. This will ensure that you
end up with the design and style of your choice and don’t end
up paying more than necessary. These shutters will last you for
a long time and since they are not inexpensive you want to be
satisfied with your choice. You want your shutters to beautify
your home and want your guests to notice them.
Latest Articles:
Wood
plantation shutters: Adds elegance and classic touch
to your room.
Faux
plantation shutters: Now you can select from wide
range of interior and exterior plantation shutters that are
affordable.
Interior plantation
shutters: Help to reduce your energy bills.
Custom plantation
shutters: Make your room decor the way you like
it.
Plantation shutters
prices: You can get good deals on plantation shutters
online.
Vinyl plantation
shutters: There are many selection of
colors available to select from making it easy for most
users.
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