Plantation shutters are one of the most economical additions that you can add to your home. Shutters provide insulation, as they are permanent. They keep the cold out in the winter and control the heat in the summer. If you are considering reselling your home plantation shutters will increase the value. Good quality shutters will last for decades so it is important to research the different brands and materials that are available.

They may cost a bit more upfront than some other options, but the slightly larger investment can be a beneficial addition when the time comes to put your home on the market for sale. There are at least five ways in which wooden plantation shutters can increase the value of your home.

1. Energy efficient

The main selling point is that they are more energy efficient than other window covering options. They can help to reduce energy bills by keeping the hot or cold weather from entering into the home.

2. Looking good

Another selling feature that home buyers adore about wooden shutters is simply the appearance. Once upon a time, plantation shutters were only on the homes of the rich, and to this day, even though they are now affordable, many still have the same general sense that window shutters add a rich elegance to a home.

3. Permanent feature

Shutters are a permanent feature; they are like furniture for the home’s windows. Unlike other options, these are permanent fixtures in the home and will not need replacing, which is a huge advantage in the eyes of potential home buyers.

4. Easy to maintain

Window shutters are also low maintenance and require little to no upkeep. Wooden shutters may require a coat of paint every few years in addition to regular cleaning.

5. Custom made

In addition to the above, what makes wooden shutters so appealing to potential home buyers is the custom, perfectly created look. They are considered a home addition, thus adding value to the homes’ worth, therefore making any upfront expenditure worth it in the end.

Once you have decided to invest in plantation shutters it is important to know what you are looking for. Plantation shutters are an investment that will increase the value of your home and give it the classic look that of which you have always dreamed.

Lately my wife and I have been looking for a bigger house to keep up with our growing family. The houses that we have seen so far have one thing in common apart from the expensive price tags, they all use interior window shutters for their window treatment. Interior shutter is basically shutters that can be installed on either side of the window but when opens it swings to the inside.

There are basically 2 distinct types of interior window shutters which are the traditional shutter and plantation shutter. The biggest difference between the 2 is that the traditional design uses 1-1/4 inch louver or also known as the horizontal slats and it comes with ¾ inch thick stiles. The plantation design on the other hand has wider louver which is usually around 2 to 4 inches and thinner stiles.

Shutters are generally made out of wood with basswood being one of the favorites due to the superb quality of the hardwood. There are also other alternatives such as faux wood and vinyl or PVC. Faux wood is getting quite popular as it resembles real wood but resistant to moisture damage and termites. Vinyl produces cheaper shutters but they won’t look as good as the wood or faux wood ones. If you can afford it I would strongly recommend using either the hard wood or faux wood material for your shutters as they look nicer and are more durable. Do not be pennies wise and pound foolish. The important thing that you want to bear in mind when shopping for your shutters is only use companies who have the experience to produce shutter panels of different sizes and styles.

Finally is the installation. You can either hire a contractor to do this for you or just do it yourself. In general hiring a professional to do this is expensive as it would normally costs you around USD680 to install a 4 panel shutters. Now if you do this yourself you can purchase the shutters for 360 bucks and save a whopping 40%. It will take a bit of hard work but with proper instructions and perseverance you should be able to complete it in no time. Here is a video that will take though a step by step guide to install your shutters.

Shutters have come a long way since the days where they were mainly used for practical reasons such as to protect the homes from intruders and hurricane. Today plantation shutters continue to provide protection and security to the home but they have become a lot more to home owners. Some of the benefits are they increase the look and appeal of the home, great heat insulators, provide excellent privacy and finally I bet you never guess it, increase the value of your home!

Faux wood plantation shutters are the most popular as they are affordable and hardy. They are made out of synthetic material that looks like wood and since they are not wood therefore they are resistant to moisture damage and termites attack. In addition you can customize them to any color that you want. They can be custom-made faster than wood shutters and they are about 25% cheaper. As for the size you can opt for either a full size, full size with rail, café style (about ¾ of the full size) or café style with rail.

Most shutters are custom-made or made to measure. This is due to the fact that the shutters have fit perfectly to your window or door frame so there is no room for error unlike blinds.

Here are some ideas on how you can custom-made your faux wood plantation shutters according to your taste. If you want a more traditional look you can use smaller slat size while larger slats on the shutters provide a more contemporary or modern look. For the larger shutters you might want to consider adding a divider rail so that you can open the top and bottom separately. If you prefer an expansive view of the outside a rear hidden tilter should be able to do the job.

Shutters can provide additional security as compared to the other types of window treatment. This can be done by adding a latch or lock on the inside which will make it more difficult for intruders and burglars from gaining entry through the window.

Shutters are also safe for young children and pets as they are no dangling cords around. Furthermore they are robust and durable, remember they are also used to protect homes from hurricane in some places. Cleaning them is also a breeze as you can just use a piece of cloth or feather duster to do the job. If you using the faux wood ones than you can even clean it with water or a damp cloth.

Gone were the days where people only use shutters to protect the windows from hurricane or storm. Nowadays they are the in thing and the most popular one is definitely plantation shutters.

You can find them every where especially in the more contemporary and modern homes. Most of the shutters are custom made so there are a few things that you need to consider before ordering them.

One of the crucial components is the stiles of the plantation shutters. Stiles are the upright solid structure on the left and right of the shutters. You might want to go for rebated stile where it will help to reduce light flow into the room.

Next you need to decide whether you want to go for a front push rod or hidden ones. The hidden ones are usually used in more contemporary shutters. These days manufacturers also offer blackout blind to compliment their shutters as it is able to entirely shut out the sunlight. It is installed behind the panels and can be lowered or raised as necessary.

Last but not least is the gap at your window panel which can be a sore sight. This can be found on any side of your window frame but commonly found at the bottom. However this can be easily resolved by using a thin strip of wood to cover the gaps.