subject: Plantation Shutters Now An Affordable Option [print this page] There's a certain exotic charm to southern plantation shutters. A remembrance of sunny days spent sipping ice tea while the ceiling fan cools you. Plantation shutters have a classic and simple design that has survived unchanged for hundreds of years, and are so attractive they can transform an average window into a virtual work of art. They never go out of style.
These are some of the benefits
Energy Savings
Because heat transfers through glass, the summer months are especially costly for keeping your home cool. Glass can actually radiate the sun's heat energy into the interior of your home and make your air conditioning unit work harder. This usually means a higher energy bill.
Because wood is a better insulator that glass, plantation shutters can usually reduce the amount of heat that is allowed to radiate in during the summer. By pivoting the louvers up and down, the amount of sunlight allowed in can be controlled to still allow in those grand views of the outdoors while keeping direct sunrays out. In effect, plantation shutters create a thick barrier of non-heat-conducting material between the scorching heat outside and the nice expensive cool air inside.
The opposite concept occurs during the winter, heat from inside your home radiates out through the glass in your windows, again causing a higher energy bill because your heating unit is made to work harder to replace the heat. Shutters will keep the heat in your home and the cold air out.
Elegance
Nothing adds curb appeal to your home like plantation shutters. And, by adding curb appeal you're increasing your home's value. Plantation shutters will transform a room with dull drapes or mini blinds into a grand room with a touch of elegance and charm. The unique look of plantation shutters is recognizable not only inside your home but is also appreciated from the view outside.
Up till now the only drawback has been the price. Plantation shutters usually require a professional to measure each window and custom make each piece. Sadly this is usually the reason for homeowners to settle for a "second choice" for window treatments.
But now things have changed. True, the construction of these pieces is best done in the factory by professionals who have years of experience. With specialized tools they can custom make your plantation shutters and provide you with an exceptional piece. This also comes with an exceptional price.
What if all the mystery was taken out concerning the techniques for measuring your windows and making each piece? Furthermore, what if this was done using simplified methods that require no specialized tools? See the possibilities; your "first choice" for decorating your windows for the price of the materials, mainly wood. You may even have most of the materials needed to construct these beautiful shutters sitting in your garage.
And, once you learn to construct these pieces, you could decorate each window of your home, all for the price of material. See the possibilities now? These step-by-step do-it-yourself guides will point out that when you break down the process for making plantation shutters it mainly consist of
Measuring the space where the shutter will install.
Building a shutter frame using 2 horizontal pieces and 2 vertical pieces.
Installing the louvers that pivot up and down inside the frame.
Painting or staining the complete unit.
It is possible to break these steps down so a non woodworking professional can construct eye catching plantation shutters. It is even possible to have alternate ways to do each step to match what tools are available.
Don't be afraid to try it yourself. You may even be surprised how simple the process is.
