subject: How Exterior Shutters Can Protect Your Windows [print this page] When talking about window protection, there are many different facets to keeping windows in pristine condition. No one wants to come home and see a window has been broken because it costs money to repair, broken glass is dangerous, and it is extremely hard to clean up because often times glass will spill both inside and outside of the home. Exterior shutters can help protect windows from breaking.
Window shutters have been around for as long as there been homes in the United States and exist for a a variety reasons. They can be decorative items that contrast a home's external paint job with great secondary colors to distinguish a home from others. Shutters also serve as a great line of defense from a variety of different weather patterns that can save window panes from shattering.
Another way that window shutters help protect a home is against theft. A thief will have a much more difficult time getting into a home if they must break through window shutters and a window pane as well. Costing a thief time during a burglary operation is a fundamental step in protecting a house. They can serve as a deterrent due to the fact that thieves will know it will take much longer to get into the home.
This type of window apparatus is also useful in keeping heat in the home. Windows are good insulators if installed correctly. In the summer, they can actually serve the opposite effect. The shutters can be closed to keep the sun out of the home. Instead of the temperature rising, the air conditioning units will be able to keep the home cool and the energy bills down.
Finally, the most important aspect of having shutters is protecting the window panes themselves from being susceptible to breaking. For homes that are in volatile weather areas, like hurricane or tornado alley, shutters act as the first line of defense from debris breaking windows. As previously stated, cleaning up windows that have been broken is not only tedious and dangerous, it is costly for the home owner to replace.
Exterior shutters have a variety of different uses that all promote positive effects on a dwelling for the homeowner. They can be used to save on energy bills throughout the season, can be decorative items, protect against the elements during storms, or serve as an antitheft home security device.
