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Wooden plantation shutters are descendants from America’s south. Here you would find massive farmland with incredible estate homes designated as plantations. These grounds were for farming crops of sugar, tobacco, coffee, and cotton.
The weather in the states in that region was “subtropical,” meaning the winters remained mild while the summers were scorching. In order to keep the houses cool, homeowners avoided the traditional heavy drapes known to stifle the breezes in favor of wooden shutters with white wooden shutters offering large slat sizes to allow substantial airflow into the rooms. In contrast, the white paint reflected the heat to maintain a sense of cool.
In our modern age, you’ll find these window treatments in the south, like the plantation shutters, Charlotte, NC, and everywhere throughout the country, with the units making a beautiful addition to any house. They come in many colors aside from the standard white from days past. These are no longer the sole source of a home’s cooling given current air conditioning systems but can function as an energy-saving tool.
For those who still wish to use the shutters in a functional capacity, you can save on energy costs by turning the AC off, opening the slats, and letting the airflow. Also, they provide an optimum level of privacy when closed and block out substantial light for those who prefer that ambiance.
Factors To Consider When Ordering Plantation Shutters For Install
Plantation shutters served practicality historically in the southern states of America, including North Carolina. Now you’ll find them everywhere, making homes aesthetically pleasing plus providing energy relief. The paint used to be varying shades of white to reflect heat, and the slats were large to allow in as much of a breeze as possible to keep the rooms cool from the harsh temperatures in the summertime.
The least that homeowners considered at the time were the aesthetic or cosmetics. In today’s age, kind of the reverse is true. Now that air conditioning takes care of temperature control, people choose the plantation option for the beautiful appearance and the practicality in saving energy costs.
These allow you to stall the use of your air conditioning, keeping expenses down. Click for facts on the shutters. Some factors to take into consideration when you order include:
** The Size Of The Louvers
The horizontal piece of the shutter is called a louver. These are adjustable to allow air or light. There are different sizes for plantations, with the broadest choice offering the simplest cleaning option. The wider choices are the most popular of the dimensions because they let in the most view / air, plus provide the most privacy and blackout when closed.
There are varied smaller sizes with apparent differences. People make their choices based on the aesthetic they hope to create for their structure. Each gives a unique aesthetic and variations in functionality.
** The Rod (Tilt)
In order to control the shutters, the tilt rod or bar typically mounts on the front of the panel for a classic option. For the louvers to tilt, the bar adjusts according to your preference.
Some rods fit the rear so that you don’t see the component. It gives a clean, neat appearance when the louvers shut. If you move one slat, the rest follow suit. When tilted open, you can see the bar to the side, giving the shutters a “blind-like” appearance. Each has its own set of pros and cons. It’s merely a matter of personal preference. Find out how to care for the units at https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Plantation-Shutters.
** Materials
There are an array of paints, stains, styles, and materials for the window treatments. The type of material that you choose will help to determine the energy savings you see. White used to be the go-to for reflecting the heat and the standard for all homes fitted with plantation shutters, and that is still a go-to for the same reasons today with varying shades.
You can, though, find virtually any color or stain to your liking, but for practicality, you need to choose wisely. Teak is among the most popular wood materials that insulate supremely compared to other options.
Installation Of Plantation Shutters
You can install plantation shutters as a DIY project, but the suggestion is that you not jump into this type of home renovation without speaking first with a professional installer.
Contacting a company specializing in plantation shutters allows you to customize your home with options specific to your needs and have them professionally installed.
The expert can give suggestions on which products work better for your particular location and design. The representative will measure all the windows to ensure accurate fits so that the shutters are a complement and function with no hesitance.
DIY boasts cost savings and instills a sense of pride for homeowners who enjoy taking on their own household projects. But the unfortunate aspect is when the job doesn’t go as planned. Measurements can be off, the choices you make might not be suitable for your house or your location, or any number of factors could go wrong.
In the end, rather than saving money, you could spend much more than you anticipate, plus ultimately need to call in a professional to take over where your project didn’t work out.
You can save much more time, energy, effort, and costs by making an appointment for a consultation and then deciding if you want to DIY after speaking with the expert.
Final Thought
Plantation shutters stand the test of time from when they were once meant merely as a way to cool homes in the southern states from the sweltering heat to where you can now see them everywhere across the country used in an aesthetic capacity and for energy relief.
These are a beautiful addition to any architecture, but it’s essential to consult with an expert if you consider the option. A professional can help you decide on the material, get adequate measurements, select framing / bar choices, and make sure installation is seamless.
