Shade in a heatwave

With the summer temperatures it’s hard to keep cool, especially at night, but your choice of window dressing can play an important part and wooden window shutters can certainly help provide shade and keep the temperature down.

I have wooden window shutters in all my rooms (no surprise there!) In this heat they have played an important part in keeping the temperature down by providing much needed shade and keeping the suns rays out. Much as I hate to shut the sun out, as I often feel we don’t see much of it, it’s key to staying cool and getting a good nights sleep.

There are several ways they help:

• Shade – they allow you to angle the louvres so that you can angle the sun away from where you are sitting or working and cut down on the heat entering your room.
• Fading – the louvers have a UV filter built in to prevent the wood colour or paint fading, but angling them away from furniture also means that you can prevent furnishing or furniture fading in the harsh rays.
• Ventilation – although the louvers can be angled to prevent sun entering it still allows the air to flow freely through them, letting what little breeze there is in to circulate and cool the room.
• Blackout – you can also include the blackout option, and this prevents the rays of the sun waking you up early, but also reflects rays away, reducing the amount of heat and harsh light entering the room early in the morning. While you may not want to leave the blackout in place all day, you can while you are at work or not using a room to help keep the room temperature lower.

If you would like to know more, just give me a call, or register and send me a message through the message service in your account.

The Benefits of Plantation Shutters

Plantation shutters have become increasingly popular in the last decade, as have blinds which essentially create a similarly modern clean look. For those of us who work with them or have them already it’s easy to understand their popularity, but if you are still trying to make a decision then my blogs on the benefits of plantation shutters may help. I have included here many of the points that my customers have found it useful to consider, I have expanded on each of these benefits in my blogs.

Primarily plantation shutters will control light, privacy and ventilation, as will most window coverings. However, the louvers provide much more versatility than curtains which are essentially open or closed.

In addition many come with a UV coating in the paint or stain to protect the colour you have chosen, and you can angle the louver blades to protect your furniture from sunlight.

There is also a question of heat retention, and noise pollution, as I think the solid barrier formed by shutter panels can help with both of these important factors.

For many of my customers security is an issue, and having a solid barrier which makes it difficult to assess a property may help to deter thieves.

Selecting the right colour can improve light levels within the room, creating a feeling of space and reducing decorating costs.

Hard-wearing and easy to clean, this is a great option if you want to reduce dust in your home as it can be wiped away regularly.

Investing in one style of window covering for all the rooms in your home can create a more consistent appearance from both the in and outside. This could make it more attractive to buyers. With the housing market in decline, my local estate agent says that features like these always help to create the right impression with buyers.

Finally, and one of my favourite gadgets for the home, there are now remote control shutters.

If you would like to know more you can either visit my website or look out for my blogs over the next week or so. If you can think of any benefits I’ve missed or have any comments on plantation shutters please feel free to post them to my blog.

Save space and cut decorating costs

This is the last of my blogs about the benefits of wooden window shutters, however, if you think I’ve missed something then please feel free to let me know by commenting on my blog or contacting me through my website.

For me one of the greatest benefits is that shuttered windows create space. Physically they do this because the frame and shutter panels are actually fitted into the window recess, so don’t protrude into the room. As many of my customers choose white or a light colour this creates the impression of space in a room, and the simplicity creates an uncluttered feel. I have come across customers who have previous fitted their curtains across the front of a bay window, which means they have lost a chunk of space when the curtains are closed. Replacing those curtains with something that sits in the window recess has significantly increased the space and impact of their room.

I always advise matching windows, which for most people are usually white, as by doing this is cuts down on future decorating costs. If you choose white it means that it will match any future decorations or furnishings that you choose, which means you don’t have to re-spray or replace your wooden window shutters. As they are designed to be long lasting and by many are seen as an investment, this is another great benefit. Especially as their timeless style blends with both modern and traditional décor so you really can completely transform your room yet leave your shutters in place.

If you have had your shutters for some time, don’t forget I can always re-spray or refurbish them for you if they need refreshing. This is a good way of restoring them to glory without having to fork out for new ones. I also supply free touch up paint with my wooden products in case of chipping, however, the 7 layers of spray paint means that this is rarely necessary.

Look out for more of my blogs coming soon on wooden window shutters, including answers to my most asked questions.

Hardwearing and Durable Internal Plantation Shutters

Internal plantation shutters are ideal for those who want a durable and hardwearing window covering. However, there are a range of reasons why they will last longer than your average curtain or blind and also things that you should consider when buying that might affect the life span of the items you choose.

Firstly it’s important to select the right product for the job to make sure it will last. So if you have a big opening you should opt for a light shutter, ideally made of wood so its light-weight but strong, to prevent unnecessary wear caused by the weight of the panels themselves. For areas such as the kitchen or bathroom where there is moisture I recommend the Standard or ABS plastic shutter as they have a plastic coating making them more able to withstand water in the air. All my products are engineered to prevent warping and twisting, and to lengthen their life.

Every wooden shutter has 7 coats of spray paint to ensure that it will last well and is able to withstand chipping without loosing colour. The layers are built up gradually, so if you do knock your panels they shouldn’t chip right back to the wood core and they are easy to touch up. Touch up paint is supplied free of charge with every order, and it’s worth re-touching any chips to limit the chance of chipping down to the core. When choosing a product its worth checking how they are manufactured and what paint layering system is used.

The paint on all my products also contains a UV inhibitor to protect the colour or stain that you have selected. This will help to prevent the yellowing effect of sunlight, particularly on lighter colours. I have a set I installed 7 years ago are in a south facing window, but they haven’t yellowed or changed colour in any way and still look great.

As internal plantation shutters are fitted on the inside of the window recess they are less likely to be damaged by passers by. Most customers only open the shutter doors to clean the windows, which also limits opportunities for damage, and adjust the louvers daily for light.

As the louvres are operated using a solid control rod attached to each of the blades, there is little chance of damage providing they are operated carefully. The louver operation is also adjustable to tighten or loosen the movement to your preference, limiting the chance of damage by rough treatment if they are stiff or too loose.

Finally if your internal plantation shutters are starting to look worn, I can always re-spray or refurbish them for you, details can be found on my website.

Internal Shutters - Easy to clean and dust reducing

Many of my customers ask how best to clean their internal shutters to maintain their appearance. There are several options, all simple, and one of the biggest benefits for those who suffer from asthma or other dust triggered allergies is that this means removing and reducing dust.

Personally I prefer to vacuum dust away using the soft brush attachment of my vacuum. This is quick, easy, and removes all visible dust. Using the soft brush means there should be no scratching or marks and this is what I usually recommend to my customers. It’s simple to give both the shutter panels and louvres a quick clean at the same time as vacuuming the room.

Another alternative is to use a duster, or dust removing cloth. I would not advise using polish, as this may eventually start to break down the paint or stain finish. I find hand dusting a little laborious, so tend to stick to the vacuum, but dusting can be extremely effective.

For those with allergies, it’s easy to see dust on the surface of the louvre blades, so you can check whether it needs to be cleaned and how thoroughly they have been dusted. While curtains have to be taken down and washed but harbour dust between washes, giving the shutter doors and louvers a regular clean is an extremely easy way to minimise dust.

If your internal shutters have a mark or appear to be noticeably dirty then they can be wiped with a damp cloth, but the cloth should be rung out as much as possible so that minimum amounts of water come into contact with the actual shutter itself. By gently rubbing most marks will be easily removed.

My plastic shutters are wipe-cleanable, which is why they are ideal for a playroom or where constant cleaning may be needed. This is the perfect option for you if you want something durable that can be wiped clean regularly or that you know will get dirty quickly. In the past I’ve recommended them for seafront properties as the salt can be wiped away.

At present I don’t offer a specific cleaner, although I’d love to find something to pass onto my customers. So if you have found something you have used successfully used for cleaning internal shutters I would love to hear about it.

Indoor Shutters - heat and noise benefits

Most of the current heat and noise studies don’t include indoor shutters as they look at the impact of heat loss and noise through walls and ceilings, however, common sense would say that a wooden barrier should be more effective in helping with these issues than a traditional material window covering. I’ve given it some serious consideration and these are my thoughts.

As a natural insulator, wood is likely to help retain heat during the colder months. Once the louvers are closed the shutter panel provides a wooden barrier between the window glass and room which should help to prevent heat seeping out. When closed the louvers are angled upwards, making it less likely that heat will escape through any gaps as heat rises and so passes over the front of the blades.

When using battens for UPVC windows I also suggest to my customers they use painters mate or caulk around the edge of the battens. This finishes the job neatly, but also means that light and drafts are blocked out. The interlocking doors also reduce opportunities for cold drafts to find their way through, which will help to trap cold air between the window and shutter rather than reaching your room.

With more homes being built in busy cities, increasing volumes of traffic and from those who live on flight paths a common question I am asked is whether you can use indoor shutters to reduce noise.

My customers have reported that the solid shutters provide the best results, although there is little to choose between solid or louvered. As a wooden barrier is formed once the louvres are closed, and as wood can be used to dampen noise, the effect of adding a shutter to your window can be more beneficial than using blinds or curtains.

If noise is of particular concern you may want to incorporate secondary double glazing or specialist sound proofing with a shutter. However, the benefit of using a shutter is that you have a stylish window covering as well as something that can help to reduce noise.

Several of my customers have said that my blackout shutter and blind combination also helps with heat retention and noise reduction, as the blinds honeycomb effect traps heat and creates an extra layer between the window and room.

You could also consider putting insulating or draft excluding tape around the frame to further reduce drafts and noise entering your room.

If you know of any evidence of window coverings retaining heat or reducing noise I would be interested to hear from you. You can always comment on my blog or contact me via my website, look out for my other blogs on the benefits of indoor shutters.

Wooden Shutters for Privacy and Security

Wooden shutters are ideal if you want to ensure your privacy and enhance security for your home, but still allow light and air into the room. They are also stylish enough to satisfy even the most dedicated follower of interior design.

If you live at street level, have a pavement that is right outside your window, or just don’t like your neighbours and passers by seeing into your room, then you can use the louvers on the shutter doors to ensure that no one can see in but still have light in your room. By angling louvers up or down you control how much of your property is on view to prying eyes.

My tip is that for upstairs windows you should angle blades down into the room, so that those looking up will only see the bottom of the blade. In downstairs windows slant them up, so that only the top of the louvre becomes visible to passers by. You could also use the top opening option to protect your privacy but allow you to be able to see out or allow light in. This is a great combination if you have a view you don’t want to interrupt, but is best on windows that are taller than they are wide.

When the louvers are closed wooden shutters form a solid barrier, which should help to deter thieves as it makes it difficult to assess the property, or to see or hear whether there is anyone at home. Solid shutters have the same effect, and it is possible to add a shutter bar or lock across the shuttered windows at night if you would like to increase security.

Pet security can also be an issue, as with curtains they can easily slip in and out undeterred. I’ve had several customers who have used shutters to keep pets in or next doors friendly moggy out! As the louvres are adjustable you still retain the ability to alter light and air without risking your pets getting in or out unless you want them to.

I’m always interested in your views, so if you know of any additional security or privacy issues you would like to address or just want to comment why not send me a comment on my blog or email me through my website. I use Britannia Security to supply security shutters, while I supply the wooden shutters I’ve mentioned above.

Controlling Light and Ventilation

Using louvered shutters to control light and ventilation within your home is much easier than with traditional curtains or material blinds. This is a great benefit and one of the reasons people have chosen to move away from material window dressings.

Using louvers means that light levels can be subtly adjusted so that the room is as dark or bright as you choose. Curtains are essentially open or closed, often leaving the room dark on a bright day if you want to cut out sunlight. Most of my customers leave the shutter doors closed, just adjusting the louvers each day to control light levels.

One of my tips is to pick a light colour such as silk white, my most popular colour, to help reflect the light into your room to make it feel brighter. Stains or dark colours tend to dull light, rather than reflect it, so by just picking a lighter colour you can create a feeling of brightness and the illusion of light.

The size of the louvre blade also influences light, as smaller louver slats block out more light. Most of my customers opt for medium louvre blades unless they have very large windows, as these are an excellent compromise between light and creating a balanced look for the window.

My paint and stain finishes also contain a UV coating to inhibit the effects of sunlight on the actual shutter panels themselves. This will reduce the yellowing, fading or discolouring effects of bright light and protect the colour that you selected.

Another added benefit of louvered shutters is their ability to allow air to circulate freely without inhibiting light. You can leave your windows or doors open, ensure your shutter doors are closed but angle the louvers as required to allow light and air to enter the room. Traditionally curtains can, when closed, prevent the free flow of air making it feel stuffy.

The magnets on the doors are strong to ensure that they won’t usually open in even a brisk wind, protecting the items in the vicinity of your windows such as ornaments or photos. One of my customers liked the ability to leave her doors and windows open for ventilation, but ensure that her cats don’t go out.

I’d definitely recommend louvered shutters as being the best option for controlling light and ventilation in the home, as they overcome many of the problems experienced with traditional material window coverings, but what do you think?