The ancient Greeks invented louvered shutters, although the early versions would have been made of marble with fixed louvres, in order to provide themselves and their homes with protection from the sun. The modern shutter can offer a great deal of versatility, light control and protection from sunlight that traditional material window coverings cannot.
Firstly the actual finish itself includes a UV inhibitor to prevent sunlight damaging the colour of the shutter itself. This means that the colour you select will last, without yellowing, discolouration or fading usually caused by direct sunlight.
Secondly, the louver shutters can be used effectively to adjust light levels and also to direct sunlight away from valuable items and furnishings meaning that they are less likely to fade or discolour. When you have invested in wood or soft furnishings that you want last it can be disheartening when sunlight fades them. However, it can also seem a shame on a bright day to block out all the light. With louvered shutters, the blades mean that you can angle sunlight away from furniture, but without blocking out all light as you would if you had to close curtains.
Another benefit of using this particular type of shutter is that you can block out a great deal of the sunlight by angling blades up or down but still leaving gaps in the louvre blades to allow air to circulate freely. This blocks out the heat from the sun but still allows ventilation to keep your room cool. It’s interesting that most of our European neighbours have wooden shutters in both hot and cold regions, and yet in the UK its taken us a great deal longer to realise the benefits they add to our homes.
If you would like to know more or have a question why not request a survey or visit our DIY and fitted sections of the website.