How to Buy Shutters
An Interior Window Shutters purchasing step-by-step guide
Decide Material and Construction
Shutters are currently made in a number of
materials. Wood shutters are still the benchmark for furniture
quality window coverings. Quality wood shutters are designed
to last the lifetime of your home. Synthetics have a "plastic"
appearance, but are sometimes less expensive. Read our page
on materials used for building window
shutters.
Shutter Tip #7
View a shutter sample from the company
where you will be purchasing your custom
shutters. The company should be able to supply you
with a finished sample interior shutter. This way you
can view the quality of construction and finish first-hand
and compare it to other shutters you may be considering.
It is beneficial for you also to hold the shutter in the
window to visualize how the shutters will attach and look
in your house. |
 Select
Shutter Style
There are two basic shutters styles with movable
louvers are available. The traditional
shutter style uses a narrow shutter panel (usually about
3/4") with 1-1/4" louvers. Traditional shutter louvers
are generally wedge shaped - thicker in the front and narrower
at the rear. Plantation shutters
are usually about 1-18" thick with larger louvers. Plantation
shutter louvers come in numerous sizes, but 2-1/2", 3-1/2",
and 4-1/2" louvers are common. Plantation louvers are sometimes
flat, but an elliptical louver is more resilient.
Shutters can be made with fixed, or stationary,
louvers or raised panels. These choices are seldom used, but
are available.
 Select
Shutter Finish
Shutters can be both painted or stained. Most
companies offer a number of standard paints and stain colors,
and some do not. Paint colors generally include a variety of
whites and lights. Stains enhance wood grains in a number of
tints and tones starting from a light natural tone to almost
black. Note that synthetic and wood composite shutters can not
be stained.
Shutter Tip #6
The quality of the finish is just as
important as the color. A poorly finished shutter can
deteriorate quickly. A paint finish should be through,
smooth, and thick - covering all surfaces. A poor paint
finish may be rough to the touch and transparent to the
eye. Stain finishes should have a durable protective top
coat finish. |
 Determine
Price
Shutters, because of material options, come
in a wide range of prices. Many shutter suppliers calculate
price based on the square foot. This strategy is usually not
advantageous to the customer. Sizes get rounded up, and the
end consumer ends up paying for more than they received. Prices
calculated based on exact window size, shutter, style, finish,
and number of panels is the most effective method. You can save
money by ordering shutters direct and doing the measuring and
installation yourself. To estimate the cost of shutters, you
can use online resources to view prices without pressure to
purchase. Click here
for an example.
 Decide
on the unit configuration
Shutter units can use a number of panel configurations
within a window. The number of panels across is determined by
the shutter style, traditional or plantation, and the window
width. Traditional style panels are generally narrower than
plantation style and would use more panels across
in a window. Each company will offer guidelines for the number
of panels to be used in a window as seen here for traditional
and plantation
shutters. If the window is tall enough, you might consider a
double-tier, or two-tier, shutter unit that
uses one set of shutters on the top and one on the bottom. Each
set of shutters then opens independently of the other. Another
option is using a divider
rail which is a horizontal bar that creates top
and bottom louver sections within a single panel. It looks like
the top or bottom rail and allows the louver sections to rotate
independently. A divider rail is optional on most units. The
final strategy is to use shutters only along the bottom of the
window, called a cafe type
shutter unit.
 Measure
and Order
Follow the measuring instructions, and determine
window type and installation,
provided by your selected company. The directions should be
detailed, yet easy to follow. The company should also provide
additional verbal assistance if you have any questions. It should
be necessary to provide measurements to the 1/16" for a
custom-made shutter unit.
It should then be fairly easy to process your order with the
company. Manufacturing should require 25 - 35 working days for
custom shutters, and obviously less for stock size shutters.
Horizon Interior
Shutters offers custom interior wood plantation
shutters and traditional
shutters painted
or stained sold online and shipped nationwide.
|
Horizon Custom Interior
Shutters