Custom Plantation Shutters Improve Home Security and Appearance

Whilst having custom shutters for your home may well be essential if you have arched or irregularly shaped windows, taking the extra care to order custom made plantation shutters will always result in better fitting shutters. Custom window shutters can be added to your home purely as an aesthetic feature or to improve its security and weather proofing.

Custom Made Polycore Shutters
Polycore for shutters is a relatively new material of a polymer core reinforced with aluminum; making it ideally suitable for internal and external window shutters, made-to-measure for all shapes and sizes of custom orders. Being both rigid and durable it will be guaranteed not to warp, swell or shrink. Unlike using other man-made shutter materials, such as vinyl, custom polycore shutters can be manufactured in a variety of colors that are guaranteed not to discolor later. Polycore shutters are non-toxic, fire retardant and water resistant; and are also easy to maintain, requiring only occasional cleaning.

Polycore Construction for Exterior Use
They can also be used outside as exterior shutters, but so long as they do not get exposure to extreme cold. There may also be some issues with the warranty if you do use them externally. In addition, using stainless steel would be the preferred option for the outside hinges and louver staples. Another issue for external use is that the shutter slats will generally have to be fixed.

Custom Made Thermalite Shutters
Despite being made from a polymer foam, modern manufacturing techniques mean that thermalite shutters actually look like timber ones. Being another non-toxic, fire retardant and water resistant material - thermalite is suitable for useboth internally and externally shutters so can be used to make plantation shutters and Colonial or Bahama style shutters. You may however need to check what their temperature rating will be if you are planning to use them outside, as most polymer products cannot tolerate extreme cold. Thermalite shutters also require very little maintenance once installed, beyond a little regular cleaning and are guaranteed not to discolor, warp, swell or shrink.

Custom Made Vinyl Shutters
The term vinyl refers to PVC plastics; however, that doesn’t mean to say that custom made vinyl shutters will look cheap. Vinyl shutters can be installed internally or externally and custom made ones will fit just about any shape and size of window. If necessary, usually for security purposes, they can also be reinforced with steel rods. So, they don’t just provide extra protection in weather-proofing your home, but will also improve the security of it. Like thermalite, vinyl is both a durable and low maintenance material requiring only occasional cleaning. It is also another material that will not warp, swell, shrink or discolor.

Custom Made Wood Shutters
You can have custom wood shutters made from pretty well any timber you request; however, fitting timber shutters to things like arched windows can be difficult and costly. In an older property; if you’re replacing old window shutters, using a variety of timber that is grown or available locally will help you to retain the ‘old’ character of the building. Using a soft wood might be OK for internal Plantation style shutters; but using a hard wood is recommended, especially for external shutters. Window shutters made from wood will require regular treatment with preservatives and/or paint, as well as being regularly cleaned. For example a basswood construction shutter would require repainting every 10 years.

Environmental Advantages of Buying Custom Shutters
Having good fitting custom shutters made from any material will help to insulate your home and can, therefore, help to make your home more ‘eco friendly’. Also, for custom wood shutters using renewable and locally grown timber, will both reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions due to avoiding any long distance transportation and will not involve the destruction of distant rain-forests to obtain foreign hardwoods.

Shutter Insulation Cuts Heating Energy Consumption Drastically
Being much better insulators - man-made materials like polycore in window shutters, will both reduce your energy consumption and your fuel bills. However, it’s not just in cold weather that shutters can help to reduce your energy bills and help you to be environmentally responsible. In hot weather, whilst leaving windows open but closing and locking your louvered plantation shutters, you’ll have a secure but cool room - without needing to have the air conditioning on. Now how ‘cool’ will that be for saving energy? Also it’s worth remembering that by using a modern material for your shutters they don’t need regularly treating or painting - so you’re not having to pay money for chemicals and paints that could be environmentally harmful.

Improve The Security And Décor Of Your Home With Custom Shutters

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