Plastic or vinyl shutters have slowly gained popularity because they are found to be easier to use and maintain compared to wood shutters. In fact, they are now one of the best-selling exterior window shutters.
Window shutters are commonly seen in American households. These are solid and stable panels that provide covering to windows. Generally, they consist of louvers, side stiles and bottom and top rails. Shutters are categorized into two: interior shutters and exterior shutters. The former refers to those shutters that are installed inside a building or a house while the latter is attached on the outside of a building or structure. These are mainly used to control sunlight and ventilation. They may also be used to provide privacy and for protection against weather. Other people also use them for aesthetic and architectural allure.
Window shutters also come in different styles. Panel shutters are those with a solid surface and with raised panels. Colonial shutters, on the other hand, are those with mobile louvers that are usually more than one inch wide. Plantation style shutters, meanwhile, closely resemble the colonial shutters but their louvers are wider. They were called such because they were widely used by Southern United States plantation owners in the past. Bermuda or Bahama shutters are those that hang up like awnings over windows. This style is typically used in places with warmer climates. Another shutter style that gained inspiration from coffee shops is the café shutter style. These are designed to cover only the lower part of windows when they are closed. Double tier shutters, meanwhile, are composed of two levels that can be opened or closed separately.
Most exterior shutters are made from metal, vinyl, plastic or polymers. Wood exterior shutters are also popular because they look great on windows. With regards to style, users have a wider range of styles to select for interior window shutters. They can choose operable louvers over fixed ones, or raised panels instead of flat panels. The possibilities are endless. All they need is to choose which style would greatly complement their existing window styles.
It is up to the home owner to choose which type of window shutter would be most suited to his home. Whether he chooses vinyl shutters or wooden shutters, he should make sure that such product will protect his home from storm damage, provide privacy to the occupants of his house as well as allow him to control ventilation and sunlight.
