You may be wondering if plantation shutters are right for you. With so much information out there, it can be challenging to decide if the expense of plantation shutters is worth it. Some common questions people ask before purchasing them are:
- What do plantation shutters look like?
- How will they benefit me?
- How much will they cost?
- Is the investment worth it?
- Are they good window treatment?
When it comes to adding style and giving windows a new look, there’s no other option as versatile as plantation shutters. They come in various styles and materials. Stay tuned to answer some of the questions you might have lingering in your mind.
What Are Plantation Shutters?
They originated centuries ago in ancient Greece. They were made out of wood or cloth, and their main purpose was to regulate the temperature getting into a home during certain parts of the year.
Plantation shutters were initially used as a way to protect windows from weather. Still, they were also used for privacy and security purposes when people would close them during an argument or when they wanted to keep their children away from a particular room.
These are very common in homes that are subject to warmer environments. Nowadays, these shutters are designed to fit into the interior of a window frame. This design makes the shutters easy to operate whenever you want to add additional light into a home.
Why Do You Need Plantation Shutters?
There are many reasons why you may need them for your home. Many people just love the overall look, while others just enjoy the numerous benefits associated with having them.
Privacy
It effectively prevents people walking past from being able to gaze into your home.
Maintenance
These shutters don’t require a lot of maintenance, making them perfect for people that are not very good at DIY or don’t want to spend time with additional upkeep.
Longevity
These shutters typically have a much longer lifespan in comparison to other types of window coverings on the market. They are resistant to dirt, debris, and many customers enjoy a very long life with their shutters.
Window Protection
Plantation shutters are an effective barrier at keeping the elements of nature out of the home. They also provide an additional layer of defense against intruders that might try to break in.
Climate Control
These shutters are great to control the heat and cold in and out of your home. Open them when you want to let the breeze in, and close them when you want to keep the heat contained in the house during the cooler months.
Aesthetics
They are aesthetically appealing both inside and outside of the home. They are versatile accessories that will provide you with years of use.
What’s The Difference Between Blinds And Plantation Shutters?
Both shutters and blinds are what we can call treatments for your windows. They offer similar benefits like control of the light and adding additional privacy. However, aside from a few similarities, there are a number of differences between them.
Differences
- Blinds can be easy to customize – plantation shutters have fewer design and style options
- Shutters are durable – blinds can get damaged easily
- Maintaining shutters is easy, while blinds are harder to clean
- Blinds are cheap, while plantation shutters are pricey
What Are Plantation Shutters Made of?
- There are a number of different variations of plantation shutters available, each manufactured from different materials:
- Wooden Plantation Shutters – Costly, but lovely to look at, perfect for warm regions, more natural light, and they come in different colors
- Insulite – They are great in both humid and dry climates, the price is less than the wooden ones, but they have fewer customization options
- Plastic/PVC – Perfect for a humid environment, cheap, durable, and widely used.
Wooden Plantation Shutters
Wooden plantation shutters are one of the most common options that people get for their homes.
When you hear about wooden plantation shutters, you can imagine lightweight, beautifully stylized wood which can come in various colors and sizes. They are light to carry, robust, and can increase the safety of a home.
The possible downside of having wooden ones is that they are not great in humid weather. Their paint can come off, and the wood itself will not last long if it is constantly getting wet. This can result in increased maintenance.
Wood plantation shutters are also the most costly option, and their installation process is a little more tedious. Despite the few drawbacks, they are still the most popular choice among homeowners.
Insulite Plantation Shutters
Insulite shutters are like wooden plantation shutters, but cheaper, and with more features. They are made from polymer foam-like material, which looks like wood.
Another great plus of these is that they are eco-friendly – reusing recycled materials. This can be a green light if you’re environmentally conscious.
Insulite plantation shutters have a high-quality look, are affordable, durable, and less likely to burn in a fire.
Although this sounds great, Insulite plantation shutters do still have their drawbacks. For example, they are still pricey in comparison to plastic/PVC. In addition, there aren’t many colors to choose from.
Despite the few drawbacks, the pros outweigh the negatives, and people still opt for these types of shutters.
Plastic/PVC Plantation Shutters
Plastic/PVC plantation shutters are known to be the most durable option out of all three different types.
They are made to last as they are heavy, solid, and can easily withstand weather conditions. In that spirit, we have to say that they are resistant to moisture – which is perfect if you live in a more humid area. Because they are manufactured from plastic, that makes they the cheapest plantation shutter option available.
Now let’s look at the drawbacks – starting with the weight. As you know, they are solid and built to last. But they are quite heavy due to the density of the plastic. In addition, they are far heavier than their wooden counterparts. Because of their weight, the number of options decreases
The last drawback is their color scheme. You can’t simply customize plastic plantation shutters in the same way that you can with wooden plantation shutters.
Types of Shutters And What You Need To Know
Here are some of the most prominent shutters:
- Full Height Shutters – Extremely popular tall and elegant full-length shutters for increasing privacy in your home.
- Cafe Style Shutters – inspired by the French people, these plantation shutters are usually short, covering only half of the windows, and are louvered.
- Tier-on-Tier Shutters – Stylish and practical solution with two levels of shutter panels. Excellent for adding an additional layer of privacy.
- French Door Shutters – Made to your requirements in multiple colors including custom colors. Fixed directly to the doors themselves. Easy to clean
- Shaped Shutters – The perfect solution for loft conversions, curved or angled windows. Custom-made to your specification.
And this is by far not all of the types. There are many more shutters like
- Traditional
- Barn Door
- Accordion
- Storm
- Scandinavian
- Arched
- Board and Batten
Are Plantation Shutters Expensive?
As you already know, plantation shutters can be expensive based on their materials. Other factors that determine the price are:
- Cost of installation
- Customization
- Quantity
If you want to buy wooden plantation shutters for your house, you will need to spend between $200 – $400 dollars per panel, on average.If you’re looking at getting wooden plantation shutters for the entire window, you can expect to pay approximately double.
An average window will range between $150 – $200 for plastic plantation shutters. Prices can reach up to $350 based on certain factors.
Lastly, the insulate plantation shutters are priced right in the middle. They can be found for about $200 – $400 dollars per window, but that depends on various factors.
The price you can expect to pay depends on your location, the quality of the shutters (better quality means a higher price), installation costs, and customization. No matter what the costs are, adding shutters to a home can help increase the value of your home as well as the other benefits already mentioned.
Advantages of Plantation shutters:
Maintenance
Plantation shutters are extremely easy to clean. All they need is a piece of cloth which you can use to clean the shutters. Aside from that, the other only thing you may ever need is fresh paint on them but again, this depends on what materials you choose.
Design
Plantation shutters are like an accessory for your window, not only do they make it look better from the outside but they also make it pleasant to look at from the inside. The way plantation shutters are made makes them perfect for being able to have a greater degree of control over the light in a way where you can create a friendly, warm, and cozy atmosphere.
Disadvantages of Plantation Shutters:
Cost
Not only is the upfront cost higher than other window treatments, but plantation shutters can also get costly if something breaks. If a panel or a shutter ends up getting damaged, you’ll need to repair it or replace it which will typically be more than a blind or shade.
Privacy
Certain styles of shutters feel like they give you and people passing by your home privacy, which can be a disadvantage for those wanting a clear view out of their window.
Production Times For Your Shutters
If you’re looking at customizing your shutters, the wait times will reflect:
- Materials of the shutters
- Location and schedule of the producers
- Patterns and other customizations
- Time of the year
An average estimated wait time for the production and delivery of your plantation shutters can be anywhere from 2-4 months. In some rare cases where deliveries take longer, it may go up to 5-6 months.
Always ensure to consult with your shutter supplier to get a better idea of how long your specific style of the shutter will take to be produced and fitted in your home.
Plantation Shutters And The Excellent Suppliers’ Location
As we have already discussed, the most popular materials for shutters are made from wood, plastic, or insulation. Many companies around the world offer the crafting of plantation shutters, but most of them come from China. The country is big and has the resources needed for production producing shutters at budget-friendly rates.
At the same time, if you look at the USA, UK, or Europe, you can also expect highly-sough suppliers, but at a higher price because of the costs of labor being much higher in these countries. When you’re looking into buying plantation shutters, you can ask your provider where the shutters are made, this will also likely dictate how long the delivery and fitting time will be.
Do Plantation Shutters Add To The Safety of The Home?
Plantation shutters do add to the safety of your home. Shutters can act like a barricade to your home by providing another layer of protection that an intruder will have to get through to gain access to your home.
That is why having them installed on the ground floors of your home is a good idea. If security is your main reason for purchasing shutters, you’ll want to focus on styles that are heavy-duty, durable, and sturdy. Plastic plantation shutters are a great option because they don’t break as easily as the other types but they certainly won’t give you full protection. They are also easy to replace and affordable.
Are There Alternatives?
Security plantation shutters are the next great option after standard shutters if you’re focused on increasing security for your home. Security shutters:
- Are made from aluminum, resulting in more strength
- Have more locks and can withstand break-ins
- Are customizable
Different Colors Options For Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters come in many different colors based on their crafting material. Of course, the specific materials they are made with can somewhat limit the color variations, but still, there are many options.
Some of the most popular ones are:
- Black Plantation Shutters.
- Classic white colored ones.
- Earth-themed ones – dark green, brown.
- Wood Stained – keep the natural beauty.
- Bright colored shutters – beach style.
Black Plantation Shutters
Black plantation shutters are ideal for entertaining rooms or bedrooms.
Classic White Plantation Shutters
Classic white plantation shutters are perfect for those that want to brighten up a room. That means they are ideal for:
- Kitchens
- Dining rooms
- Children’s playrooms
Classic white shutters are elegant, unique, and soothing.
Earth Plantation Shutters
These shutters are good for those that want to use neutral-themed color tones throughout their home. Because they aren’t a flashy color, they can promote increased resale value in a home.
Wood Stained Plantation Shutters
Wood-stained plantation shutters are another classic choice that works well in rustic home designs. They look great and can add to the overall resale value of a home. They also give out cozy and warm vibes.
Bright-Colored Plantation Shutters
Bright-colored plantation shutters are great for beach homes and for those that want to have their homes feeling more positive. Brighter colors can add a good measure of individuality to a home while taking away the dull look of certain rooms at the same time.
Plantation Shutters Installation – DIY
When it comes to installing plantation shutters by yourself, things can get complicated if you’re not prepared and have no experience doing it.
To install plantation shutters, follow these steps:
- Purchase them
- Unpack everything while focusing on the frame
- Set the four frame pieces aside and look for the plastic connectors provided by the supplier
- Ensure the pieces are even and gently use a rubber mallet to connect the four elements
- Finally, pat it with a hand and make sure they fit each other.
Where Are You Installing Them?
It is essential to know if you will install plantation shutters in the interior or exterior of the home because of how they will be mounted. Interior installation requires a little more patience, especially if you have furniture and other objects in the way.
The exterior is a little easier. All you have to do is attach the frame to the wall, and you can proceed.
Installing The Frame
The next step is to install the frame. Assuming you will do it outside, you must prepare the necessary materials. You will need a drill and screws to attach it. Once you get them, simply follow these steps:
- Put the frame on the window and check how it looks – if it’s okay, look for holes in the frame (some manufacturers do this). If there are holes present, use them to attach the frame to the wall with the drill and screws. If there are no holes, you’ll have to make some.
- Now at this point, you have it screwed into the wall. Make sure it fits well once again by taking measurements.
- Lastly, use a level and confirm that the frame’s section is even. This is extremely important because you will be installing the panels on it and they must be even.
Attaching And Finishing With The Panels
At this point, you have your frames installed on the windows, and they should be square. The next thing you have to do is hang the panels to the frame.
First – make sure to determine which panels and frames go together.
- After you know which ones go together, attach the panels to the frame using hinge pins. Repeat this step with all the panels. If there are mismatches, check if you added the right panel to the right frame.
- The next step is to confirm everything is right. After that, you can close and open the panels multiple times to see if they work fine and align well together.
- After you are done with that step, simply add the other screws to the frame’s bottom to cement its position on the wall – this will not allow it to move anymore.
If you’re unable to follow these steps properly or end up getting stuck along the way, consult with a specialist for assistance.
FAQ
Q: Can Plantation Shutters Be Opened?
Yes, they can – both louvers and panels can open to an extent.
Q: Can Plantation Shutters Be Painted?
They can; however, this is the primary practice with the wooden ones.
Q: What Material To Choose When Getting Plantation Shutters?
It all depends on your purposes for getting shutters. Wooden ones might be great to add a layer of depth to a rustic home, while another person might prefer plastic ones if their goal is increasing security or being in a humid room.
Q: Are Plantation Shutters Blackout?
They can blackout your room to an extent. Darker-colored ones can give a better blackout effect than lighter colors, in certain cases.
Q: Are Plantation Shutters Expensive?
The prices vary. Wooden ones are pricey, while plastic is cheaper.
Q: How Do Plantation Shutters Work?
Simple; once installed, you can control the panels or the louvers to allow light in or out.
Q: Will Plantation Shutters Add Value To The Home?
They will add more value to your home, especially classic wood-stained or white ones.
Q: Why Choose Plantation Shutters?
Because plantation shutters add value, and aesthetic appeal, and provide additional safety.
Q: Are Plantation Shutters Easy To Install?
Yes, you can DIY when you get your plantation shutters. Simply follow the above guide, and you are set.
Bottom Line
Plantation shutters can be a great addition to any home you install them in. They are a versatile option for keeping the elements outside of a home while increasing its aesthetics at the same time.
