Shutters
Shutters are one of the industry’s most desired products. With superior insulation, permanent presence, curb appeal, re-sell value, ease of maintenance, child safety, and sheer beauty, it’s no wonder that this is considered the most sound investment in window coverings.
Custom shutters have operable louvers that tilt open or closed, letting you control the amount of light that fills your space. These shutters are also framed and hinged so that the panels can open completely. With larger louvers than blinds, they tend to be very bright when open and the absence of strings allows them to close tightly. Coupled with the fact that you can tilt open the top sets of louvers separately from the bottom, this results in heightened light control.
At Shade & Louver, we build a painted solid poly shutter in a variety of design options. We have 2 ½”, 3 ½”, and 4 ½” louvers, as well as a wide variety of framing options to choose from. We also offer wood shutters that come in many beautiful colors and stains to showcase your style.
Panel Styling
Panels can be styled in the classic fashion with an exposed front tilt bar or in a more contemporary manner with the tilt mechanism tucked away in the back. You also have the ability to specify how many panels you want on each window opening. Most often, shutters are built with two panels per opening, but you can also cover the window with a single panel.
Each style has unique benefits
Front tilt
Front Tilt bars provide a means to articulate the louvers and will prevent the buildup of finger prints and oils on your finish. This allows you to easily achieve a tight close. They also provide the classic look of a shutter that is so sought-after. The front rod will also add another vertical line into your view when gazing through the louvers.
Hidden Tilt
Hidden Tilt panels will open up the view, but they will require one to use their fingers to open and close the louvers directly, which could eventually result in smudging and wear on the finish. However, they are easier to clean due to the absence of the front tilt rod, and they lean towards a more contemporary style.
Double Panel
The most popular shutter panel style has two panels per window. Double Panel shutters maintain their structural integrity longer than their larger and heavier single panel counterparts. Because of their smaller size, this style is more user-friendly as they do not take up much space when they open up into the room. The drawback of this style is that when the louvers are open there is less visibility than single panel shutters.
SIngle Panel
Single Panel Shutters provide a clear view through the glazing of the window when compared to double panel shutters, but they are cumbersome to open and close on the hinges and often swing with a radius of 3’ into the room. These shutters will not be opened fully unless you are cleaning or opening the windows, and getting them to close again may need some assistance over time due to their weight.
ultimately, it is your personal taste, design aesthetic, and targeted functionality that will lead to the decision of how to style your panels.
Hinging Schematics
The way you hinge your panels plays an important role in the functionality of your shutters. It is frequently influenced by additional furnishings in the room and window placement.
Standard fold
Standard Fold Shutters are hinged with one panel going left and one going right per window opening. This shutter is the easiest to open up to access your windows if you don’t think you will be opening the shutters often. They can be left open as well, and over time they will still stand strong despite the gravity.
Bifold
Bifold shutters can be hinged to go left or right and can easily avoid furniture when opened around what could be obstructions. On twin windows, we often build shutters in this fashion, with the left window bifolding left and the right window bifolding right. This enables you to fully open the twin window and the panels sit on either side and allow a full view and provide a decorative accent to the window. Over time, gravity tends to work on these and they will need some assistance with closing.
Single Panel
Single Panel shutters can only open to the left or right, and are often only opened to clean or open the window behind it before it is closed again.
Track Systems
Track Systems provide lateral movement of oversized shutter panels. This is an ideal method of covering sliding glass doors or room dividers.
