Homeowners can buy plantation shutters year-round, but there are certain periods when it’s more strategic to buy and have plantation shutters installed. This post will help readers strategise their shutter purchases.
Why buy plantation shutters?
Before discussing the best time to buy plantation shutters, it’s essential first to lay out their benefits. The biggest ones include:
- Excellent control of light levels
What sets plantation shutters apart from other window types is they are excellent at blocking light. This provides the homeowner with excellent control over natural light levels. Is it too bright or too dim? No problem. Just adjust the shutters accordingly.
- Great at blocking out sounds
These are great when it comes to blocking out sounds. Well-crafted plantation shutters can cancel noises better than other windows can.
- Energy-efficient
Plantation shutters effectively insulate heat when closed, and they provide natural cooling when opened. This makes them quite energy-efficient, especially during excessively cold or hot months.
- Easy to install, maintain, and clean
Due to the materials that make them up, plantation shutters are easily installed even through DIY methods.
They are also easy to clean as dust and dirt are just usually wiped off. Maintenance is easy, too. It is not needed often since these materials are pretty durable.
- Aesthetically pleasing
While it’s true that plantation shutters don’t match well with all types of houses, they look great when they do match. Houses going for a rustic look, for example, look great with plantation shutters.
- Increases property values
Plantation shutters are a popular option for windows; as such, homes that have plantation shutters enjoy increased property values. Even affordable shutters can have a significant impact on the value of a home.
When is the best time to buy plantation shutters?
As explained above, people buy plantation shutters for multiple reasons. However, when is the best time to buy them? Here are five factors to consider regarding when to buy:
1. When it gets loud outside
As we have mentioned earlier, standard windows are not quite effective at blocking out noises from the outside. Standard blinds also do not do that well.
Meanwhile, due to their noise-cancelling quality, plantation shutters work well in homes found in busy areas. These can also work for homes with exteriors that have lots of activities.
2. When there are bright light sources outside
Plantation shutters, due to their design, work great at blocking out light. Want to sleep in but the window faces the sunrise? No problem, plantation shutters are more than enough to keep light away.
This feature is handy when natural light is concerned, but even more so in areas with heaps of artificial light outside. Residences on busy streets or in districts with plenty of businesses, like in some areas of Sydney, can greatly benefit.
3. In anticipation of autumn or winter
Installing plantation shutters in anticipation of certain seasons is also a great way of determining when to buy them.
What is it about autumn or winter that makes plantation shutters advantageous? Take note of the following:
- Cold weather
A home loses the most heat through the windows. Luckily, plantation shutters are among the most energy-efficient when it comes to conserving heat. Installing these in anticipation of fall or winter is a wise choice.
- Natural light is not sacrificed.
Other window treatments or installations that reduce sunlight entry become a hindrance during the autumn and winter months. However, the amount of control over light intensity that plantation shutters provide renders this issue moot.
4. In anticipation of spring and summer
Plantation shutters aren’t just for the cold months. Installing them in anticipation of spring and summer also has merits. Some of these include:
- Bright and sunny days
It gets pretty bright outside during spring and summer. While all this light is welcome inside the home, there are days when the sunlight gets too intense. Fortunately, plantation shutters are more than enough to address this issue.
- Keep the heat out
Plantation shutters are not just for keeping the heat in on cold months, but they are also effective at keeping heat out, leaving the interiors pleasantly cool. This also helps homes save on energy during the warmer months.
5. As soon as possible, because of manufacturing time
Plantation shutters are not a one-size-fits-all deal. Several things require prior measurement, like window size, space size, and the like. Crafting the shutters themselves can also take quite a bit of time.
All these factors make plantation shutters among the longest to manufacture compared to other shutters or blinds. That is not to mention other specifications like colour, style, and finish.
As such, those who want plantation shutters crafted at the soonest possible date must make the order ASAP. Take lead time into consideration since it can get quite long.
Are there any disadvantages to plantation shutters?
We’ve discussed the advantages of plantation shutters, as well as when it is best to have them installed. What about the disadvantages? Of course, there are some, like:
- They limit the placement of furniture: Plantation shutters need quite a bit of space for maximising movement and effectivity. This means homeowners cannot place furniture in front of the window with the shutter.
- They don’t work well with all window types: These shutters work best with windows that open outward. Sliding windows or inward-opening windows may pose problems.
- They’re a bit pricier than the others: Crafting plantation shutters takes time and effort. As such, they tend to be more expensive than drapes and blinds. Some providers still sell affordable shutters at good prices, though.
- They take longer to make: As mentioned earlier, these shutter types take longer to craft compared to other window installations.
These disadvantages shouldn’t deter homeowners from buying plantation shutters. The benefits still outweigh the risks, after all.
