Plantation Shutters

A typical window shutter is a covering that is made from a frame of vertical wooden pieces and horizontal rails in the top, center, and bottom. Commonly, they are painted and provide as a window accent as well as serving a covering purpose when needed. Plantation shutters are considered to be the ultimate in window coverings, providing a beautiful and classic look to any home.

As with all types of window shutters, prices are always going to vary depending on what materials are used, the number of necessary shutters, and what style is chosen. Premium plantation shutters usually start at a base price that is totally dependent on depth, width, and height and go up in price as they rise in quality materials. There are endless options for value shutters, however, which sacrifice the state of the art design and materials for a lower total cost. Another option for purchasing plantation shutters is the do-it-yourself method. Luckily, many companies that construct and install plantation shutters offer a DIY guide and a wide variety of materials so that they can be installed privately, thus eliminating the cost of installation.  If you are fairly handy with most things then you can save some serious money by doing this part yourself.  If, on the other hand, you are not so good at home improvement, you might want to pay extra to have someone install your shutters for you.

Finding a lower-priced option for shutters can easily be done by looking online, as most large hardware stores and home improvement stores carry discount plantation shutters. Most commonly made in China and imported, value shutters are still often made with hardwoods and basswoods and offer a choice of painted finish. In addition to this, it is important to be sure that they come backed by a lifetime warranty.  You do not want something made so cheaply that they basically fall apart in a few years time or even less.  Make sure you are buying a quality product that is discounted for other reasons rather than the fact that they are unreliable or cheaply made.

Plantation shutters are not just for the outside of the house. In fact, they can make a very classy statement on the interior side of the windows as well. Interior plantation shutters are often considered to be more user-friendly for their intended purpose, which is blocking out sunlight from outside. The upside to having interior plantation shutters is that there is no requirement to go outside to close the shutters every day, as it can be done from inside the house. They are installed the same way (hinged on either side of the window), and like outdoor plantation shutters, indoor shutters can be purchased in all sizes, colors, and in many wood variations.

There are just as many available options for cheap plantation shutters as there are for the top brand expensive ones. In fact, just spending a little extra time in shopping around for plantation shutters can definitely pay off. Cheap shutters are not recommended for outdoor use if in a particularly windy climate or in harsh weather environments, as the cheapest types of plantation shutters might not be made of the highest quality materials and often do not come with a lifetime warranty.

A very popular variation to the classic design of wooden plantation shutters is vinyl. This has become a very popular choice in the recent growing popularity of vinyl house siding as well. Most people opt for vinyl plantation shutters because the quality of the material is stronger and will not need to be sanded and repainted after a few decades, which is always a possibility with wooden plantation shutters. Just like all types of wooden shutters, vinyl shutters can be custom ordered to fit any shape and size of window, and also come with a warranty. Vinyl plantation shutters are most often recommended over wood due to the fact that they are washable, fire retardant, and virtually indestructible.