Shutters or no shutters? It’s a question that many homeowners ask themselves. There are pros and cons to each option, so it can be a little confusing trying to come up with an answer. Thankfully, we’re here to make your decision as simple as possible.
Whether you’re thinking of them for practical reasons or merely just decorative, there are some vital things you need to know. Here we’ll look at an overview of each option while comparing the key features of the two. Let’s get started!
Shutters
There are two main reasons to get shutters in your home. Either you want them to serve a practical purpose, or you want them to be a decorative piece. They usually serve a practical purpose in areas with extreme weather, as the windows need an extra layer of protection.
On some properties, shutters can be beautiful additions that add to the aesthetics and increases property value. On other homes, look out of place and a little odd. So it’s no certainty that they’d suit your property.
No Shutters
Having no shutters makes sense to many people, and there are usually three main reasons you wouldn’t have them. Firstly, they can be a significant cost investment that you may want to avoid if you don’t need them.
Secondly, if you live in an area with moderate weather, you’re unlikely to need shutters. Finally is the reason we mentioned above. On many properties, they don’t look right and are out of place.
Shutters or No Shutters Comparison
Now that we’ve had a brief overview of why you may or may not want shutters, let’s look at the differences between them in a little more detail.
1. Style
Many people out there choose shutters as they can add a sense of style and elegance to your home. Properties with large sidings can look naked without anything there, which is why filling some of that space with shutters can be a good idea.
While shutters can look good, it’s not always the case. They don’t suit certain styles of homes, and they need to have the proper fit. In smaller homes, shutters can look a little crowded and forced into the space.
External shutters also don’t look great on many newer-style homes, with a few exceptions. That being said, they can look incredible on older homes, especially those with wooden sidings. So it’s important to check to see if they’d suit your home.
Due to these factors, there is no clear winner when it comes to style. Many people automatically think that sidings can improve the exterior’s aesthetic, but as we’ve seen, that’s not always the case. Badly matched shutters can look ridiculous in the worst circumstances.
2. Cost
You’d think there is only one winner here, but it can be a little more complicated than that. On the basic level, however, it’s obvious that installing shutters is going to be more expensive than not having any shutters at all.
But there are a few other things to consider in terms of how they affect value and also their functionality. For example, if you were to install shutters on a home that suits them, you could increase its value. Conversely, installing shutters on a home that doesn’t need them can decrease its value.
There is also the functionality of shutters, which we will discuss in more detail later. Shutters were originally intended to protect your windows. That can mean installing shutters can save you money on window repairs further down the road.
If you like the idea of shutters for style reasons but are worried about the cost, then there is another option. You can have shutters that serve no practical purpose (you can’t close them) but are just there for decorative effect. These types of shutters are going to be a cheaper option.
3. Protection
It seems like the main reason people consider shutters these days is their style but let’s not forget why they were first installed on homes. They are meant to close over your windows in times of bad weather and to deter criminals.
If you live in an area with extreme weather, especially high winds, the shutters can act as a barrier to your glass. While the glass in our home windows is stronger than ever, this is still a great reason to have them.
For those that live in more moderate temperatures, there are still good reasons to get shutters for protection. One of those is that they give criminals an extra barrier to get through. This can act as a deterrent and make your home less inviting for potential burglaries.
These are all advantages of shutters, so if you don’t have them, your home can be a little more exposed. This is a definite win for having shutters, but for those that live in low-crime, good-weather areas, these advantages of shutters are minimal.
4. Temperature
There are other reasons to have shutters too, aside from protection, and one is temperature control. We mentioned that shutters might not be needed for areas with good weather, but that’s not always strictly true.
Perhaps the weather in your area is just too good! The sun shining through a window pane can make the inside of that room extremely warm. Of course, curtains and blinds can be used for this purpose but aren’t as effective with them being inside the property.
External shutters will give you that barrier from the sunshine to prevent those powerful rays from ever hitting your window pane. If you struggle for temperature control in those summer months, you’ll see a big difference with shutters.
This can also be good in areas where you don’t get great weather all year round but can have some intense summer days. Due to this, you may not have AC and find it impossible to keep your home cool during heat waves.
Shutters can provide some temperature control in the winter too. When shut, they can act as an extra insulation barrier to prevent your home from losing too much heat. It’s important to note that you won’t get all these benefits from decorative shutters.
5. Window Life
This links into our section on protection, but having shutters is also going to extend the life of your windows. This isn’t just from storms but also from general wear and wears you get over the years.
For example, if you keep your shutters closed at night during the winter, then there is less chance of rain and snow freezing on your windows, which can cause cracks and damage over time. The seals on your windows will last longer.
Windows are expensive to repair and can also be dangerous. For another example, having intense heat on windows can create a pressure differential between the panes, causing them to crack. While great during bad weather events, shutters are also important for preventing everyday wear.
6. Privacy
There are several ways to get privacy in your home, with the most common solution being curtains or blinds. However, external or internal shutters can be a more stylish way to block prying eyes from looking in.
It could be that you don’t like curtains or blinds and prefer the idea of having shutters. Whatever the reason, having shutters closed can feel like a great way to make the inside of your home feel warm, protected, and private.
To ensure that you get these advantages, you’ll need to ensure that the shutters have a proper fit. Unfortunately, we see many shutters that either expose the top or bottom of the window or worse, don’t close fully over the windows.
7. Functionality
When deciding on whether or not to get shutters, you need to decide on their functionality. Do you want all the practical benefits of getting shutters, or do you merely want them for aesthetic reasons?
There is no issue with getting them for their style, especially as this will be cheaper than installing them with full functionality. However, think about whether or not it’s worth it to pay that little bit extra for the option of being able to shut them.
If fitting them for design reasons, then there are a few pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. The main one is that they should appear functional. Many people have faux shutters in place that obviously can’t close over the windows as they wouldn’t be big enough to cover the gap.
This looks terrible and it’s important to remember that even if you’re getting fake shutters, they need to look real!
Conclusion
There is no definitive answer on whether or not shutters are right for you. But hopefully, now you have a clear idea of the pros and cons. Check to see whether or not they’d suit your home, and then weigh up how important their practical benefits are to you.
The answer mostly comes down to personal preference but even in the modern day, there are some excellent reasons to get shutters installed beyond their style. If a style is all you care about, installing high-quality fake shutters can be a great idea.