Key Advantages of Solid Window Shutters
Solid window shutters were originally used as an alternative to glass. In medieval and Victorian times, glass was so expensive that not many people could afford it, and a solid wooden shutter was the best way of providing people with security. Nowadays, glass is thankfully much more affordable, but in many ways, solid shutters can still make a perfect companion.
The Bespoke Shutter Company can supply and install solid shutters in South London, other parts of the capital, as well as Hertfordshire and Essex. Here we look at some of the advantages that solid shutters bring over their louvred counterparts and other types of window coverings.
Total Blackout of Noise and Light
Solid shutters are particularly useful if you are a light sleeper, live close to a main road, or in any urban location such as London. This is because they will cut out a lot of extraneous noise - not just from vehicles, but from people as well. Solid shutters are also like having a black-out curtain, which is particularly useful if you have a street light close to your home or your bedroom window faces the rising sun in the morning.
The flip side of this type of shutter is that you have less direct control over the amount of heat and light because there are no louvres or panels to adjust if you want the air to keep coming in (but the sunlight out).
Unlike louvred panels, soild shutters are either completely open or completely closed. However, you can half a half-and-half arrangement (see picture) which will give you some flexibility (rather like tier-on-tier plantation shutters, which we also fit in London, Hertfordshire and Essex).
Total Privacy
Again, if you live in a built-up area such as London there could be issues with people being able to peer into your home from outside. You don’t want thieves casting envious eyes over your possessions, and you also don’t want to let anyone see into your bedroom.
This also applies in commercial situations as well, particularly if you have any documents you don’t want other people to see. Solid shutters mean this problem is solved immediately.
Total Insulation
Solid shutters are one way of minimising any heat loss, which is particularly important in these days of high utility bills. They have the benefit of keeping the heat in during the winter, and the warm air out during the summer.
A study by English Heritage found that all shutters (not just solid ones) reduced heat loss by as much as 60%. So you should be able to either delay turning on the heating, or turn the thermostat down a degree or two, if you have any form of shutters installed.
Ideal for Period Properties
Some partial louvred shutter styles can look a bit contemporary or modern; solid shutters, however, are timeless and fit in well with period properties. There’s a practical advantage (as well as a stylistic one) because period properties, unless they have been restored, could be more vulnerable to draughts. So solid shutters are particularly good for Victorian properties and also for use in bay and sash windows as they help preserve the original aesthetic while adding practicality.
Even Easier to Clean
While louvred shutters or blinds are easier to clean than curtains, solid shutters are even easier still. This is because you don’t need to get between the panels at all – it’s just a solid section of wood. All it should need is the occasional wipe-down with a damp cloth.
And, if you ever decide your shutters need a fresh coat of paint or preservative, then it’s much easier as well with no fiddly panels to access with a brush.
Solid Shutters in South London from The Bespoke Shutter Company
At The Bespoke Shutter Company, we offer solid shutters made from hardwood such as cedar, giving them a long life span. You can also use them as folding doors or tracked partitions because they don’t only fit to windows.
If you’d like to learn more about our solid shutters, follow this link to book a free, no-obligation consultation. Alternatively, click here and fill in the online contact form.
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