A window shutter is a solid and stable window covering usually consisting of side stiles, top and bottom rails, and louvers. Individual shutter panels can be hinged together to form a shutter unit, which fills a window opening.[1] Shutters may be employed for a variety of reasons, including controlling the amount of sunlight that enters a room, to provide privacy, to protect against weather and to enhance the aesthetics of a building. The term window shutter includes both interior shutters, used on the inside of a house or building, and exterior shutters, used on the outside of a structure.
Interior plantation style wood window shutters with open louvers.
Interior shutters
Interior shutters usually hinge on either side of a window opening, and swing inwards to allow access to the window or to allow light to enter a room. Standard shutter panels have movable louvers or slats that rotate open for light and visibility and rotate closed for privacy or to reduce light. Shutters that have moveable slats are described using different terms such as california shutters or plantation shutters. Other interior shutters use stationary louvers that do not move, solid raised panels, fabric inserts, or tinted glass. These 'solid' shutters are most often found on older, Victorian period windows. Shutters can be configured in a single tier unit that used one panel from top to bottom of a window opening. Tier on Tier units feature separate panels top and bottom, which allows the top panels to be opened independently from the bottom panels. Café style shutters only cover the lower portion of a window.
Full height interior plantation shutters can be made with a horizontal divider rail which separates the slats in the upper and lower portions of the shutter panel. This helps gain privacy in the lower section of the window. A tilt bar (rod) is used for adjusting louver position and to keep them in a uniform position. Interior shutters can be constructed from numerous woods, which can be painted or stained, aluminium and a variety of synthetic materials. Interior shutters that are made to close tolerances are preferable for the best possible fit. When louvers or tilt bar (rod) become damaged, replacement kits for these damaged parts may be ordered online and are easy to install.
Exterior shutters
Brightly coloured French shutters
Shutters are frequently seen in French-influenced architecture.
Exterior shutters were originally constructed for light control, privacy, and protection from the elements. Function shutters hinge to either side of a window, and swing closed when necessary. Fixed louvers shed rain, allow air transfer, filter direct sunlight, protect from small flying debris, and provide privacy. Multi-functional shutters use movable louvers that allows for greater control. Solid panels are generally used for protection during severe weather. Most other styles, such as board-and-batten, are used in non-functional situations and are specifically to enhance the features of a building. Functional shutters have traditionally been constructed from solid woods that have proven to endure outside elements (e.g. cedar). Finishing wood shutters is recommended for extended life. Composite shutters made from PVC are setting new standards for functional shutters that are completely rot resistant and offer many advantages over wood such as resistance to twisting, splitting, and rotting. However, PVC shutters are often hinged with three or more hinges and painted with vinyl safe paint to keep from bowing in the sun and can require additional hardware. Non-functional exterior shutters can be constructed from vinyl or other synthetic materials. Non-functional shutters simply screw or bolt directly to the building and most often cannot be hinged without warping. The latest material to be used for the making of composite functional shutters is fiberglass first used by Sea Shutters Inc., for it's many advantages. Fiberglass shutters typically have the longest available warranty and, with price increases over the years to wood products due to the ever decreasing amount of quality hardwoods available, now can be even less expensive that a wood shutter. Fiberglass is a reinforced plastic unlike vinyl or PVC shutters giving it amazing strength and durability compared to it's weight. For those reasons fiberglass does not warp or sag much like it's unreinforced counterparts. It's strength is comparable to aluminum however it does not suffer from corrosion.
An exterior hurricane shutter or storm shutter is used to protect windows and doors in a building against the effects of high winds, rain, and flying objects during a hurricane, or as security gates over the opening. They can be made of a variety of materials such as aluminium panels, iron, or wood and can be installed in tracks to be quickly opened and closed with motorized controls.
References
- ^ Horizon Custom Wood Window Shutters Definitions
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