Many homeowners don’t realize how much the curtains they choose can affect their home. Regardless of the type of window treatment, these covers help control natural light and provide privacy. While most people understand the importance of curtains, they don’t know the difference between each type. Look around your home and you may notice your curtains. Do you have blinds, blinds or curtains? New homeowners and those currently looking for new window shades prefer Plantation shutters over other types. Shutters provide an updated look to a space that many homeowners want. These curtains provide a professional look to suit any style, whether you prefer modern, contemporary, transitional, minimal, or simply your own.
However, narrowing down your options for curtains is only half the battle. When choosing plantation shutters for your home, you can choose from a number of variations, including material, color and size. If you’re looking for a complete guide to blinds, look no further. The experts at Stanfield Shutter have put together a comprehensive guide to plantation shutters, including the different types available. Here’s everything you need to know to make an informed choice for your next curtain treatment.
Plantation shutters
Frame blinds come in several material types, and they work best depending on your home’s location, room type, and style preferences. These larger curtains are a popular choice for many homeowners because of their elegant look. While blinds work well throughout the home, many people especially enjoy using them in their dining room and bedroom. But the versatility of Plantation Shutters also applies to kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms. Plantation shutters come in different variations. Below is a breakdown of each product to help you decide which is best for your home.
Vinyl Plantation Shutters
Vinyl shutters are a great option for homeowners looking for an easy-to-clean and cost-effective option. The main advantage of vinyl is its water resistance, which makes it a great choice over bathroom and kitchen sinks. Unfortunately, some vinyl shutters do not meet the standard due to structural issues and low-quality manufacturing. Shutters made of vinyl are a newer type in the shutter scene. In fact, many manufacturers of vinyl shutters have been in the industry for a short period of time. But because of the growing popularity of these plantation shutters, new vinyl shutter companies seem to be popping up every day. If you’re picking good vinyl shutters from bad, you need to know what to look for when buying. Some different vinyl shutters include composite and solid vinyl.
Solid Vinyl Blinds
Solid vinyl is 100% solid extruded vinyl. You can expect durable, waterproof and high-quality shutters from manufacturers using solid vinyl. Solid vinyl shutters are always recommended for Stanfield shutters compared to composites. Although they are a little more expensive than other vinyl varieties, they will last longer.
Composite Vinyl Blinds
Composite shutters consist of a mix of materials, often including wood and vinyl. You don’t always know what you’re going to get from one manufacturer to the next. One way to test the quality of a composite vinyl shutter is to determine if it is hollow. Squeeze the shutters, noting if the shutter blades are crowded together. Blinds with hollow vinyl can feel empty and less durable than better quality blinds.
Your best bet when choosing vinyl plantation shutters is a solid vinyl product. Solid vinyl shutters are more durable and will not discolor, crack, chip or peel like composite vinyl shutters. However, vinyl is not as durable as engineered or natural hardwoods, which is why our experts recommend limiting its use to damp areas of your home, such as the shower or over the kitchen sink.
Wooden shutters
Wooden shutters are another variety suitable for home and commercial spaces. Perhaps the greatest appeal of wood shutters is their timeless appearance and durability. Thinking long-term will also give you reasons to choose wood shutters for your window treatment. With proper maintenance, these shutters can last for decades. It is also important to consider the ability of wooden shutters to block sunlight and maintain energy efficiency. Homeowners who experience hot summers will find this Plantation Shutters Melbourne better at preventing UV rays from penetrating their homes. This, in turn, will help you save on energy bills by better regulating the temperature of the space. You can also choose from several types of wood, including engineered wood, basswood, and knobby alder.
Engineered wood
In the early 1960s, lumber mills began transforming their products to meet new federal regulatory standards that also battled increasing foreign competition. Over time and technological advancements, these manufacturers have refined their creations using HDF (High Density Fiberboard), a more refined and durable version of MDF.
The process of making high-density fiberboard (HDF) involves refining the wood into long fiber bundles. These lines are then cleaned to remove any imperfections that damage natural resin, bitumen and sap. After the fiber bundles are cleaned, they are refined to remove any physical imperfections or imperfections that could degrade performance. The fiber bundles are then subjected to high temperatures and pressures, using advanced industrial adhesives and adhesives to pull everything together. All in all, engineered wood shutters are one of the most durable products on the market. Processed materials ensure strength, durability, smoothness and a warp-free surface. However, HDF engineered wood shutters do not have the same natural texture as other wood shutters.
Basswood
Another type of wooden shutters is made of basswood. Basswood is one of the most versatile hardwoods in the United States because of its natural milky white color. Basswood can also be painted or stained according to the needs or desires of the client, but most homeowners do not use paint. Basswood also has a smooth, clear grain structure that gives shutters a classic or traditional look and feel when stained. Basswood has no open knots, but offers a more streamlined finish. Its light, natural color also makes it a great choice for dyeing.
Stain colors can vary from the lightest maple to the darkest cherry or oak—no matter which stain you choose. Basswood shutters, as well as all of our Stanfield shutter collections, use dowel joinery for significantly improved durability and longevity. We also use adjustable tension screws on each panel to provide fixed shutter tilt tension for an attractive look.
Dyeing
After you’ve decided which wood blinds are best for your needs, you can choose the stain you’d like to use on your new curtains. Working with a blind company, you can choose stain options that create the perfect look and texture for your home. Engineered wood paint finishes typically range from pure white to cream, as well as custom options. Basswood and Knotty Adler are also available in a variety of light, medium and dark stains.
Shape and style
You can also customize your wooden shutters to fit the shape of your windows, including angled, arched or standard square/rectangular windows. No matter which configuration you need, you can find wood shutters that fit your windows like a glove. Stanfield Shutter provides homeowners with a custom creation process for all shutter products. Whether you need a wooden shutter structure to cover your large rear side windows or to accommodate sliding glass and French doors, custom shapes will make it all possible.
