Buying shutters is starting to get complicated. There, we've said it!!
Why is buying shutters confusing ?
Let us introduce ourselves. We are the team at Country Home Shutters. We have been supplying and installing internal window shutters, also known as plantation shutters, since 2016.
So we have a load of experience and we have noticed a change in the world of shutters.
First of all, the term "shutter blinds' has been bandied about. Huh, what does that even mean? Here in the industry we refer to plantation shutters (those that have opening doors with moveable louvres / slats) or just shutters. Blinds refer to window coverings like verticals, rollers, romans and venetians. The wooden slat venetians may look similar to shutters from a distance but they are definitely blinds, not shutters, as they have strings.
So we will still be calling them separate names to avoid confusion. Now that we have that out of the way, let's look at manufacture.
Secondly, is place of manufacture.
Nearly all the shutters sold in the UK are manufactured in China.
Why? Because they have the biggest and best factories in the world. They were set up to satisfy the large American market where shutters are in great demand because of their superior functionality and appearance, not to mention ease of use.
No other supplier can currently match Chinese pricing and fast production.
Sleek machinery and competent staff turn out great quality shutters in a variety of materials.
But more recently, UK made shutters are being produced. There are two main types. Those made from quality timber and those made from plastic (PVC). The cost to produce the timber shutters is higher than those from China, so while they may be available a few weeks earlier, they are usually more expensive. But some people don't mind this and are willing to pay extra.
These plastic ones are mostly cheaper than the Chinese solid timber variety, and are available sooner. But they aren't always good quality. We used them once on specific request from a client. Unfortunately the louvres warped in the heat generated in a sunny window. So we will not be using them again, we have our reputation to keep. Buyer beware!
Thirdly, water resistant versus waterproof shutters.
The waterproof shutters are usually the solely PVC (polyvinyl) ones. There are big differences in quality. Cheap plastic ones that are thinner, look 'plasticky' and are often sold for bathrooms, don't usually stand the test of time. They may be waterproof in some respects but they tend to discolour over time (UV resistance ingredients are pricey) and can warp with heat. Cheap louvre pins mean that the louvres don't stay closed. Inferior metal hinges rust and squeak.
The more pricey polyvinyl waterproof shutters are longer lasting and function better. Something to be aware of.
Water resistant shutters may have a timber or composite core covered in a PVC coating. They look more like the quality of timber shutters and usually come with stainless steel or chrome hinges and hardware. They can cope with the steam and moisture in a bathroom but they aren't sold as 'waterproof' because some of the components aren't made to be constantly wet. Great for most bathrooms, where they will give many years of use, but not wet rooms or behind shower roses.
Hopefully we have given some clarity on what shutters you should get if you are contemplating getting some installed.
They have many plus points over other window coverings. See our other articles for more detailed information on how they transform windows.
https://www.countryhomeshutters.co.uk
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