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Can Replacement Windows
Improve Curb Appeal?
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 A
homes windows covering are
now getting a lot more
attention from ‘the
neighbors’ and home
appraisers when shutters are
installed. Shutters are
proving to be a better
window treatment, due to the
fact they are the only
window treatment to increase
a homes value and are a
major visual element
additive on the inside and
the outside of the home.
Shutters also control the
lighting and set mood for
each room. Most interior
designers feel that shutters
provide a finished look to a
window and they are more
durable than draperies,
curtains or blinds.
More than ever before, homes
with shutters are recognized
as substantially upgraded
and thus shutters are the
number one window covering
all other products. The
‘shutter’ category is the
number one window covering
product in recent years.
Surveys have shown that 7
out of 10 consumers prefer
shutters over any other type
of window covering, however
only 2 out of 10 can afford
them due to the high price.
Shutter offers many
advantages over blinds and
curtains. Shutters offer
superior insulative and
control of light entering a
room, varying from opening
the shutters all the way for
a full view to fully closed
for an almost blackout
control.
Shutters in general are
lower maintenance than most
other types of window
covering. Older style
shutters with staples
require replacement every
few years and special
cleaning and upkeep,
synthetic vinyl and Polywood
materials can withstand wet
environments such as outdoor
use and saunas. In recent
years a laminate DuraShutter
material with snap-in non
staple construction provides
durability and low cost
alternative advantages.
Shutters can provide a
better insulation value than
any other type of window
covering. Since 10 times
more heat can pass through a
glass window than through
wall adding a shutter to
your window will lower your
heating and air conditioning
bills.
Shutters are commonly made
from 3 different types of
materials. Each type has
it’s own strengths and
weaknesses as well as
environmental effects.
Traditional shutter
manufacturers use wood and
then spray paint or stain
them to just about any color
you desire and they perform
well under most conditions.
Like any wood product they
are subject to warping over
time and the paint can peal
and crack over time.
Unfortunately, some woods
are imported and the
harvesting of some trees
causes harm to the
environment. In addition
most shutters are painted
using lacquer based primers
and or finish paints that
release VOCs into the
atmosphere. VOC’s have been
proven to increase green
house gases.
Vinyl and Poly foam shutters
were developed as an
alternative to wood
shutters. For certain
applications such as
outdoors, high humidity
areas like saunas or
poolrooms vinyl or Poly foam
shutters are an excellent
choice. The plastic coating
used in these types of
shutters can fade, change
color or yellow over time
with exposure to the sun.
Unfortunately, vinyl and
Polywood shutters are made
with oil products and the
drilling, transport,
refining and storage of oil
based products are a concern
to many as their use
increases our dependency on
oil, and when painted, the
use of VOC is also harmful
to the environment.
Many shutter fabricators are
now, as flooring companies
do, are offering Eco
friendly lower cost laminate
alternatives to wood. Many
American and foreign shutter
fabricators now offer all
three choices,
Plastic/foams, Wood and
Laminate materials. Laminate
materials are designed to
overcome the disadvantages
of wood, vinyl and Polywood
shutters. Laminate
DuraShutter material is a
dense, solid engineered
composite that is an Eco
friendly recycled wood and
paper product. Its density
gives it a better insulation
value than wood and the Eco
friendly laminate coating
material provides better
resistance to fading or
yellowing than Polywood or
vinyl. Laminate shutters can
be made into an excellent
product that is
indistinguishable from wood
shutters. Since laminate
DuraShutter is primarily
made from recycled materials
and the finish from Eco
friendly laminates, it has a
significantly lower impact
on the environment.
Shutters are often referred
to as "the ultimate window
covering" but costly until
the introduction of shutters
made of lower cost laminate
DuraShutter materials that
many shutter fabricators are
now offering as a lower cost
alternative. So once you've
added indoor shutters, just
stand back and admire them,
both from within your home
and from your curb. Drive by
any home with interior
shutters across the front
and you'll see why so many
people swear by them.
By visiting
the author’s web site at
www.Durashutter.com you
will find all kinds of
useful window covering
information.
If you are looking for Minneapolis roofing contractor, please call us today at 763-439-4300 or complete our
online request form.
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