Are Shutters worth the money?
Yes, the reputation is deserved.
Shutters can add value in two ways to your home on the Central Coast!
1. They add curb appeal as they can be seen from the street and instantly say “style” before anyone has entered your home.
2. Real Estate agents often talk about the “wow factor ” when buyers walk into a home and Shutters are on your windows in the main living area it certainly delivers the ‘wow factor’. They are often listed as the features on a home for sale, right after “European kitchen appliances”.
Are they expensive?
Authentic Plantation shutters on the Central Coast are about 3 times more expensive than regular timber style venetian blinds. Expect to pay anything from $250 to $600 a square metre. There will usually be a surcharge for installation, which is usually charged on a per panel rate. Other charges could be for bi-fold, sliding or anywhere else where it requires extra work and componentry. Aluminium Plantations Shutters are slightly more expensive than Timber Plantations Shutters or PVC (Thermopoly Plantation Shutters).
Premier Shades also offer Certegy NO INTEREST EVER FINANCE. You can deposit 20%-50% and the balance will be paid by the finance company. You will then be charged fortnightly for up to 2 years. click here to read how it works. or call their office and have some information sent out 02 43248800.
You don’t have to get a whole house done at once. Most Shutter companies are fine with a few rooms at a time. The most popular rooms to get done are Master Bedrooms and the main living area (often the one that faces the street – for street appeal)
What’s the Warranty?
Plantation Shutter warranties can vary from 2 years to 25 years. Will all things, look for a reputable company that will honour the warranty terms and put it in writing. There is no use getting a long warranty then finding the company is no longer operating after a few years. Alternatively if you get it in writing, the warranty terms may exclude things like leaving a window open, or a 40 degree plus day.
The cheapest shutters.
The huge price difference is due to the huge quality differences available. Like anything, different Shutters suit different decorating requirements. At the cheaper end of the market expect cheaper PVC made shutters, that will not handle high heated windows. The cheaper PVC shutters will not have any internal support (like aluminium, which is found in the better quality Thermopoly Shutters) A hot window is a windows that faces the western (afternoon) or eastern (morning sun) . Basically any day over 35-40 degrees could see your shutters warp or bend. Other issues with cheaper shutters is some can be made of chipboard with really thick covering of paint. A quick karate chop and the shutter will fall apart. They are also very vulnerable if they get wet. If you leave a window open they may swell up and burst if the paint job is not perfect and moisture gets in. This may not be covered by the warranty. This is why you will often find the cheaper style of shutters only available in panel withs of 650mm-700mm wide. If either of these limitations would not effect you then you should be fine.
Be also careful of the paint finish. It must have a quality paint finish with a UV protection in it. If it doesn’t the white plantation shutters will turn yellow in a hot window.
Quoting “Apples” for “Apples”
Make sure you are really clear on what you are getting. Unfortunately the Blind, Awning and Shutter industry in Australia is only starting to be regulated with Premier Shades at Wyoming (Central Coast) having the first Australian qualified tradesman in the Blind industry (July 2017). There are a lot of backyard operators that source all types of brands and tell you they are the same, or they are “coming out of the same factory” or my favorite they say is “Australian made” but the price is cheaper than imported.
- Try and get as much of the quote in writing outlining the brand and warranty terms.
- Check online reviews.
- When the difference is thousands of dollars then you may need to start questioning the authenticity of the “same product”.
- It may look the same at face value, but it may not be made the same or painted with a quality UV protective paint.
- There is not enough in the margins of plantation shutters for there to be a 20% difference in price. Something is fishy.
Why does it take so long?
At the top end of the market you are paying for Authentic Cedar Shutters or Australian Aluminium shutters made in Australia. The Australian made Shutters are often more versatile with the types of wood or powder coating colours (Aluminium) they can use and can match your decorating them and source wood from anywhere in the world. Still expect around 4- 6 weeks for Australian made product.
Over 70% of shutters sold in Australia are made in China. The lead time is anywhere from 6-12 weeks. This is due to the cheap labour costs as shutters are quite labour intensive to make. Depending on the factory the quality is still very good, but the downside is if there is any errors you will wait another 6-12 weeks for them to be fixed. The only other delays would be around Chinese New Year. Factories in China close for 3-4 weeks around Chinese New Year, which is often in the first 3 months of the calendar year. Add Australian factory close downs around December/January, and the timing can stretch to 16 weeks plus.
If a supplier is over 12 weeks with no communication with you as the customer they may be a low volume seller. For a ship to leave China the container needs to be full. If it is not full, it won’t leave. If they can’t fill a container in that time frame, they are not selling a lot of shutters.
The savvy home decorator often opts for a combination of both Smooth White Venetians and Shutters. This combination works well. Shutters are often used for the main living areas and rooms exposed to the street view, while the thicker horizontal blades of the “shutter venetian blinds “ ( a wider blade 63mm + glossy smooth) can work well in bedrooms and other less used rooms of the house.
What is good value?
At Premier Shades (www.premiershades.com.au) we offer a number of different quality brands, materials and styles. There is a brand, style and price point to suit almost any home decorator on the Central Coast. We have over 9 styles of Shutter combinations on display in our showroom at Wyoming (18/482 Pacific Highway at the 5 ways roundabout). Our most popular brand has a 25 year structural warranty, and 5 year paint warranty on our most popular shutter. This sturdy range of Thermopoly Synthetic Shutters which are re-enforced with an aluminium rod and has a 25 year warranty and a two-pac polypropylene paint finish. It can stand a hot western window or even a skylight window.
A great alternative to our premium plantation wood shutter, is our Bayview Shutter. It is still a superior product, but only has a 5 year warranty making it a little more affordable. Alternatively we can also source the Australian made Shutters. Australian Made Shutters are at the premium end of the market. They work particular well if you would like a special designer feature using a particular type of wood or shape.
When we organise a free measure and quote for you, we can discuss your options and find the best products that suits you. If you have an idea of sizes email Premier Shades and they will be able to give you a ball park figure over the email. click here www.premiershades.com.au
To get a free measure and quote for your Central Coast property click here. Or phone Premier Shades at 18/482 Pacific Highway, Wyoming on 02 43248800 during business hours.
There are a few variations and options for purchasing Shutters on the Central Coast.
Variations:
Plantation Wood Shutters (the wood is grown in plantations harvested to make the shutters) most popular timber is basswood. Plantation wood can then be painted in crisp whites and ivory or stained in wood grain finishes. Staining the basswood means you get a consistant colour throughout all the shutters, unlike the finish you would get if you choose Cedar Shutters. The most popular colour for Shutters on the Central Coast is white, with 95% of sales being a bright white.
Although tradionally white plantation shutters work well within white timber frames, White Plantation Shutters can also work well in a variety of window frames, including Cedar. see below
White Plantation Shutters within Cedar frames. Central Coast
Cedar Shutters. The colours available are often light, medium and dark. You are dealing with a natural timber and the colours make vary from shutter to shutter, as well as the way the Cedar ages. (it usually get’s darker as it gets older).
Aluminium Shutters. Idea for outdoor use. Aluminium shutters can have fixed blades or rotating blades. Fixed blades work well on the Central Coast if you want to block off the end of a deck that may look over a neighbour. The standard colours are white or an anodised style silver, but they can also be powder coated to any colour in the dulux colour chart range. Aluminium Shutters are great for creating a useable and affordable outdoor living area. click here to learn more. See below:-
Aluminium Shutters. Suitable for Central Coast outdoor living area
Roller Shutters. Ideal for security and completely blocking out light to a window. A popular variation is motorisation, either with a remote control, or from a solar panel remote control. Roller Shutters on the Central Coast are very popular for the weather protection they provide. Because of the escalating cost of electricity, a good roller shutter can dramatically reduce the costs of heating or cooling your home, as most of the warmth or heat comes through the windows.
The other issues that Roller Shutters assist Central Coast homes is with security. The Central Coast is famous for it’s beautiful beaches and holiday homes. Unfortunately you can’t keep an eye on your holiday property all the time. When you are not staying in your holiday home on the Central Coast, having it securely looked up with Roller Shutters gives you piece of mind and may even reduce your insurance premiums.
Premier Shades also stock specific aluminium security roller shutters designed for fire retardancy and approved by the C.S.I.R.O. The Fire Safe Roller Shutter is bushfire rated and is made in Australia to Australian standards. These security roller shutters are non perforated and are in alignment with BASIX requirements. Certificates and documents can be provided. Click here to learn more.
Another exclusive security roller shutter product from Premier Shades is “Sensi-Fire”. Sensi Fire Roller Shutters are a new innovative system that automatically opens your roller shutter in the event of a fire.
Aluminium Security Roller Shutters. Central Coast
