Plantation Wood Shutters
Plantation Shutters in bright white. Suits the Central Coast lifestyle.
Plantation Wood Shutters are very popular on the Central Coast with almost every type of tradesman claiming expert status and selling shutters. Any one appears to be a plantation shutters expert, from the local carpet retailers to guys in vans with an advertisement in the local paper and a mobile phone number.
I suppose the issue is if you are going to invest in one of the most expensive options for your window coverings, you want a reputable established company. A company specialising in window coverings and offering a written guarantee of quality and workmanship. Like anything, things can go wrong. When you are spending money on something you expect to last 10-15 years, you want a guarantee the retailer is going to be around to service any warranty issues. Be wary of many carpet companies or wardrobe companies who “bundle” shutters with carpet/wardrobes and “muddy” the waters as far as what the real price and quality of the shutters is, and therefore the true value of the package deal. It’s not unreasonable to ask for the price to be separated so you are clear what you are paying for.
It’s often hard to work out what is good value and what is cheap. Many local blind industry experts like Premier Shades specialize in Window Coverings for external and internal use. That is ALL they do. Blind industry professionals regard Shutters as one of the more complicated window furnishings to get right, so it always puzzles us industry professionals when carpet retailers, wardrobe retailers or handymen start selling shutters. We have heard so many tales of things going wrong on such a big ticket item.
You will find the majority of Shutters supplied in Australia, originate in China. That is why there is usually a 6-12 week turnaround from order. Shutters have a high labour component to them, and unfortunately the majority of the Australian shutter industry started sources shutters from China many years ago. There are still Australian manufacturers of Shutters but due to Australia’s labour costs, expect to pay a little more. As with any imported product from China, there are varying degrees of quality. Choose a reputable established company that offers a written guarantee and warranty and has a reputation for honouring their back up service.
10 Tips for choosing a Shutter Company on The Central Coast:-
- Do they put their quote in writing outlining exactly what you are getting and WHEN?
- Do they give you the warranty details in writing so you know what is and what isn’t covered?
- Do they display their actual address on their website or is vague and just provides a mobile number of 1300 number?
- Is it hard to contact them, even for a quote? Then wait until something goes wrong!!
- Do they have a showroom where you can see, touch and feel the product before you make a decision?
- Can you split your order and get a few windows shutters done at a time to spread out your payments?
- Do they offer any form of finance and what are the terms?
- Do they have sample they can show you in your home, so you can see the colour match against your walls and furnisher?
- Are they a member of any trade associations? For example BMAA (Blind Manufacturers Association of Australia)? Many associations insist on members keeping their insurance up to date, with a minimum industry experience and signing a code of conduct and code of ethics agreement.
- Are they local? Why should this matter? Did you know that every $20 a week you spend locally within our region has a knock on effect and could generate up to $200million for the region. This means future jobs for our central coast kids and grandkids. If the company are not local, will they come back if something isn’t right? We’ve heard tales of Sydney companies getting paid and never coming back to fix things.
I will give you some information to arm you with the right knowledge to know what you are getting and to help you when shopping for window covering and shutter providers:-
Shutter options to choose from include:
Size of Shutter blades
These are often 64, 89, 114mm wide.
Shape of Shutters
Elliptical shape (an oval shaped blade) or flat (the wider the blade the more space to look through and enjoy your view, however you may be restricted on your choices of size if you have a shallow window reveal that doesn’t allow for the blind to open and close).
Hinged, Bi-Fold or Sliding
Most popular option is the hinged option as it allows you easy access to your window for cleaning.
Bi-Folds and sliding options are great for doorway areas. Bi-fold or sliding door options are more expensive shutter to fit, so a more expensive option. When you pay for shutters to be fitted (usually included in the quoted price), you are usually paying on a “per panel” rate of fitting. A Bi-fold door has many more panels, than a fixed or hinged window or sliding window, so that is often why it is more expensive.
If you are concerned about the depth of your window fitting in sliding doors speak to your local shutter expert on the Central Coast. You’ll be surprised at how clever they can be to work out a configuration to suit your needs.
So why would you choose Wooden Plantation Shutters over Synthetic Shutters?
Synthetic shutters usually have a very small width span, sometimes as low as 550mm (less than 2 foot). The premium Thermopoly Shutter has a maximum width of 900mm. A wooden plantation shutter can have a maximum width of 950mm and an Aluminium shutters can span 1200mm. What this means is if you have big windows you will need more shutter panels to cover the expanse. This may or may not be the look you like, as the most popular look is one shutter panel per window pane. Synthetic Shutter are also heavier than Wooden Plantation Shutters which means if they are big windows (in height as well), the hinges may not handle the weight of the shutter as well as the lighter wooden plantation shutter. Wooden Shutters are able to be made into many different types of shapes. If you have a shaped window, wooden shutters would be your best option. Certain premium wooden shutters with polyurethane paint can be put in wet areas like bathrooms as long as there is no direct water near them. They are ok with the moisture of the room. However, a synthetic shutter and a wooden shutter look very very similar, so there is no reason to not put wooden shutters through your house and synthetic shutters in a bathroom.
Wooden Plantation Shutters are ideal for shaped windows.
So why would you choose Synthetic Shutter over a Wooden Plantation Shutter?
Thermopoly Shutters are ideal for wet areas. Many Synthetic Shutters have extended warranties up to 25 years, where as wooden plantation shutters often have a 5 year warranty. Although warranties normally only extend to the current owner of the home, when it comes to window furnishings, therefore if you sell the house within the 25 years, the new owner will not have the opportunity to claim any warranty. The other advantage is that a lot of Synthetic Shutters are cheaper than wooden Shutters. Thermopoly Shutters are a premium brand of plantation shutters and are often the same price as wooden plantation Shutters. Thermopoly Shutters look practically the same as wooden shutters. You can often only tell the different by the weight, and even then it is hard. The cheaper synthetic shutters may look similar from the front, but you can tell they are plastic by the way they are finished off on the end of the louvers blades. The cheaper synthetic shutters sound different when they are tapped and feel different to touch. Synthetic Shutters also have limited framing options, however this is not really a concern as the most popular frame options are available.
Ignore comments about PVC lasting longer than the wood because of leaving a window open. I often refer to your own window frames for that arguement. Your own window frame can take the occasional bit of rain coming in. A good quality wooden plantation shutter will take a little bit of rain if they paint finish is good (see above).
To Frame or not to Frame?
There are 2 schools of thought on framing shutters. A framed shutter (that is there is a frame put within your window frame, then the shutter) looks very neat and tidy, and is alot easier to fit for the plantation shutter installer. Having said that, installing other frame within your already existing window will take away from the view of your window and make it smaller.
However, you have alot more opportunity to fix up a window that isn’t entirely straight with a framed shutter. This works well with older houses where windows may have moved a little over time. Plantation Shutter Installers will putty up around edges to give you a neater look. A qualified trademan can easily fit a shutter straight into your window frame, with no need to frame. You shouldn’t be charged anymore whether you choose framed or unframed shutters.
The reason you would choose framing is if :-
a) you like the look. b) it’s easy to fit. c). the windows are not straight and you need a neater finish.
c) you have an older house and the windows are not exactly square.
Shutter opening style
Opening style can be clear view or traditional.
Clearview shutter operation. Control the blades by moving them yourself. mechanism at back left hand corner.
Clearview Shutters has the mechanics for the shutter at the back of the blade, so you just move the blade with your hand to open and close it. This offers a “clearer” view as there are no controls over the shutter.
Traditional style shutters are usually with a pole down the centre or offset to left or right side. You would choose this style if you liked the look, to match existing shutters, or they looks great as a room divider.
Traditional Style Shutter operating rod through Centre. move rod up and down to open/shut Shutter.
Types of Shutter materials
You’ll likely be able to choose from:
- Aluminium Shutters: Ideal for outside use. Standard colours are shades of white and anodised silver, but these styles of shutters can be powder coated to any match any current Dulux paint colour. Aluminium Shutter blades can be fixed, so they work well if you need to block off an end to a verandah or patio area. They can also be used to create a completely separate outside entertaining area (picture below) and a fraction of the code to get a builder to build it for you.
Aluminium Shutters for an outside entertaining area. Central Coast
White Plantation Shutters within Cedar Window Frames. Suits Central Coast lifestyle.
Fitting and measuring Shutters
Shutters are a specialised window covering. They require the most attention to detail when fitting as there is little option for error. Keeping this in mind, many windows are not exactly square. A good shutter fitter will know how to spot this and make sure your shutters are fitted perfectly. Many Shutter companies automatically give you a ‘framed’ shutter to fit within your window. This may eliminate more gaps (A shutter will only block about 85% of the light and there is a lot of room for snippets of light to filter through the blades and around the sides).
Aluminium Roller Shutters.
Aluminium Roller Shutters offer fantastic security for your Central Coast home. Roller Shutters are ideal for Central Coast holiday homes is too. 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.
Aluminium Security Roller Shutters. Idea for holiday home security on the Central Coast
Roller Shutters. Idea for security as well as 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 eletricity, a good roller shutter can dramatically reduce the costs of heating or coolng your home, as most of the warmth or heat comes through the windows.
aluminium roller shutter. Ideal to conserve energy from heat/cool escaping through windows.
This article supplied by Sharon Tieman, Director of Premier Shades, Awnings and Blinds at 18/482 Pacific Highway, Wyoming.
Ph: 02 43248800. Email: sales@premiershades.com.au. To organise a free measure and quote with expert Shutter advice for your Central Coast home contact us today.
