Plantation shutters are our number one growth product.

In this article, it is our goal to educate you as to industry standard for the manufacture and fabrication of plantation shutters.  First the basic advice.  Please kindly consider this - even though strict quality standards are maintained to minimize color variations, it is recommended that wood shutters in the same room be ordered at the same time.  Exact color matches between orders cannot be guaranteed.

Most problems consumers experience with plantation shutters are minor in nature. And, these problems can generally be corrected by an installer at the time of installation.  More than 97% of consumer complaints arise from the fact that the product advantages and disadvantages for a shutter project were not discussed at the point of sale.  This is why we provide every customer with a two page memorandum of understanding which outlines the industry standards for the window covering we offer.  It is the extra mile, but we sleep better knowing that we have done all we can to educate people about what is a reasonable expectation and what is a real problem.  We have found customers to be extremely kind and appreciative of the extra effort to educate rather than up-sell and/or over-promise.  But, we digress.

So, to our point.  Obtaining an explanation of what you can expect from your shutter project cannot be stressed enough. We make every effort to deliver custom shutters with agreed upon specifications, and we will try to advise or caution you when we anticipate a problem. Although we cannot possibly know as much about your window or functional application as you do, we do know our products, their limits, and their strengths.

Here are the main things to understand as it relates to your custom shutter project:

• Color Variations - Our vendors maintain strict quality standards to minimize color variations. We do not attempt exact color matches from our sample decks. It is a fact, that regardless of the industry, colors change from one lot to another.

• Dye Lot Coloration and Surface Texture Variances Between Material Runs –When our vendors paint, dye or extrude the materials they use to fabricate the shutters, there are slight coloration changes in each run. For example, when the wood finisher paints slats in our color pure white, the final color is affected by both temperature and humidity. Since each run could be weeks apart, the temperature and humidity will be different. Another example is PVC louver extrusion. Most of the louver styles today have a smooth surface with varying color depth and intensity. The extrusion process is not only affected by both temperature and humidity but also the speed and pressure at which the vinyl material is run through the extruding equipment. From run to run, color and surface texture are slightly different. This is why you should expect slight color variations.
  

• Commercial Tolerance - Also, consider this industry standard - when holding various materials 2 feet apart, there is no discernible difference between colors. The many factors that influence color and texture make it impossible to paint, dye or extrude materials that match perfectly from run to run. There will always be slight differences. However, our experience has shown that these differences are not significant and can only be seen if the materials are placed next to each other. Holding the materials 2 feet apart, you will not be able to see a discernible difference. This is the standard we hold our vendors to and should not be an issue as long as you order all the window coverings for a single room at the same time.

We would love to help you choose the proper shutter and louver for your application.  Also, check out our online shutter cost calculator for a rough idea of what your project might cost.

Skandia Window Fashions offers a great explanation of how to consider louver size for your plantation shutters.  They opine, "Making the right choice in louver width; there is more to it than what first meets the eye.  Although louver width is a matter of personal preference, there are some not-so-obvious factors you should be aware of before making your choice.

Generally, your choice will be made among 2-1/2", 3-1/2" and 4-1/2" louver widths.  Perhaps the biggest surprise in store for you is that what you see when you look through your louvers depends on the width of the louvers you choose.

Looking through 2-1/2" wide louvers, your eye will be drawn to the louvers themselves because of the small space between them.  Although it tends to obstruct the view, this narrow width is most often chosen when the majority of your windows are small, 2 feet high or less. A 2-1/2" wide louver allows roughly twice as many louvers in the panel as the widest width, and presents a more shuttered look. However, less light enters when your louvers are fully opened.

Looking through 3-1/2" louvers provides a dramatic difference in what you see. Your eye is drawn through the space between the louvers to the view outside.  When open, this width allows more light to enter than the narrow width, and is ideal if the majority of your windows are 30" high or more.

Looking through 4-1/2" louvers, your eye is once again drawn through the louvers to the view beyond. When open, this width allows you to let in the most light, and provides the fewest number of louvers for any given window or door height. It is particularly popular for exceptionally tall windows and rooms with oversized ceiling heights, although it can be used anywhere."

We would love to help you choose the proper shutter and louver for your application.  Also, check out our online shutter cost calculator for a rough idea of what your project might cost.

If you purchase a decent quality interior plantation shutters one of the things you will most enjoy about them are how durable and built to last they are.  Additionally, most shutters come with a limited lifetime warranty - our selection certainly does.

Here is the thing, because you probably won't ever need to replace your shutters, the slightly higher price up front will pay off over time. In fact, with so many good priced shutter options on the market, if you figure the cost of your shutters on a yearly basis, you may find that they are less expensive over the years than having to periodically replace window coverings - such as faux wood blinds or cell shades.  Plus, plantation shutters never go out of style.

We have stated it before, but it bears repeating - plantation shutters are selling better then almost any other window covering right now - because the prices are really good for the value.  If you are considering plantation shutters for your home, the value opportunity may never be as good as it has been for the last couple of years.

We can help you navigate your options and point you in a direction that works for you.  As such, we would love to help you with your plantation shutter project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your shutter project may cost, for a good value shutter offering, please check out our online plantation shutter cost estimator.