How Wood Shutters Protect Your Carpeting, Furniture and Draperies

Because wood shutters are natural insulators they can be used to lower your energy costs by keeping the elements out. That was their original purpose and why you almost never see a historic house that does not have shutters. Shutters are not just decorative any more than ceiling fans are only decorative. Many now use ceiling fans to reduce the costs of heating and cooling their homes and shutters are even more effective.

Shutters and ceiling fans became less essential because of the introduction of heating and air conditioning. Just as ceiling fans made a comeback to save energy, it would be wise to start using shutters again to save money by moderating temperatures in our homes.

Have you ever touched the windows the sun is shining on? Even during the coldest days in winter they can be extremely warm. Try standing next to a window on a cold day and especially when the wind is blowing toward it. That area will be far colder than the rest of the room.

By opening and closing shutters you can block out the heat of the sun during the summer and cold winds during the winter. You don’t even have to do this every day. You can leave some shutters closed some times of the year. In the summer, close the shutters on the windows where the rising or setting sun shines most directly. In the winter, close the shutters on the windows where the north wind blows strongest or when storms are expected.

Besides lowering the cost of heating and cooling your home, shutters also protect your draperies, furniture, flooring and carpeting from UV damage from sunlight. Did you know that three of the four most commonly used types of carpet (wool, nylon and olefin) have poor resistance to sunlight? Only polyester has good sunlight resistance and even it can be damaged.

Constant exposure to sun rays is destructive to draperies, damaging the fabrics. Especially affected are bright and dark colors which will fade and streak. Eventually the sun damage will cause your drapes to dry rot. While acrylic and polyester are less affected, cotton, rayon and acetate need the most protection from sunlight.

The upholstery of your furniture is not the only thing affected. Leather furniture is especially susceptible to sun damage, colors fade and even wood dries out. Whenever possible, position furniture where direct sunlight does not fall on it. If that isn’t possible, shield it from the sun by closing your shutters.

Wood shutters benefit you by lowering your heating and cooling costs and protecting the money you spend on furniture, draperies, carpeting and flooring in your home. Did you know you can get better quality wood shutters by buying directly from the manufacturer? They can be challenging to find so we are sharing links to those we were able to locate in our Pricing Exterior Shutters Hubpage. There are some great photos of installed shutters identified by type in our photo slideshow there so you can see which shutter styles you prefer.

Save money and get superior quality Exterior Wood Shutters by buying directly from the manufacturer. Manufacturing plants can be difficult to find so go to Frank Wright’s Hubpage for more information and where to buy Wooden Shutters. Don’t miss the beautiful photograph slide show there. Click here to get your own unique version of this article.