Why Shutters?
Every window or door has one or multiple requirements – control light, provide privacy or a security barrier. In the past home owners would look for curtains or blinds to assist with the privacy and light control and then ugly burglar bars to provide the security. Having to install these was both costly and often resulted in a ruined view, poor quality products that broke easily and curtains and drapes that ended up getting dirty and didn’t handle wind at all.
Shutters have been around for decades as window coverings, however they have mainly been for aesthetic and light reasons and had limitations of size and material. Enter today’s shutters that can be made to fit most openings, provide light and privacy control and are available as a beautiful security product and the home owner gets all their requirements from one beautiful product and the added benefit of insulation against both the cold and heat.
How do I choose between wood and metal?
There are various factors that affect the choice of material and these include:
- Is the opening outward facing or indoors?
- Do you need extra security?
- Is it a damp environment?
- Do you live near the coast?
The natural wood look and feel combined with the insulation properties of a quality wooden/timber shutter provide incredible light and privacy control and a limited security function. Whilst a solid wood shutter with a lock will provide a decent barrier to a would-be burglar – it is not a dedicated security product. Timber shutters are perfect for internal windows and doors and to create room dividers and a quality wooden shutter will provide years of beauty, light control and privacy. Timber shutters are generally available in numerous stains/colours and will have different wood grade and eco qualities.
Metal wooden shutters are generally made from aluminium due to the strength to weight ratio. These are the shutters of choice for outdoor/external applications, areas that are damp and high humidity coastal areas. Their inherent strength, combined with a decent lock provides a very good security barrier.
A well-established shutter supplier will be able to guide you as to the best installation for your needs.
How do I pick a supplier?
If you search for shutter suppliers you will be inundated with companies that provide shutters as part of their offering and it can be daunting deciding which one to use. There are basically 3 types of shutter companies:
- Those that manufacture locally, design and install using dedicated teams
- Those that import shutters from The East
- Those that specialise in the design and installation but place an order on a local importer or manufacturer
The first option will provide the highest level of customisation and due to the fact that you will deal with one company from start to finish, the service levels will generally be higher and more fluid. The second option may be slightly more cost effective, however, due to transport and manufacture not in-house may have a lower level of customisation and a higher level of errors which are time consuming to fix due to the factory being offshore. The third option is a great one if the ‘agent’ works with a local manufacturer that has good backup service and the ‘agent’ is well established.
So make your decision based on:
- Levels of customisation needed
- Levels of quality needed
- Waiting period
- Guarantee and local backup
What do I look for in security Shutters?
The beauty of aluminium security shutters is the light and privacy control built into a solid security feature that doesn’t require ugly security gates or burglar guards combined with drapes or curtains – one installation – one product.
What you want to be looking for are various factors that will affect the service delivery and quality of the product:
- Local manufacture and support
- Powder coating quality
- Thickness of frame
- Sturdiness of rails and installation
- Locks and hinges being good quality
- Guarantee
- Lead time
There are various ways to attached and fix an aluminium security shutter to an opening and make sure that the supplier offers various options and doesn’t constrain your design.
What do I look for in timber/wooden Shutters?
The natural warmth and beauty of solid timber shutters adds character to any room and if you decide to add these to your property you will not be disappointed as long as you following the basic rules:
- Make sure they are solid timber
- Make sure the timber is ethically sourced and eco friendly
- Ensure that you can customise your shutters to fit perfectly and don’t be constrained by the factory
- Local manufacture is better as the factory understands the South African climate better
- Ensure they are installed by a dedicated team
A good quality timber shutter will be available in multiple stains/colours and one shouldn’t be confused by offerings of different wood types – these are normally just a marketing tool. As long as the timber shutter is solid wood – the colour choice will match what your requirements are.
