The Difference Between Interior and Exterior Shutters: Guide for Detroit Homeowners

July 05, 2017

Detroit Michican interior and exterior shutters

Shutters are able to go almost anywhere – in any Detroit house, in any room, on any window, and even outside– and that’s where some confusion can occur.

Exterior and interior shutters are completely different things, and if you’re not aware of the differences, you can spend a lot of time or money shopping around for something that isn’t what you need. Let’s look at what you need to know.

Exterior Shutters

First, we have to make it clear that Sunburst Shutters Detroit does not build or deal in exterior home shutters. Instead, our area of expertise is in fashionable interior shutters for your home.

Outdoor shutters really only serve one of two purposes: they’re either only for decoration as a complement to your home’s siding, or they’re industrial strength “hurricane shutters,” made to protect your windows from heavy damage during severe storms.

Decorative exterior shutters typically look fantastic on very specific home styles, such as more rustic homes as well as Mediterranean homes. Hurricane shutters are fairly uncommon except in a few areas of the U.S., and most hurricane shutters don’t even look like normal shutters, but rather look like large aluminum sheets.

For those outdoor shutters that do open and close on your window, they don’t tend to have a lot of functionality. They are unable to make a seal to block heat and their louvers (if they exist) usually can’t be adjusted. Aside from that, exterior shutters can add a splash of color that looks fantastic on your home.

Look Into Exterior Shutters If:

You get heavy storms in your area and want to protect your windows.
You want to add a splash of color to the outside of your house.
You have enough space around your windows to put in outdoor shutters.

Interior Shutters

Interior shutters are our area of expertise, and they’re the ultimate window covering in combining style and usability. Placed directly in or on top of your window jamb, indoor shutters instantly become a natural part of your home as soon as they’re put in. And unlike exterior shutters, interior shutters are able to mount on any window, no matter the space limitations.

The fashion that high quality plantation shutters give your home is unequaled, and shutters are incredibly flexible. Plantation shutters can serve as an amazing accent to any style of home; from historic Prairie style homes to chic houses, and have an assortment of colors, textures, and frame options to fit your taste.

As for tangible benefits, plantation shutters may be the most effective window covering. Polywood faux wood shutters in Detroit block heat better than any other window treatment on the market, helping to keep your house at a comfortable temperature. The tilting louvers on a set of plantation shutters also give you a wide range of lighting options, something that shades and drapes can’t do.

Think about interior shutters if:

You need better control over lighting, inside temperature, and energy-efficiency.
You want a flexible, resilient window treatment.
You need to add visual interest to the inside of your home, and color match your existing interior trim.

Sunburst is Your Interior Shutter Expert

It’s likely, if you want the value, style, and lastingness of shutters, you want interior plantation shutters. Sunburst can help with that. Call our team at 248-429-9294 today and schedule a free in-home estimate.

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