The Difference Between Exterior and Interior Shutters: Rundown for New York Homeowners

July 05, 2017

New York New York indoor and outdoor shutters

Plantation shutters are able to go almost anywhere – in any New York home, in any space, on any window shape, and even outside– and that’s where a few homeowners have questions.

Exterior and interior shutters are very different products, and if you’re uneducated on the differences, you could spend a lot of time or money shopping around for a product that isn’t what you need. Let’s look at what you need to know.

Exterior Shutters

First off, we have to state that Sunburst Shutters New York does not build or deal in exterior home shutters. Rather, we specialize in fashionable interior shutters for your home.

Outdoor shutters usually just do one of two things: they’re either purely for looks as an accent to your home’s siding, or they’re reinforced “hurricane shutters,” designed to protect your windows from heavy damage during intense weather.

Decorative exterior shutters tend to look great on very specific styles of homes, such as more rustic homes as well as Mediterranean houses. Hurricane shutters are fairly rare outside of a few areas of the country, and many types don’t even look like what you envision when you think of shutters, but rather look like large steel sheets.

Exterior shutters in Mediterranean home.

As for those outdoor shutters that do open and close on your window, there usually isn’t much functionality to them. They can’t form a seal to block heat and their louvers (if they have them) usually can’t be adjusted. Despite all that, exterior shutters can serve to give a much-needed color accent to your home.

Consider 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 forte, and they’re the ultimate window covering in combining aesthetics and usability. Put in directly in or on top of your window jamb, indoor shutters instantly become a natural part of your home as soon as they’re installed. And unlike outdoor shutters, interior shutters are able to fit on any window, in any room of your house.

The fashion that classic interior shutters can add to your house is unequaled, and they’re extremely flexible. Interior shutters can serve as an amazing accent to any style of home; from historic Prairie style homes to chic houses, and have a range of colors, textures, and frame options to suit your personal style.

When it comes to practicality, plantation shutters may be the most effective window treatment. Polywood faux wood shutters in New York block heat more efficiently than any other window treatment on the market, keeping your house more comfortable. The tilting louvers on a set of plantation shutters also offer a full spectrum of lighting options, something that shades and drapes can’t do.

Consider interior shutters if:

You need the maximum control of your home’s lighting, indoor temperature, and energy-efficiency.
You need a flexible, resilient window treatment.
You need to add visual interest to the inside of your home, and color match your existing indoor trim.

Sunburst is Your Interior Shutter Headquarters

Chances are, if you’re wanting the value, looks, and lastingness of shutters, you want interior plantation shutters. Sunburst can help. Give us a call at 631-246-3930 today and set up a free in-home consultation.

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