Five Things You Didn’t Know About Vinyl Shutters

Along with protecting your privacy, vinyl shutters add curb appeal by increasing your home’s visual appearance. But what makes vinyl synthetic shutters even more appealing are a few lesser known facts. Our top customization experts at Stanfield Shutter put together a list of five things you probably don’t know about vinyl shutters.

Less Well-Known Vinyl Shutter Facts

Interior Vinyl Shutters Provide Insulation

Extra insulation is one of the main benefits of installing vinyl shutters. Shutters help homeowners control the interior climate throughout the year. In a typical single-family home, according to a study by Cornell University, 25%-35% of heat loss occurs through a home’s windows. The median R-value of interior vinyl shutters is 4.0 which is 75% effective, however depending upon the materials used, the insulating factor may be raised to as much as R-10 which is 90% effective.

Depending upon the location of the window, you may benefit from vinyl shutter installation by keeping the cold air inside and the sunlight out in the summer by closing the shutters and vice versa in the winter. 

Custom Vinyl Shutters Add Security

These window treatments also improve home security by deterring burglars who peek into homes before breaking-in to assess the value of a home’s contents. Did you know that in 2018, over 7.2 million cases of property crime were reported in the United States alone? 

Closed and secured vinyl shutters create an extra barrier between your home and the outside world and acts as another layer that a burglar must break through. In addition, interior vinyl shutters can reduce vandalism and glass breakages, not just from people but from weather-related incidents too. Just this year, northern Utah experienced unprecedented windstorms that uprooted trees, knocked down fences, and broke out unprotected windows.

To Angle Vinyl Shutters Up or Down, That Is The Question

Technically custom shutters should angle downwards for aesthetic reasons, but there’s no right or wrong way to angle a shutter. Usually it depends upon a homeowner’s preference. The difference is slight, but a downward angle best protects the interior from sunlight and other outside elements but reduces the amount of privacy. An upward angled shutter allows less light but provides more privacy. 

There are Several Types of Vinyl Shutters

Today’s most popular vinyl shutters come in a variety of materials. Sometimes a vinyl shutter composite consists of a wood core with a vinyl wrapping. Other vinyl shutters blend the vinyl material with wood for a combined option. Whichever process manufacturers use, both options are composite vinyl shutters because they rely on two distinct materials.

Another vinyl shutter option is hollow vinyl. These shutters are an all-vinyl product with a hollow center. You can easily test if a vinyl shutter is hollow by squishing the louver blades. If the shutter squishes when you add pressure, it is most likely a hollow vinyl shutter. 

Our experts don’t typically recommend using composite and hollow vinyl products. These vinyl shutters are not very durable. They also tend to yellow, crack, chip, peel, and break more often than other shutter types. Instead, opt for a solid extruded vinyl shutter.

All of our vinyl shutters use solid extruded vinyl. The proven solid extruded vinyl formula has been researched and tested, offering the highest water and sunlight resistance for vinyl products.

Additionally, our vinyl shutters are extremely waterproof, making them the perfect shutter for humid areas. While we recommend using vinyl shutters in watered areas such as a shower stall or above a kitchen sink, HDF and natural hardwood is the strongest and most durable shutter on the market.

The Longest Measurement is the Right One

Measuring windows for a vinyl shutter treatment can seem complex, especially since various areas of the space slightly differ. It’s easy to spot a window treatment that doesn’t perfectly fit the space, thanks to poor measurements. Avoid this entirely by measuring the inside of your window perfectly.

First, measure the width by taking the window’s width on the top, middle, and bottom. Choose the widest of those measurements and cut that number in half. That calculated figure will give you the correct shutter width you will need to buy.

 You must also determine your vinyl shutter length. Find this figure by measuring the left side, middle, and right sides of your windows. The longest measurement is the length you should use when purchasing shutters. You should also eliminate the windowsill in your length measurement. Only measure the original window space.

Custom Vinyl Shutters by Stanfield Shutter Co.

When considering vinyl shutters, rely on the custom shutter experts at Stanfield Shutter. All of our vinyl shutters use a solid extruded vinyl formula. This high-grade material is by far the best resistant and durable product on the shutter market. Trust Stanfield Shutter for all your vinyl shutter and other window treatment needs.

Learn more about our custom vinyl shutter collection by visiting our vinyl shutter information page. You can also request a vinyl shutter quote using our online request form.