What is the insulation quality of wood shutters?

Answer 1

Almost all window treatments have the ability to shade or reflect light, but some are better than others at decreasing the amount of heat exchanged between the interior and exterior of your home. Most architects and construction specialists are familiar with a material's "R-value", which is its measure of thermal resistance. A unit's R-value is essentially determined by dividing the thickness of a material by its thermal conductivity. For example, most basic curtains and drapes have an R-1 rating, which is quite low, while honeycomb blinds, thick curtains with insulating lining, or well-fitted shutters can have a rating up to R-6. These may not seem to be important figures to you now, but you may find that you can drastically cut your energy bill if you utilize the right fixtures.

All of these fixtures can provide a changeable amount of privacy, but it's up to you to determine how you'd like to save energy in your home. After our lesson in R-values, you know now that a thicker material can insulate your home better, and lighter, non-metal materials are better at reflecting heat and light. Shutters with super-hard finishes often have even better insulation than those with normal stains and finishes.

Many people will take the cheaper route when installing their first window treatments, but many people learn after the first time that paying a little extra on the initial treatment can save money in the long run. It goes without saying that cheaper shutters, for instance, are usually of cheaper quality, resulting in the need for constant tightening, adjusting, and repair.

There's also sense behind spending a little extra money on shutters that are sure to well-insulate your home, as that can save you lots of money over time. However, you can still save some pennies when installing window coverings in your home if you do a little bit of the work on your own. For instance, do your own caulking and weatherstripping around existing windows and doors, or substitute expensive window treatments in the basement for thick foam to save energy where people don't often spend time. Basically, even if no one spends time in a certain room, energy and heat is still being exchanged through the glass, and foam can help to provide more insulation without costing you much money at all.