The Difference Between Interior and Exterior Shutters: Rundown for Virginia Beach Homeowners

July 05, 2017

Virginia Beach Virginia outdoor and indoor shutters

Shutters are able to go almost anywhere – in any Virginia Beach house, in any space, on any window, and even outside. And that may be where some homeowners might get confused.

Exterior and interior shutters are very different window coverings, and if you’re flying blind, you could waste time or money shopping around for a product that isn’t what you need. Here is what you should know.

Exterior Shutters

First off, we need to be clear that Sunburst Shutters Virginia Beach doesn’t make or deal in exterior shutters. Rather, our specialty is in stylish interior shutters for your home.

Exterior shutters usually just do one of two things: they’re either purely for looks as an accent to your windows, or they’re industrial strength “hurricane shutters,” designed to guard your windows from damage during harsh weather.

Decorative exterior shutters usually look good on very particular styles of homes, like Mediterranean homes. Hurricane shutters are fairly rare outside of a few areas of the country, and many types don’t even look like normal shutters, and instead look like large steel sheets.

Exterior shutters in Mediterranean home.

As for those exterior shutters that do open and shut 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. Despite all that, exterior shutters can serve to give a much-needed color accent to your home.

Look Into Exterior Shutters If:

You get heavy storms in your area and need 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 install exterior shutters.

Interior Shutters

Interior shutters are our area of expertise, and they’re the optimum window covering in combining fashion and usability. Installed directly in or on top of your window jamb, interior shutters blend into your home’s furnishings from the minute they’re installed. And unlike exterior shutters, interior shutters are able to fit on any window, in any room of your house.

The style that premier plantation shutters give your home is unrivaled, and they’re extremely flexible. Indoor shutters can beautifully accent any style of home; from historic Craftsman homes to chic houses, and have an assortment of colors, finishes, and frame options to fit your taste.

Interior shutters in Virginia Beach bedroom.

As for tangible benefits, plantation shutters might be the most effective window treatment. Polywood plantation shutters in Virginia Beach can help block heat more effectively than any other window treatment available, helping to keep your house at a comfortable temperature. The adjustable louvers on a set of plantation shutters also let you have a full spectrum of lighting options, a big benefit over draperies and shades.

Think about interior shutters if:

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

Sunburst is Your Interior Shutter Expert

It’s likely, if you want the value, looks, and lastingness of shutters, you want interior plantation shutters. Sunburst can help with that. Call our team at 757-210-6448 today and set up your free in-home estimate.

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