What is the difference between interior and exterior plantation shutters?

Interior and exterior plantation shutters are basically the same product. The obvious difference is where they are mounted, inside or outside of the home.

Exterior plantation shutters are found and used mainly in moderate tropical climates where winds and storms are minimal. You will not find them used in southern Nevada.

Exterior shutters can oftentimes be more for decorative appearances than actual functionality. You’ll often see them used on Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes.

Rather than using plantation shutters for exteriors, most homeowners opt for more durable construction and styles. They are aware that exterior shutters have to withstand and combat much more severe weather than interior shutters. Exterior shutters are more about protecting windows from inclement weather and blowing debris, while interior shutters are more about light control, insulation, décor, and styling.

In hot and humid climates aluminum material for exterior shutters is often the best choice. This is because they are durable and do not rust like other metals. The second-best choice is composites. They tend to be durable and are easily painted to match current motifs or to change up the color palette years later. Wood comes in last because it weathers, warps, and will eventually need re-painting. Although we have an arid climate, the relentless heat of our desert southwest dictates the same preferences above for the great Las Vegas area.

There are disadvantages to exterior shutters. They work best with flat windows which disses crank-out and tilt windows. They can be hard to reach for opening and closing. They have to be properly secured against the wind or they will move back and forth and bang. Some people hate the aesthetic, preferring clean, sleek exterior window lines. Exterior shutters will require maintenance, repair, and painting oftentimes sooner than the walls around them. They can be costly headaches from the moment they are installed until the eventual time the house is sold.

What kind of materials are best for plantation shutters?

The most commonly used materials in use today for interior shutters are hardwoods, faux wood, vinyl, or composites.

There are pros and cons to each.

                                       Pros                                         Cons

Hardwood            Stylishly upscale, warm                Expensive, warp, dry out

Faux wood            Durable, less expensive               Poor insulation, peel

Vinyl                      Inexpensive                                Cheap appearance

Composites           Durable, variety of styles             Mid-range pricing, imported

Sometimes the terms interior and exterior plantation shutters refer to how they are mounted. Interior shutters are mounted inside a window’s framework and are mounted as tightly as possible up against the actual windowpanes. Exterior shutters might refer to placing the shutters outside of and over the boxed-in areas of the window insets in the walls.

To be crystal clear, Best Buy Shutters does not make or install exterior shutters. We specialize in the very best, most affordable interior plantation shutters. They are made locally and installed by our very own trained professional technicians. There’s no unnecessary waiting, no added delivery charges, and a responsive locally-owned company standing behind your purchase.

The best choice for Plantation Shutters is Best Buy Shutters Best Buy Shutters are NOT imported. They are made locally right here in our very own Las Vegas factory. We use only the finest high-quality composites and hardware. We do not hire third-party contractors to install your finished product. Our installers are employees; highly trained technicians that are answerable to us on a daily basis. While other companies get held hostage by the excuses of contracted installers, we personally pay attention to every detail throughout the process, right up through the final installation.