Is this the first time that you are going to use interior shutters? Here are a few things you should know about them:
Buy the right shutters
Just like you can’t paint your house any color, you can’t install any shutters you come across. To help you out, here are some of the factors you should consider before you buy the right units:
Materials: What are the materials used in making the shutters? Shutters are made from a wide range of materials such as wood, plastic, and many others. When making the purchase, choose units that are of the right material for your application. Wooden shutters are the most common. While they are beautiful, they aren’t ideal for use in all applications. The units tend to be easily damaged when exposed to water; therefore, avoid placing them in the house’s bathroom, kitchen, and other wet areas.
Louver size: The louver is the slat of the plantation shutters. Louver size determines the amount of light that gets in the house. It also determines privacy, ventilation, and visibility. The size you choose depends on what you are looking to achieve. If looking for a bright, clean look, go for large louvers but if you want more privacy, install undersized louvers.
The louver size is also dependent on the size of your windows. If you have a large window, go for large louvers and vice versa.
Manufacturer: Just like other units, shutters are made by different companies. Different brands have different features, and it’s up to you to choose the right brand. Before you part with money, do your research and choose indoor shutters made by a reputable company.
You have to take care of the shutters
You can buy high-quality shutters, but they won’t last for long if you don’t take good care of them. The cool thing is that there are plenty of ways of maintaining the units. The first thing you should do is install the shutters in the right area. If they are made from wood, don’t install them in areas where they are likely to be damaged by water.
You should also regularly clean the shutter materials. Dusting the shutters once a week is enough to keep the shine on. In addition to this, remove the dirt using a moist piece of cloth. It’s common for shutters to develop problems. When you notice a problem, regardless of how minor, fix it as soon as possible.
Taking A Look At Plantation Shutter’s Problems
Just like other units in your home, plantation shutters develop problems. The issues not only give your shutters an ugly look, but they also prevent you from properly using the units.
Common shutter problems
The units are faced with some issues that include:
Failure of the shutters to open: This comes about due to old age or poor maintenance. The cool thing is that it’s easy to fix this problem. You should open up your shutters and find the tension screw. Using a screwdriver, turn the screw to the right or left to tighten or loosen. You should loosen or tighten both tension screws, and you will be good to go.
Failing magnets: The interior shutters are held together by magnets. With time, it’s common for the sun to damage the magnet’s plastic casing, causing the magnet to fall apart. This, in turn, results in the falling apart of the shutters. When the screens are falling apart, they have an unpleasant look. Fixing this issue is easy as all you need to do is identify the type of magnet your shutters have and head to the stores. To restore the shutters to their original look, use the exact type of magnet that was there before.
How to prevent shutter problems
The key to avoiding screen problems is taking good care of the units. At least once a week, dust the units with a soft brush or piece of cloth. You should avoid cleaning your wooden shutters with water as they tend to absorb it and rot. Only use it when necessary and use only minimal amounts of it.
Another way of making the units last for a long time is being cautious of how you handle them. As a rule of thumb, never bang your shutters when opening or closing them. When you notice a problem, regardless of how minor it is, hire a shutters expert immediately to inspect them. Some homeowners wait until the shutters have completely come apart to hire a contractor. This is wrong. Remember, when the problem is large, you will pay more to fix it. In some cases, you might be required to buy new indoor shutters.
This is what you need to know about shutter problems and how to prevent them. When you purchase your units, always install them in the right areas. For example, avoid installing wood shutters in the bathroom, kitchen, or any other wet areas of the house. When you install window shutters in these areas, you put them at more risk of developing problems.
