Shutters are important components of a building as they not only offer protection from things like sunlight and wind but also aid in enhancing the look and beauty of a building. They come in different types including raised, louvered, and flat and board and batten. Raised panel shutters are becoming popular because of their versatility to be able to fit into different architectural designs. Whether you own a Mediterranean design, Victorian house, or contemporary design, raised panel shutters come in handy. This guide helps you understand what have raised panel shutters, why you should install them, and the different types you can find such as vinyl and metal window shutters.

What have raised window shutters?

Raised panel shutters resemble raised panel doors or kitchen cabinets. They feature a simple design and tend to work well with country-cottage-style homes. However, they can still do well in other types of homes including Georgian, Victorians, Federal, Ranch, Greek Revival, and Colonial designs. 

Raised shutters were invented in Western Europe and have become popular in many parts of the world. Since their design simulates raised panel doors, raised panels are a perfect complement on a majority of homes – they also make a great design contrast. Mounted on operable shutter hinges, the raised panel shutters tend to offer better privacy and security when compared to other shutter designs. They can block almost 100 percent of sunlight when you want dark areas for home theatre or for sleep. 

Decorative raised panel shutters offer instant curb appeal to a home. They give a touch of elegance to the home. 

Raised vs. louvered shutters

In many cases, the dilemma is selecting between louvered shutters and raised panel shutters. To choose the right shutters for your home, you want to understand how the different types work. Louvered shutters feature a horizontal slat that is placed at an angle, allowing them to let in air and light whilst keeping away direct sunlight, rain, and noise. When it comes to raised panels, they are different in the sense that they feature a blockboard that helps keep away every element including sunlight and air. 

The benefits of raised shutters

If you want a stylish statement of the look of your home, you want to install raised panel shutters. They are more energy-efficient. While you may choose louvered shutters for your home, if you are using them to help control your home temperature, they may hurt more than they help.

Raised shutters make a better choice for controlling home temperatures. Since they feature two solid pieces, they are more effective at blocking air leaks and keeping out sunlight. During hotter days, you may be able to block up air leaks if you’ve raised shutters. Whilst louvered shutters can facilitate a breeze into a home, with raised panel shutters, you can open them completely to allow air to get into the house during more moderate days.

Additionally, the raised type of shutters helps block light better than a louvered style of shutters. If you’re using window shutters to help keep the home cool during day time, you need not just think of keeping sunlight out. In summer or even in colder months, the UV rays of the sun can penetrate through slat opening thus heating up your room or even creating unsightly faded patterns on floors and furniture.

Louvered shutters tend to be less effective at barring sunlight completely because they feature smaller slats. To help protect your carpet and furniture, you may consider the raised style of shutters since they completely block out sunlight without having to find ways to plug every crevice and leak.

Besides, raised-style shutters offer you an option to let in air and are easier to maintain compared to fixed louvered panels. If you’ve installed fixed louvered panels, you will need to completely remove them so that you can have access to airflow from the outside. And if the panels are fitted outside, it means that you will spend time cleaning them or prepping them for inclement weather. The cleaning job is even made harder for the fixed louvered panels since each slat is subjected to wind, debris, and dirt. When it comes to raised-design shutters, they feature two solid blocks, which makes it easier for you to clean and treat them regardless of the material.

Raised-style shutters are ideal for larger rooms. If you want furniture and other items like carpets that you need to protect from sunlight, you can choose raised shutters for larger rooms. The UV light from the sun can do a lot of damage even with little penetration, especially when you have large, hard-to-cover windows. Homeowners who are worried about exposing their master bedroom or living room to elements such as sunlight may want to install raised panel shutters. 

Types of raised-style shutters you can install

Raised-design shutters come in different materials ranging from wood, composite wood, vinyl to aluminum. Vinyl shutters are considered the most affordable and are made of hollow PVC. They are lightweight and resist moisture whilst ensuring low maintenance. Additionally, vinyl shutters resist fading, cracking, and rotting and you can pair them with vinyl siding.

Another material you can choose is wood. Shutters made of wood offer an elegant, classic look to your home. These shutters perform pretty well with a traditional exterior. You can also trim the shutters down slightly to ensure they fit in unique window dimensions. And because wood naturally ages, it is important that you seal the shutters every year to ensure a good appearance and durability.

You may also consider composite wood or faux wood as your shutter material. This material requires less maintenance compared to real wood. If you want tall or wide shutters, you can choose composite wood because it offers a high level of stiffness and durability. Composite wood shutters tend to cost less than regular wood.

Aluminum shutters are quite popular and the material is durable whilst being resistant to damage or breakage. Besides, aluminum Bahama shutters offer a higher level of security compared to other types of shutters. Their opacity helps provide more privacy and keep out light and noise.

If you’re looking for decorative window shutters, a raised-design may be a great option. You need to choose a material that works best for you and lasts longer. Ensure that you get the right size of the shutter for optimal protection whilst being able to enhance the look of your home. You also want to have the right accessories including vinyl shutter screws or hinges.