Maintaining warmth in Australian homes during winter can be a real challenge. With temperatures dropping and cold drafts creeping in, ensuring your home remains cosy and comfortable is a top priority. One effective way to enhance your home’s insulation is through the right window treatments. Window treatments add aesthetic appeal and play a crucial role in keeping the cold out and the warmth in.
Among the various options available, plantation shutters stand out as a premium solution. At EHi, we offer a range of high-quality plantation shutters designed to meet Australian homes’ unique needs. Our Timber, Ecowood, and Aluminium plantation shutters provide both style and functionality, making them an excellent choice for enhancing your home’s comfort during the colder months. These shutters are crafted to provide superior insulation, helping to maintain a warm and inviting indoor environment even when the temperatures outside are low.
Understanding Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters are solid window coverings with a frame of vertical stiles and horizontal rails. Within this frame, louvres (either operable or fixed, horizontal slats) are set. These louvres can be adjusted to control light, privacy, and airflow. Plantation shutters are known for their timeless elegance and are available in various materials, including timber, Ecowood, and aluminium.
But the question remains: Do Plantation Shutters Block Out Cold?
How Plantation Shutters Block Out Cold
One of the standout benefits of plantation shutters is their superior insulation capabilities. Unlike other window treatments, plantation shutters fit snugly within the window frame, creating an effective barrier against the cold. The adjustable louvres allow you to regulate the amount of light and warmth entering your home, providing an additional layer of control over your indoor climate. This feature makes them particularly effective in keeping the cold out during the winter months, helping to reduce energy costs and increase home comfort.
In addition to their practical benefits, plantation shutters add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any room. Their clean lines and classic design make them versatile and complement various interior decor styles. Whether you prefer the natural warmth of timber, the durability of aluminium, or the eco-friendly benefits of Ecowood, plantation shutters offer a stylish and functional solution for enhancing your home’s insulation and aesthetic appeal.
EHi’s Timber Plantation Shutters
EHi’s Timber Plantation Shutters offer not only timeless elegance but also exceptional insulation properties that make them ideal for enhancing winter comfort in Australian homes.
The natural insulation properties of timber, particularly cedar and basswood, are key to their effectiveness. Cedar shutters are crafted from Western Red Cedar trees, known for their texture, durability, and excellent thermal performance. This makes them a classic and popular choice among homeowners seeking authentic and stylish finishing touches. Cedar is a renewable resource that remains cool and provides high thermal performance, ensuring that it helps to block out excess heat and cold efficiently. These shutters can be confidently installed inside and outside the home, providing consistent insulation and enhancing comfort during the colder months.
Timber shutters improve insulation and add warmth and elegance to any interior space. The fine texture of basswood, sourced from the Tilia family of wood, enhances the aesthetic appeal of living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and other relaxation areas. Basswood shutters are ideal for most interior rooms, adding a touch of sophistication while ensuring durability and high performance.
The benefits of EHi’s Timber Plantation Shutters extend beyond their insulating properties. These shutters offer protection from UV rays, block out excess heat and wind, and provide adjustable light control. Real timber is known for its stability and dependability, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly choice. The shutters are designed with high-strength reinforced mortise, tenon joints, and a keyway frame joining system, ensuring long-lasting durability and reliability.
Timber Plantation Shutters are available in various configurations, including fixed, hinged, sliding, and bi-fold options, to suit different window and door designs. With 18 standard framing options and multiple mounting configurations, these shutters can be customised to meet all budgets and design preferences.
EHi’s Ecowood Plantation Shutters
EHi’s Ecowood Plantation Shutters offer a cost-effective and durable solution for enhancing Australian homes’ insulation and energy efficiency during winter. These shutters are crafted from sustainably sourced materials and assembled with expertise, making them an eco-friendly choice that doesn’t compromise style or performance.
One of the standout features of Ecowood shutters is their affordability without sacrificing quality. These shutters are visually indistinguishable from timber, offering a natural look and feel that enhances the aesthetic appeal of any home. Made from premium, non-toxic polymer, they are water-resistant and ideal for humid spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens. This versatility ensures that Ecowood shutters can be used throughout the home, providing consistent insulation and energy efficiency.
The durability of Ecowood Plantation Shutters is exceptional. They are designed to be the most dimensionally stable polymer shutters available, meaning they won’t rot, absorb moisture, delaminate, split, crack, sag, or warp. This makes them suitable for internal and external applications, ensuring long-lasting performance in various environments. Additionally, these shutters are fire retardant, antibacterial, and termite resistant, offering homeowners peace of mind and low maintenance.
Ecowood shutters provide similar insulation properties to timber, helping to block out the cold and keep homes warm during winter. Their high-strength reinforced mortise and tenon joints ensure they remain sturdy and effective in providing insulation. By reducing heat loss and enhancing energy efficiency, Ecowood shutters contribute to lower energy bills and a more comfortable living environment.
These shutters are available in a range of configurations, including fixed, hinged, sliding, and bi-fold options, to suit different window and door designs. With 16 standard framing options and multiple mounting configurations, homeowners can customise their Ecowood shutters to fit their needs and style preferences. The shutters and frames come in “Flat” and “Beaded” profiles, offering further customisation to match the home’s décor.
Real-world scenarios highlight the benefits of Ecowood shutters. For example, in coastal homes where humidity is a concern, Ecowood shutters remain unaffected by moisture, providing reliable insulation and maintaining their appearance over time. City apartments’ energy-efficient properties help reduce heating costs and create a more comfortable living space during the colder months.
EHi’s Aluminium Plantation Shutters
EHi’s Aluminium Plantation Shutters are the epitome of strength, durability, and low maintenance, making them an excellent choice for enhancing the comfort and security of Australian homes, particularly during the winter months. These shutters are engineered using advanced manufacturing techniques and top-quality T5 material, ensuring they meet the toughest conditions while maintaining their aesthetic appeal.
One of the primary advantages of Aluminium Plantation Shutters is their exceptional durability. Unlike other materials, aluminium is impervious to moisture and resilient against humidity, making these shutters ideal for interior and exterior applications. Whether installed in steamy bathrooms, humid kitchens, or outdoor spaces like alfresco areas, terraces, or verandahs, EHi’s Aluminium Shutters provide long-lasting performance without warping, rotting, or deteriorating.
The thermal benefits of aluminium shutters are significant, especially in winter. Aluminium has excellent insulating properties, which help retain heat inside the home, reducing the need for excessive heating and lowering energy bills. The shutters act as a barrier against cold air, enhancing the thermal efficiency of windows and doors and contributing to a cosy, comfortable indoor environment during the colder months.
In addition to their thermal benefits, Aluminium Plantation Shutters offer practical advantages such as low maintenance. Their textured, scratch-resistant powder-coated finish ensures they remain looking pristine with minimal upkeep. This makes them perfect for busy households and those seeking a stylish yet practical window treatment solution.
Aluminium Plantation Shutters are also fire resistant, adding an extra layer of safety to homes, particularly in bushfire-prone areas. Their robust construction and lockable design provide increased security, making them an excellent choice for external applications requiring additional protection.
EHi’s Aluminium Shutters are versatile and can be customised to fit various window and door configurations. They are available with 89mm elliptical blades or “S” blades with mohair and multiple framing options, including Z frames, reveal frames, and fixed U channels. These shutters can be installed in fixed, hinged, sliding, or bifold configurations, offering flexibility to suit different architectural styles and functional needs.
Examples of Aluminium Plantation Shutters in various Australian climates showcase their effectiveness. Aluminium shutters remain unaffected in coastal areas, where salt and humidity can damage other materials, providing consistent performance and durability. In bushfire-prone regions, their fire-resistant properties offer homeowners peace of mind, knowing their shutters contribute to the overall safety of their homes.
Additional Benefits of Plantation Shutters in Winter
Now that we have answered the question do plantation shutters block out cold, let’s dive into its other benefits. In addition to insulating your home, plantation shutters offer several additional benefits that make them a valuable investment during winter.
Cost-Effective Solution
One of the most significant advantages of plantation shutters is their ability to reduce energy bills by improving home insulation. Acting as a barrier against cold air, plantation shutters help maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing reliance on heating systems. This not only lowers energy consumption but also significantly cuts utility costs. The snug fit of shutters against window frames prevents heat from escaping, ensuring your home remains warm and energy-efficient throughout the colder months.
Noise Reduction Properties
It also contributes to noise reduction, creating a quieter and more comfortable living environment. The sturdy construction of shutters, particularly those made from materials like timber and aluminium, helps to dampen external noise. This is especially beneficial for homes in busy urban areas or near roads, where reducing noise pollution can significantly enhance the tranquillity and comfort of your living spaces.
Brilliant Privacy Levels
Another noteworthy benefit of plantation shutters is the ease of adjusting light and privacy levels. The adjustable louvres allow you to control the amount of natural light entering your home, helping to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere. On bright winter days, you can open the louvres to let in sunlight, warming the room naturally and brightening your living space. Conversely, you can close the louvres to maintain privacy and keep out the evening chill, offering security and comfort.
Moreover, plantation shutters are incredibly versatile in their design and functionality. They can be tailored to fit a wide range of window and door sizes, shapes, and styles, ensuring they complement your home’s aesthetic while providing practical benefits. Whether you prefer the classic charm of timber, the cost-effective durability of Ecowood, or the robust resilience of aluminium, plantation shutters can be customised to meet your specific needs and preferences.
Embrace Winter Warmth: Upgrade Your Home with EHi’s Plantation Shutters
In summary, plantation shutters effectively block the cold and enhance home insulation during the Australian winter. Their superior thermal properties, aesthetic appeal, and versatility make them ideal for homeowners looking to maintain warmth and reduce energy costs. By acting as a barrier against cold air and preventing heat loss, plantation shutters contribute to a more comfortable and energy-efficient home environment.
EHi’s range of plantation shutters, including Timber, Ecowood, and Aluminium, offers tailored solutions to various needs and preferences. Timber shutters provide natural insulation and a touch of elegance, while Ecowood shutters offer cost-effective durability and excellent thermal performance. Aluminium shutters stand out for their strength, low maintenance, and resilience in interior and exterior applications, making them suitable for all climates, including coastal and bushfire-prone areas.
Choosing EHi’s plantation shutters ensures you receive high-quality products that enhance your home’s comfort, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. Their ability to reduce energy bills, minimise noise pollution, and allow easy control of light and privacy levels further underscores their value.
EHi supplies & installs flyscreens, along with a wide range of home improvement products: Blinds, awnings, security screens, shutters & grilles. These products form the focus of our government – backed apprenticeship, which we’ve recently named the Cert iii in BASS G™.