Summer is not too far away in Australia, so now is the perfect time to have shutters fitted on your home as one way of keeping your energy costs down during the upcoming hottest days of the year. You already know that shutters help to reflect the sunlight, so your home remains cooler, and that means you don't need to run the air conditioning so often. However, you are still undecided whether internal or external shutters will work best in your home. Before you move forward any further on this renovation project, consider this comparison between the two so you can make an informed choice about which shutters you need to order:
Pros and cons of internal shutters
One of the great things about internal shutters is that there is such a wide variety of design available. This variety means you can always find something that fits with the interior design vision for your home. Additionally, because the shutters are mounted inside the home, you can choose materials which don't last long as external shutters because they are exposed to constant outdoor weathering. The inside location of your shutters means they last longer and are also easier to look after.
While internal shutters are aesthetically pleasing and offer what you need to keep the heat out of your home, they don't offer any other benefit to the property. However, as discussed below, external shutters offer a three-way benefit to your dwelling.
Pros and cons of external shutters
Putting external shutters on your home offers much more than just a means to keep the sun from invading your property. External shutters also protect the glass of your windows from damage caused by flying debris during a storm. Additionally, motorised external shutters which lock into place after being lowered also protect your windows being broken by intruders.
The downfall of external shutters is that if you choose the wrong design, your property can end up looking like a domestic prison. While you feel safe and secure inside, it's not the friendliest look to portray when it comes to the curb appeal of your home. This lack of curb appeal could affect the property's future resale value.
Talk to your interior decorator while you are in this renovation phase of your home about which type of shutter works best with the overall look you are trying to achieve. They have access to samples of both internal and external shutters, and they will help you find a design that suits both your design vision and your budget.