White and beige living room with white polywood shutters above a white couch.

The R-Value Of Shutters And Other Window Treatments In Gainesville

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency should be a big need for your window treatments in Gainesville. With an inefficient covering, you have a higher chance of heat loss through your windows, which can lead to bigger heating and cooling costs. To get the best energy-efficient window coverings, you need to find out their R-values.

But which window treatments own the highest R-value in Gainesville?

What’s A Window Treatment’s R-Value in Gainesville?

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your house that contributes to insulation -- from drywall to windows -- is assigned an R-value. That rating lets you know how well the item hinders thermal energy from traveling through it. A higher R-value indicates a better insulator.

So why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Gainesville? It just so happens that your windows are one of the most common energy wasters in the home. If you have to keep in the heat during wintertime or keep your rooms cooler in warmer weather, you need a window covering with more insulation. A window covering with a high R-value lets you keep your rooms at your preferred setting.

Window Covering R-value Comparison Chart

Every window treatment is not made with the same care, at least not when it comes to insulation. Though there can be some variation from the building material and quality between different makes and models, here’s what you’re probably to see when looking at different window coverings.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
Only glass	0.75 - 1
Aluminum blinds	1.5 - 2
Shades	2.5
Drapes	2 - 3
Real wood Shutters	3 - 4
Cell Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

Source: R-values from Energy.gov and HouseLogic.

Remember, the higher the R-value the more energy-efficient the window treatment. It should come as no surprise that store-bought mini-blinds, which are made with flimsy aluminum, give you almost no protection compared to a more substantial treatment, like faux-wood interior shutters. That large span in R-value can result in a variance of several degrees – enough to make an influence on your decision to crank up the temperature and waste money or not.

What Are The Factors In A Window Treatment’s R-Value In Gainesville?

Light gray cellular shades inside a white and rustic styled living room.

Two things affect a window covering's R-value: build and materials. First, products that have multiple avenues for heat loss will not get a effective R-value. For example, blinds and curtains don’t firmly cover the window, letting air to leak out around the bottom and sides of the treatment. On the other hand, interior shutters are custom-built to fit around the window pane, keeping air against the window’s glass when you shut the louvers.

Secondly, what the window treatment is constructed with can have a big bump in R-value. Take cellular shades, which use overlapping layers of fabric designed to trap hot air. As a result, they will hinder temperature flow more efficiently than treatments like Roman shades. Likewise, Polywood interior shutters, built from a durable faux wood material, can block heat loss more than more porous wood shutters. Polywood shutters also use weatherstripping, which creates a snug seal when the louvers are completely shut.

Up Your Window’s R-value In Gainesville

Do you feel like your house could be a bit cozier? How about installing quality faux-wood shutters to raise your R-value? Contact us today by dialing 813-602-5966 or submit the form below to get a free in-home consultation.

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