What do I need to know about plantation shutters? (El Paso: how much, new home)

[rtdrtd20]

We will likely be getting plantation shutters for our new home - I have seen various terms used to describe the various tilt bars that can be used to open them as well as modifications that allow easy access to the windows behind the shutters..

What are the specific features we should be looking for when we shop for wooden plantation shutters?

Has anybody else used the company in El Paso that was mentioned on a previous thread (Loyas)?

Thanks in Advance!

[EasilyAmused]

Well, as much as they help resale and make for easy privacy, the cut down on 50% of the light. I often feel tempted to take mine down.

Hand Crafted Shutters is who I use. They have a new system where you don 't have the ugly staple gunned stick in the middle to open them.

[rtdrtd20]

If it happens to be easy to explain, what is the new system called or can you describe it?

[xavier1774]

Go for real wood instead of faux (FAKE). guesstimate about $500-700 per window. Mine have the stapled bars in the middle I have a lifetime transferable warranty, even if I manage to break them or pop the bars off. Unfortunately I don't have a 7 figure salary for the more fancy ones. I had curtains in my old house and hated them...I was able to convince the wife shutters are the way to go.

[Master Shake]

I originally wanted plantation shutters also but ended up with really nice 2" faux wood blinds (that have a wood grain pattern). For me, the cost of the plantation shutters made it impracticable and we also didn't like how much light they block out -- even with the slats open. The 2" blinds were roughly 35% the cost of plantation shutters.

Just offering something else to consider, but if you do look at 2" blinds, ask to see "routerless" blinds. You can also get nice pull strings on both sides (as opposed to a twist wand or stapled wand) -- one side lifts the blinds, the other side adjusts the slats.