Shutters over the course of history just weren’t only aesthetically pleasing but provided a required function with their many uses. These were used for security, provided privacy from outsiders passing by, added an extra layer of warmth during winter weather (with wood having a high Ur value) and blocked out the sun’s rays preventing damage to furniture. Removable louvers allowed a breeze to enter a home, keeping the room cool on a hot summer day.
Earlier shutters were either single board, or board-and-batten (vertical wood slats) which are very basic. Raised solid paneled shutters then appeared and provided a shutters las vegas lighter, more elegant look. Fixed louvered shutters then came into use during the late 1700’s.
In times past, people that have raised solid panels were referred to as “shutters” while people that have louvers were called “blinds”. Most homes would have solid panel shutters on the first floor for privacy and security and louvered shutters on the second floor to allow the air flow to enter during the warm months. Some shutters combined both features — an increasing solid panel on the lower portion and louvers on top. “Operable Louvered Shutters” begun to be manufactured around 1830-1840.
With the advent of the Storm Window, shutters begun to be removed and stored away before the cold months and storm windows would be installed. Removal was easy — whatever you needed to do was lift the shutter off the pin on the hinge. Shutters can also remain on the building, left in an open position. During the warm months, the storm windows would be removed and shutters would be closed to protect furniture from the sun and invite outside air to cool the house.
Toward the later the main 19th century, awnings became popular and screen windows begun to come into use. In some types of buildings, shutters also begun to fallout of fashion. By the 1920’s, however some shutters were still used for practical reasons, most shutters were strictly decorative. Those that were purely decorative however, were still functional or had the appearance of being functional. Homeowners could still operate the shutter to cool or insulate the home if they desired. There was no difference to the appearance entrance. Unfortunately, this changed during the fifties with the advent of Aluminum Siding and Aluminum Shutters. This is when the terrible problem we have today began.
Where Shutters Went Wrong
The public has always been fond of a normal look, and shutters provide that look. Aluminum siding and aluminum shutters has become heavily marketed. To easily simplify installing of aluminum shutters on aluminum siding, shutters begun to be installed by growing the shutter on the siding NEXT TO, instead of On the window covering, without the use of knobs. Eventually, people became more inclined to laziness, less knowledgeable, and more insensitive to the appearance of their windows and began using the wrong size shutters. Before you knew it, these were putting oblong shutters on arched windows and other things that you could imagine!
This is where we are today. As you see, shutters have evolved in a grossly unfortunate way. Sadly, we too have evolved in accepting this new bland look. It is now normal and what we expect you’ll see when we look at a house with shutters.
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