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

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

June 23, 2022

Energy conservation might be a big requirement for your Austin window treatments. With an inefficient choice, you might feel a draft due to heat loss, which leads to larger utility costs. To discover the best energy-efficient window treatments, you should to look at their R-values.

But what window treatments get the highest R-value in Austin?

How Can You Find A Window Treatment’s R-Value in Austin?

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your home that plays a part with insulation -- from drywall to windows -- gets an R-value. Those digits tells you how well the item hinders thermal energy from flowing through it. A bigger R-value tells you that the item is a better insulator.

So why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Austin? Well, because your windows are one of the most common areas of heat loss in your home. If you have to trap in the heat during wintertime or keep your house cooler in summer, you have to have a window treatment with greater insulation. A window treatment with a big R-value allows you to keep your rooms at the set setting.

Window Covering R-value Rating Chart

Every window covering is not built with the same care, and therefore different treatments get different r-values. Though there can be a little variation due to the materials and build between different makes and models, below is what you’re likely to find when contrasting 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
Honeycomb Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Keep in mind, the higher the R-value number the more the window covering helps insulate your home. No surprise that mini-blinds, which are made with thin aluminum, offer almost no insulation when compared to a more substantial product, like faux-wood plantation shutters. That big gap in R-value can show up in a difference of several degrees – enough to make an impact on whether you crank up the thermostat and make your energy bills rise.

What Are The Factors In A Window Covering’s R-Value In Austin?

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

A couple of things affect a window treatment’s R-value: build and materials. First, coverings that have lots of avenues for heat to escape will not get a effective R-value. For example, blinds don’t firmly cover the window, allowing air to escape around the sides of the covering itself. On the other hand, interior shutters are custom-built snuggly around the window opening, keeping air against the window’s glass when the louvers are completely shut.

Add that with the materials the product is made out of can also bring a huge impact to insulation. Take honeycomb shades, which feature overlapping layers of fabric that create “cells” to trap air. As a result, they will stop air disbursement more effectively than products like pleated shades. Likewise, our Polywood louvered shutters, made from a solid faux wood polymer, can block heat loss more than natural wood shutters. Polywood shutters also employs seamless weatherstripping, which results in a snug seal when the louvers and panels are completely shut.

Up Your House’s R-value In Austin

Does it seem like your home could be a tad bit more comfortable? How about a change to Polywood shutters to increase your R-value? Contact us at Sunburst Shutters Austin by calling 512-549-6077 or complete the form below for your free in-home consultation.

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