I recently went on holiday to Langebaan in the Cape and stayed at the Club Mykonos resort. This establishment reminded me of the movie Mamma Mia that was a huge hit a couple of years ago. It has a magnificent view of the ocean and each and every window is a wooden pull up decorated with blue, green and yellow outdoor shutters. I truly had an amazing time and wished that I could take a little bit of Mykonos home with me. This made me think a bit about this Greek look and how I can establish this kind of look at home, even if I am thousands of kilometres away from the ocean … and then I found some great shutter companies on the web, which could definitely help me transform my home into a Greek Mykonos look-a-like.
The team at American Shutters agreed to answer some questions on this very modern phenomenon and how it can be applied to a modern residential home:
Q: Please tell us more about the different types of shutters (interior and exterior) you have available and give us some details about each type?
A: “Our most popular interior range is Decowood. Decowood is the most economical choice for interior shutters; this range is manufactured from engineered wood composites sourced from FSC certified plantations. Finished with a patented high temperature polypropylene coating, these shutters resist chipping, peeling, cracking and stains and their special UV inhibitor prevents colour fading in the harsh African sun.
Our most popular exterior range is Larchwood-External. Larchwood shutters are tough and ideal for use in our harsh local climate. The natural long-term performance and stability of the raw material is further enhanced by the use of reinforced engineered stiles and a sturdy mortise and tendon joint, standard throughout all shutters’ ranges. Possibly the most attractive feature of Larchwood shutters is their eco-friendliness, the Siberian Larch is the last sustainable, old growth timber in the world and the inclusion of this range in the AMERICAN shutters’ portfolio of products is in keeping with their commitment to offer green alternatives without compromising on quality, choice and style.”
Q: Which style of shutters would compliment a Greek look and feel?
A: “White buildings with beautiful blue exterior shutters framing doors and windows conjure up the typical Greek feel. The Larchwood exterior range is available with fixed or adjustable louvers and both styles would complement a Greek look and feel. Both ranges are available in a wide choice of colours and come with a 3 year guarantee. The fixed louver shutters offer more security and a comprehensive choice of frame styles while the shutters with adjustable louvers offer more versatility for controlling light and views as well as a choice of louver widths.”
Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of exterior shutters versus interior shutters?
A: “Shutters with adjustable louvers are usually used internally, offering more privacy because the louvers cannot be controlled from the outside when the doors and windows are closed. Installed internally they act as a visual security deterrent, they are very pleasing on the eye, complement any interior style and obviate the need for further window dressing which helps the budget. Interior shutters require no maintenance other than keeping them clean whereas exterior shutters require regular maintenance and there is the extra expense of dressing the interior side of the opening as well. Fixed louver shutters are usually used externally; they are robust and offer a degree of security.”
Q: What must one keep in mind when choosing shutters for your home?
A: “When choosing to install shutters to a property, the value they add goes far beyond that of aesthetics; shutters are a fixed architectural feature and because they are not decor specific, they are a price-increasing factor when the real estate industry and buyers assess the value of the property. Often seen as an ‘expensive’ finish to a window when mistakenly compared to decor specific alternatives such as curtains or fashionable blind options, shutters should be seen in the category of architectural additions to any property.”
Q: Please give our readers some tips on how to install shutters themselves?
A: “Firstly we would give advice on how to measure in order to ensure that the shutters are manufactured to the right size. An installation manual will be packed with the order if our clients are installing themselves and further backup advice will be given telephonically if necessary.”
Q: Why should readers choose your product when buying and installing shutters?
A: “AMERICAN shutters’ legacy of taking the best the world has to offer and bringing it to South Africa lives on today with many of their products being imported from overseas. “We continually invest time and money in sourcing and selecting the best raw material and products from around the world, ensuring that they meet the demanding quality standards AMERICAN shutters has become renowned for,” says Steve Palmer, managing director of AMERICAN shutters.
To ensure that the products are suitable to the South African conditions, all the timber used in the manufacture of AMERICAN shutters’ products is hand selected and dried using a specialised Prescription Wood Conditioning technique which emulates the environmental conditions of the location where the shutters are to be installed, thereby reducing post installations shrinking and swelling. Significant to South African conditions, the timber is also guaranteed to be resistant to beetle attack.
“Our manufacturing and installation processes are streamlined and cost-effective earning us the position of industry price leader,” says Steve. “It is this international best practice and the quality of our raw material and finishes that enable us to offer standalone product guarantees on all our shutters.”
Q: What maintenance do shutters require?
A: “Cedarwood and Larchwood ranges are perfectly suited for exterior shutters and can be left raw to age gracefully; alternatively they can be oiled, painted or sealed. If oiled the shutters would require natural oil suitable for timber to be applied periodically to keep them in tip top condition. Always wash the shutters with warm water and mild detergent and rinse down well before applying the oil. Once the shutters are dry apply the oil sparingly onto a soft cloth, not directly onto the wood, and wipe down your shutters.
For sealed and painted exterior shutters the level of maintenance required will depend on the shutters’ location and exposure to the weather, but it is important to always protect your shutters by maintaining a good barrier between them and the elements. Generally it is advisable to give these shutters a light sand and a recoat every 6 months. With the natural beauty of wood if maintenance is carried out regularly, we suggest before summer and again at the start of winter, the shutters will retain their visual appeal for a lifetime.
Interior wooden shutters require little maintenance other than to keep them clean by dusting. We recommend our Decowood shutters as the perfect choice for coastal installations. The Decowood range is manufactured from a wood composite product which provides an intense level of durability and structural integrity and is coated with a robust polypropylene finish.
Aluminium shutters require little maintenance other than to keep them clean so that they look good.”
Shutters increase your home’s safety!
Shutters are not only and ideal way to coastify your home, but it also enhances its safety. Securi-Shutters manufacture shutters with very specific safety features. According to Paul Slabber they manufacture a security type of shutter with decorative qualities. “A secluded steel rod is inserted in the Ecco-Wood slat within a steel framework, sprayed with an automotive k2-type paint and mounted in the required opening. These shutters go with any style and are sometimes referred to as American shutters. Shutters mounted on the outside of the opening must be hinged fitted. Shutters mounted on the inside can also serve as curtaining.”
He says that when you choose shutters you must first decide what the purpose is. “If it is for a decorative purpose, choose one with the lesser maintenance. Wood shutters must be treated from time to time. If it is for security purposes look for the product that will offer exactly that.” Securi-Shutters do not recommend DIY-installations when it comes to installing any type of shutter and advises that you rather have it done by a reputable company.
Now that you know more about this lovely feature it is up to you to transform your home into a coastal Greek-style residence. I know that I am going to!
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