Shutters can change the look of the interior of your home as well as your exterior’s aesthetics in a good way. Your neighbors will be jealous of your new look. Interior shutters come in different louver sizes so you have options that will fit your taste (2 1/2″, 3 1/2″, 4 1/2″).

The great thing about this product is its durability and adjustability. With the larger louver sizes, shutters offer a very unobstructed view of the outdoors. When in the closed position, it offers more of a room darkening effect than standard blinds due to fewer light gaps (fewer louvers). Many of our customers add divider rails to their shutter panels which offer versatility. An example would be – on a single panel shutter you could operate the top louvers separately from the bottom louvers. If the top louvers were open, and the bottom one shut, you would be able to enjoy the view outside while keeping some privacy. So adding a divider-rail is just one customizable feature. But there are more options. You can get a hidden tilt rod; you can pick how you want your shutters to open/function (do you want 1 panel or 2 panels, etc…); select louver size and color. 

Shutters come in varying materials – Wood, Composite, and Vinyl. Selecting what’s best for you would depend on your taste and budget. 

– Wood shutters have many color options whether it’s painted or stained (custom paint and stains are available). 

– Composite and vinyl shutters limit the color pallet but generally, you will find one that will fit your need. 

Long story short . . . We love shutters due to their versatility, visible aesthetics, ease of operation, ease of cleaning/maintaining, and customization. Shutters account for over 50% of our business, showing they are highly sought after by consumers. 

Q: What size do shutters come in?
A: Shutters don’t actually come in “a size”. Well, some do but that would be the cheap option (cheap = cheap). Shutters are based on window measurements and then custom-made to fit your windows. This will give you the best look for each window. Not all the windows in your home are the same even if they are the same size, believe me.

Q: Do you put shutters on the back of the house?
A: Absolutely! Shutters are great for any room of the house. We have some customers who put shutters on the front of the house or common areas of the home only. This is to lower the cost of their window treatments. Very often we come back to complete other rooms a year or two later. A good rule of thumb would be to have your other windows measured while we are onsite for future purchases.

Q: Do plantation shutters add value to your home?
A: “Yes” is the answer based on an article I read in regards to home appraisals. As a matter of fact, it is the only window treatment that adds value to your home. They are custom made for that one window of your house. I would see this more as a remodel vs an upgrade.

Q: Are plantation shutters worth it?
A: For sure! But that’s a question for you and your family. If you can afford them – and that’s the look you want – then it’s a perfect match. If it’s going to hurt your pocketbook, then we have alternatives that might fit better. What I would not do is buy a cheap shutters version!

Q: How much do interior shutters cost?
Q: How much do shutters cost?
Q: What is the average cost of plantation shutters?
A: The answer to these is, “it depends”. It is based on what material and or brand you prefer. The cost is going to be anywhere from $15 to $40 per sq ft. The average cost for stained wood is $27 sq ft, composite $24 sq ft, and vinyl <$20 sq ft.

Blinds come in different materials and styles. Blinds are affordable window coverings vs plantation shutters, curtains, and drapes. As far as window treatments go, blinds are definitely the most common in households. Below is a break-down of the different blind options.

Mini Blinds – The most affordable option for blinds. Usually found in office environments but also common in home settings as well. The slat material is usually 1″ and comes in vinyl and aluminum. They are pretty durable until your cat, dog, or kid gets into them.

Faux Wood Blinds – Also an affordable option for your windows. They come in different materials such as PVC/vinyl, and composite. 

– PVC Blinds, extruded material that can be smooth or embossed. Slats 1″, 2″, 2 1/2″ options

– Composite Blinds, man-made compressed wood with vinyl skin that can be white or mimic stained wood.

– Wood Blinds- The original Venetian blind. It’s exactly what you think it is. Same as the faux wood blinds just be aware of the other components that support your blind. Comes in stock colors and stains as well as custom paints and stains from certain manufacturers. Options include: corded/cordless/cord tilt/wand tilt. Slats 1″, 2″, 2 1/2″ options.

The other components that matter most are the headrail and the bottomrail. Headrail can be made of steel or extruded PVC. The bottomrail is made of extruded PVC both solid and hollow. That being said, steel headrail is going to be a superior material. Your entire blind is dependent on this component. Steel headrail is also going to be fitted with higher quality internal components housed in the rail. The bottomrail type makes a big difference as well. If you consistently leave your blinds in the down position, probably not a big deal, but it will sag due to the weight of the blind. I would stay clear of anything plastic supporting my blinds. Options include: corded/cordless/cord tilt/wand tilt.

Q: How much do faux wood blinds cost?
Q: How much do blinds cost?
Q: How much do blinds cost for a whole house?
Q: How much do window blinds cost?
Q: How much do wood blinds cost?
Q: How much should faux wood blinds cost?
Q: How much do wood blinds cost per window?
A: Let’s answer all the above common questions in one paragraph. Blinds are generally priced by the square foot. The size of your window is rounded up by 6″ (example: 34.25 x 71.5 would be 36 x 72 so (36×72)/144 = 18 sq ft). If I was going to estimate my house without measuring I would use 18 sq ft as my median size. Based on 18 sq ft: 

– Wood blinds: $90 – $200

– Faux Wood: $70 – $150

– Mini Blinds: $40 – $120

Remember that not all blinds are created equal, so buyer beware when a deal looks too good to be true. Cheap blinds equal cheap parts and materials. Remember too that every manufacturer/supplier/retailer wants to sell products. They make cheap ones by using cheaper materials and real ones by using quality parts and materials. Computers get expensive when you start upgrading the hardware, same goes for blinds.

Q: What are standard size blinds?
Q: What size do blinds come in?
A: The size of your window is rounded up by 6″ (example – 34.25 x 71.5 would be 36 x 72 so (36×72)/144 = 18 sq ft). So if you buy a “to go” blind, they would take a 36 X 72 and cut to fit your window. This is known as a cutdown program. Depending on the window size and the product you desire, it might have to be custom made.

Q: What is the difference between blinds and shades?
A: If I had to define this, which I will, I would say blinds are made of rigid materials and shades are made from softer materials (fabric). I think I nailed that one!

Q: Do blinds go on the inside or outside of a window?
A: Hey, I got these questions off Google. These are the questions people ask. The answer is, inside. Outdoor installation would be exterior shutters, solar shades, or solar screens.

Q: What are the different types of window blinds?
A: Mini Blinds, Faux Wood Blinds, and Wood Blinds. See FAQs above for descriptions.

Q: Which is better: faux or wood blinds?
A: For me, I would go for a quality faux wood blind vs wood when it comes to white/off-white colors; composite wood blinds if the color matched my stain; and wood blinds if I wanted a stained match for my home.

Q: What is a faux wood blind?
A: A blind not made of natural materials – man-made or altered (science stuff).

Q: What are wooden blinds called?
A: They would be referred to as wood Venetian blinds.

Q: DYI, How do I fix the top of my wood blinds or faux wood blinds?
A: There are some websites available for just parts. I’d suggest you first look inside your headrail and see if you can spot a brand/manufacturer/model #/retailer sticker. Once you have that information contact one of them or go check out these two websites and see if they have what you need: www.fixmyblinds.com or www.blindparts.com

Great window shade for your home or office. There are so many options when it comes to material choices for roller shades. So I will make a broad statement in regards to this covering. It can be almost sheer to blackout. Blackout roller shades can be ordered with side tracks for light bleed, or for true blackout (great for service industry folk, teenagers, and vampires. One of the pros to this shade is when rolled up, you have a very open view to the outdoors. This shade rolls into itself.

Options available with roller shades:
– Lift controls – Cord Loop/Cordless
– Materials – Vinyl/Fabric
– Decorative Valances
– Opacity – Light Filtering/Room Darkening/Blackout
– Back lining (this is nice if you need more light control or if you want your exterior view to be solid color fabric.

Q: How much do custom roller shades cost?
A: Depends. For an 18 sq ft window opening, a cheap vinyl roller shade is going to cost about $40 to $75 (if you go cheaper good luck). For fabric roller shades you can expect anything from $75 to $225.

Q: What is a room darkening shade?
A: A room darkening shade simply means the material is opaque with no light bleed. You will have some light bleed on the sides unless you add side tracks as an option. As I said above these are great for service industry folks, teenagers, and vampires.

Q: How do you measure roller shades?
A: Same as any other window covering. Measure the width in 3 places and take the narrowest measurement. Then measure the length in 2 locations and take the longest measurement. Note: When measuring the width I usually try and go with the top measurement to ensure a nice fit at install, but it all depends how narrow the window gets as you go down. If it’s less than 3/8″, I will take the top measurement.

Q: What are roller shades made of?
A: Vinyl and fabric are the main materials you will find with roller shades.

Q: DYI, How do I fix the top of my roller shades?
A: There are some websites available for just parts. I suggest you first look inside your headrail and see if you can spot a brand/manufacturer/model #/retailer sticker. Once you have that information contact one of them or go check out these two websites and see if they have what you need. www.fixmyblinds.com or www.blindparts.com

FAQs About Cellular shades / Honeycomb shades / Pleated shades
Honeycomb shades are the same as cellular shades. They have a cellular structure built into the shades. Pleated shades are made with the same fabrics as cellular shades but are a single layer. They all come with the nice option for a top down-bottom up feature which makes them a plus in my book. Another advantage of cellular shades is its insulating properties. A blackout cellular shade with side rails can cut down heat transfer by 70%. I’ll take that!

Options available with cellular shades/pleated shades:
– Lift controls – Cord Loop/Cordless/Motorized
– Materials – Fabric
– Decorative Valances
– Opacity – Light Filtering/Room Darkening/Blackout
– Back lining (this is nice if you need more light control or if you want your exterior view to be solid color fabric).

Honeycomb shades are the same as cellular shades. They have a cellular structure built into the shades. Pleated shades are made with the same fabrics as cellular shades but are a single layer. They all come with the nice option for top down bottom up feature which makes them a plus in my book. Another advantage of cellular shades is its insulating properties. A blackout cellular shade with side rails can cut down heat transfer by 70%. I’ll take that!

Options available with cellular shades/pleated shades:
Lift controls – Cord Loop/Cordless/Motorized
Materials – Fabric
Decorative Valances
Opacity – Light Filtering/Room Darkening/Blackout
Back lining (this is nice if you need more light control or if you want your exterior view to be solid color fabric.

Q: How much do pleated shades cost?
Q: What are cellular window shades?
A: Cellular shades provide soft shade for your window which can be light filtering, room darkening, or even blackout. Also known as honeycomb shades, these have many options such as top down bottom up, cordless, and side rails to name a few.

Q: How much do honeycomb shades cost?
Q: How much do cellular shades cost?
A: For an average window opening of 18 sq ft (36×72) you expect $100 to $200 (additional options can increase the price. Price is all about the options you want with cellular shades).

Q: What are cordless cellular shades?
A: They are cordless cellular shades meaning they function without cords and instead by hand or motorization. This is great when you have kids or curious pets, not to mention a cleaner look.

Q: Do honeycomb shades really insulate?
Q: Do cellular shades insulate?
A: Cellular shades do have insulating properties. The cellular structure (honeycomb) add to the insulating factor. But not all cellular shades insulate the same. All types of window treatments insulate but to what degree depends on the material and installation. A blackout cellular shade with side rails can cut down heat transfer by 70%.

Q: What is the difference between pleated and cellular shades?
A: The difference between pleated shades and cellular comes down to construction. They utilize many of the same materials but a single layer of pleated material for the pleated shade vs a cellular shade that is constructed in a honeycomb fashion. Both come in different pleats and cell sizes, and offer many of the same options.

Q: What is a top down-bottom up shade?
A: Top down-bottom up refers to how the cellular or pleated shade is operated. Unlike a standard blind that can only be lifted to expose the outdoors, a top down-bottom up does exactly what it says. The top can be brought down from the headrail allowing light to come in but still retain your privacy. The bottom up can still open like a standard shade. I am a big fan of this option.

Q: DYI, How do I fix the top of my cellular shades and pleated shades?
A: There are some websites available for just parts. First, look inside your headrail and see if you can spot a brand/manufacturer/model #/retailer sticker. Once you have that information contact one of them or check out these two websites and see if they have what you need. www.fixmyblinds.com or www.blindparts.com

Roman shades are super classy. They give you an interesting textile feel to your windows. They only come in fabric, but the patterns and colors seem endless. I think my favorite thing about roman shades beside the vast fabric options, is the top down-bottom up feature (optional). You can raise the window treatment up like a standard blind but you can also drop the top down. This is great for light control but it’s also fantastic for keeping your privates private while still being able to see outdoors. As far as roman shade styles/folds, get ready, there are banded/batten front/batten back soft/stacking rolling hobbled flat European relaxed, etc. . .

Options available with roman shades:
– Lift controls – Cord Loop/Cordless/Motorized/Top Down – Bottom Up
– Materials – Fabric
– Decorative Valances
– Opacity – Light Filtering/Room Darkening/Blackout
– Back lining (this is nice if you need more light control or if you want your exterior view to be a solid color fabric.

Q: How much do Roman shades cost?
A: Again like many other window treatments in the shade category, the price varies drastically depending on the fabrics and options chosen. You can plan for an 18 sq ft window opening to pay $100 up to $300.

Q: How do I order Roman shades?
A: Give us a call and we will bring you samples so you can choose your style and we can give you a quote.

Q: What are Roman window shades?
A: They are a soft window covering with many options. See FAQs above.

Q: Can Roman shades be cut to fit?
A: Roman shades are a custom job. If you are looking for an out-of-box shade, you might think about installing them as an outside mount vs inside mount.

Q: DYI, How do I fix the top of my Roman Shades?
A: There are some websites available for just parts. Take a look inside your headrail and see if you can spot a brand/manufacturer/model #/retailer sticker. Once you have that information, contact one of them or go check out these two websites and see if they have what you need. www.fixmyblinds.com or www.blindparts.com

Woven Wood shades are great for a natural look. Many nice options, such as top down-bottom up. You can add a back lining allowing you to go from light filtering to room darkening to blackout. Without a lining, you can see through the shade depending on how tight the weave is. I really enjoy the look of bamboo shades.

Options available with woven wood shades and bamboo shades:
– Lift controls – Cord Loop/Cordless/Motorized/Top Down – Bottom Up
– Materials – Wood
– Decorative Valances
– Opacity – Light Filtering/Room Darkening/Blackout
– Back lining (this is nice if you need more light control or if you want your exterior view to be solid color fabric).

Q: What are woven wood shades?
A: Woven wood shades are just that. They are basically wooden strips woven together in patterns to form a hard fabric. From here, the shade can be cut to size for your windows.

Q: Are woven wood shades in style?
A: Absolutely. We have been selling them for over 10 years and sales increase every year.

Q: What are bamboo shades?
A: Bamboo shades and woven wood shades are the same thing. Bamboo Shades are just stating what wood is being used. Bamboo is great due to its sustainability.

Q: Can you see through bamboo shades at night?
A: Yes, but you can add a lining to the back of the shade. The shade lining can be light filtering, room darkening, or blackout. There are options for where you can have the lining on a separate lift control which allows you to filter light how and when you want. This is luxury!

Q: Can you cut bamboo shades?
A: Yes, but it can be tricky. Getting a quote for custom bamboo shades can save you some work and very possibly some money. Losing money by making a bad cut doesn’t sound like fun.

Q: DYI, How do I fix the top of my Woven Wood Shades?
A: There are some websites available for just parts. What I do is first look inside the headrail and see if there’s a brand/manufacturer/model #/retailer sticker. With that information, contact one of them or go check out these two websites and see if they have what you need. www.fixmyblinds.com or www.blindparts.com

Vertical blinds are most commonly used for sliding glass doors or for very large windows. You will find these in standard home windows but usually it’s in an office environment. Vertical blinds are an affordable way to cover a lot of windows. 

They can be installed to slide right to left or left to right, but you can also split them and have them open like a curtain or drape. Options include wand tilt and open, wand tilt and cord open, or cord tilt and cord open. I prefer the one wand tilt and open. 

Vertical blinds come in PVC/vinyl or fabric. There is a handful of color options for PVC along with some printed wood-like finishes. Fabric options can be almost endless. This window treatment would be considered light filtering or room darkening depending on your slat material.

Q: How much do new vertical blinds cost?
A: For a sliding glass door you are going to spend anywhere from $100 to $350 and for an 18 sq ft window around $50 to $150 depending on materials used.

Q: Can I wash vertical blinds?
A: Sure thing. If you keep them dusted regularly, that will go a long way towards less maintenance. If you need to deep clean, the slats are easily removed. Beware though, the slat material can get brittle over time and can break when you mess with them too much (be gentle). Warm soapy water or some light-duty cleaner should do the trick.

Q: What are S-shaped vertical blinds?
A: The main purpose of this design is to allow you to control the light a little more. Basically, when closed the slats fit together to form a darker seal. You can’t bend light. So you’re going to get a darker closure and probably less side to side swinging motion after they have been disturbed.

Q: DYI, How do I fix the top of my vertical blinds?
A: There are some websites available for just parts. Just look inside your headrail and see if you can spot a brand/manufacturer/model #/retailer sticker. Once you have that information, contact one of them or go check out these two websites and see if they have what you need. www.fixmyblinds.com or www.blindparts.com