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

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

June 23, 2022

Energy conservation can be a big need for your window treatments in Raleigh. With an inefficient covering, your windows could suffer from unacceptable heat loss, which may lead to higher energy costs. To get the best energy-efficient window treatments, you will have to see their R-values.

But what window treatments have the highest R-value in Raleigh?

What’s A Window Treatment’s R-Value in Raleigh?

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your residence that plays a part with insulation -- from drywall to your windows -- is assigned an R-value. Those digits tells you how well the object stops thermal energy from going through it. A larger R-value tells you that the item is a better insulator.

So why should you care about a window treatment’s R-value in Raleigh? It just so happens that windows are one of the biggest heat loss areas in your home. If you want to keep in the heat during wintertime or keep your house cooler in warmer weather, you will need a window treatment with more insulation. A window treatment with a big R-value allows you to keep your rooms at your preferred setting.

Window Covering R-value Rating Table

Every window covering is not built with the same care, which plays a big part in how well they insulate. Though there might be a little variation due to the material and craftsmanship between different companies and models, the following chart shows what you’re probably to see when comparing window coverings.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
Only glass	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Window shades	2.5
Drapes	2 - 3
Hardwood Shutters	3 - 4
Cellular Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Remember, the bigger the R-value the more energy-efficient the window covering. No surprise that store-bought mini-blinds, which use flimsy aluminum, offer almost no insulation when compared to a more solid treatment, like Polywood shutters. That large difference in R-value can result in a distinction of several degrees – enough to make an influence on whether you dial up the thermostat and increase your energy use.

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

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

A couple of things affect a window treatment’s R-value: form and substance. To start with, coverings that have multiple paths for heat loss won’t get a effective R-value. For example, blinds just hang there, allowing air to escape around the bottom and sides of the covering itself. However, interior shutters are custom-crafted around the window opening, keeping heat against the window when the louvers are completely shut.

Add that with the materials the covering is constructed with can have a big impact to insulation. Take honeycomb shades, which use precisely positioned layers of fabric that create “cells” to trap hot air. As a result, they can block temperature loss more effectively than treatments like Roman shades. Likewise, Polywood louvered shutters, built from a durable faux wood material, can trap heat more than natural wood shutters. Polywood shutters also employs weatherstripping, which makes a air-tight seal when the louvers are shut.

Improve Your Home's R-value In Raleigh

Do you feel like your house could be a tad bit more comfortable? How about a change to durable Polywood shutters to increase that R-value? Contact Sunburst Shutters Raleigh by calling 919-887-9198 or submitting the form below to get a no-cost in-home consultation.

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