1. Choose
solid, natural wood shutters. Product information should confirm that the shutters are
made from 100% real, natural wood, such as Basswood, Alder, Cedar, Pine or Poplar.
2. Look for
'custom' shutter construction. 'Custom' means the shutter has been built to the exact
specifications of your window, while 'customized' means the shutter has merely been cut
down to fit your window.
3. Select a
shutter with dovetail construction. Dovetail
construction is a structurally sound method of putting shutter panels together. Unlike
other joinery methods, such as dowel construction, the dovetail method relies more on a
crafted, tight fit between two components to lock them together, rather than on glue.
4. Look for
light-blocking features. Quality shutters are built with tight tolerances between panels
to minimize or entirely eliminate light leakage.
5. Choose a
high-quality finish. You'll know it's high quality if it's smooth and hard to the touch
and lustrous and rich to the eye.
6. Look at
the statistics for energy efficiency and UV protection. Shutters should not only look
good, they should also help you increase your energy savings (reducing your home's heating
and cooling costs) and protect the interiors of your home from damaging ultraviolet rays.
Quality shutters will always display their R-value, shading coefficient and UV blocking
ratings.
7. Look for a
warranty that demonstrates product quality and
customer satisfaction. The best way to know what's covered is to ask to see a copy of the
warranty. Also, check into the company that stands behind the warranty. Make sure the
company has a reputation for manufacturing consistently superior quality products and
maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.
8. Once you
settle on a price, be sure everything is included. Double check to make sure that the
price you're quoted includes all the design options you want in your finished shutters.
9. Ensure
your shutters are installed by trained professionals.
Custom-crafted shutters require custom attention. And when you're making a significant
investment in your window treatments, you want to make sure an experienced professional is
both measuring and installing them, so there are no surprises.
10. If you choose Heritance hardwood shutters from Hunter
Douglas, be sure they are authentic. For proof, make sure there is an authenticity plate,
which contains a serial number, on the left side of the first panel. After you've
purchased your product, take a moment to complete your Warranty Registration, where you'll
be asked to enter the serial number from your authenticity plate. Warranty Registration
helps to ensure that you receive optimal customer service in the future.
