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

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

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency can be a huge need for your Philadelphia window treatments. With a bad treatment, your windows could have damaging heat loss, which leads to higher utility costs. To find the most energy-efficient window treatments, you will have to find out their R-values.

But which window treatments own the highest R-value in Philadelphia?

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

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your residence that promotes insulation -- from drywall to windows -- has an R-value. That rating tells you how well the object prevents thermal energy from going through it. A larger R-value indicates a better insulator.

So why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Philadelphia? Well, because your windows are one of the biggest areas of heat loss in the home. If you need to keep in the warm air during wintertime or keep your rooms cooler in warmer weather, you will need a window treatment with greater insulation. A window treatment with a large R-value lets you keep your home at the set setting.

Window Treatment R-value Table

Every window treatment is not built with the same care, which is a large part in insulation. Though there may be a bit of variation from the materials and craftsmanship between models and companies, the following chart shows what you’re probably to see when comparing window treatments.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
Bare window	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Window shades	2.5
Drapes	2 - 3
Real wood Shutters	3 - 4
Cellular Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Remember, the higher the R-value the more the window covering insulates your window. It shouldn’t be a shock that store-bought mini-blinds, which use inefficient aluminum, offer almost no protection compared to a more weighty product, like faux-wood plantation shutters. That large gap in R-value can be seen in a distinction of several degrees – enough to feel an impact on if you dial up the temperature and increase your energy use.

What Contributes To A Window Treatment’s R-Value In Philadelphia?

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

A few factors affect a window treatment’s R-value: form and substance. First, products that have an ample amount of avenues for heat to escape will not get a effective R-value. For instance, blinds don’t firmly cover the window, letting heat to escape around the sides of the treatment. However, interior shutters are custom-crafted around the window pane, keeping heat against the window when the louvers are shut.

Then what materials the window treatment is made out of can also bring a huge bump in R-value. Take honeycomb shades, which use several engineered layers of fabric which make “cells” to trap hot air. As a result, they can stop temperature flow more effectively than products like Roman shades. Likewise, Polywood plantation shutters, built from a impenetrable faux wood polymer, can repel heat loss more than more porous wood shutters. Polywood shutters also has seamless weatherstripping, which makes a snug seal when the louvers and panels are completely shut.

Improve Your House’s R-value In Philadelphia

Do you feel like your house could be a bit more comfortable? How about a change to Polywood shutters to up your windows’ R-value? Contact Sunburst Shutters Philadelphia by calling 215-874-4897 or complete the form below to book your no-cost in-home consultation.

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