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

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

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency can be a huge need for your windows. With an inefficient covering, your windows could fall victim to heat loss, which may lead to bigger heating and cooling bills. To find the most energy-efficient window coverings, you should to look at their R-values.

But which window treatments have the biggest R-value in Riverside?

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

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your residence that contributes to insulation -- from the walls to windows -- gets an R-value. Those digits tells you how well an item hinders thermal energy from going through it. A higher R-value tells you that the item is a more effective insulator.

But why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Riverside? Well, because your windows are one of the biggest energy wasters in your house. If you need to trap in the hot air during wintertime or keep your rooms comfortable in summer, you have to have a window treatment with greater insulation. A window treatment with a high R-value lets you keep your house at an optimal setting.

Window Covering R-value Comparison Chart

Every window treatment is not made equally, and therefore different coverings get different r-values. Though there might be some variation with the building material and quality between different makes and models, here’s what you’re likely to see when contrasting window coverings.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
No window treatment	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Shades	2.5
Drapes	2 - 3
Wood Shutters	3 - 4
Honeycomb Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Keep in mind, the higher the R-value number the more efficient the window treatment. It shouldn’t be a shock that mini-blinds, which use inefficient aluminum, offer almost no energy-saving value compared to a more weighty covering, like durable faux-wood plantation shutters. That insurmountable span in R-value can show up in a difference of several degrees – enough to feel an impact on if you dial up the thermostat and make your energy bills rise.

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

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

Two factors affect a window treatment’s R-value: form and substance. To start with, treatments that have an ample amount of ways for heat to escape won’t get a large R-value. For instance, blinds don’t firmly cover the window, allowing heat to escape around the sides of the treatment. However, interior shutters are custom-built to fit around the window pane, which traps heat against the window when the louvers are shut.

Add that with the materials the product is made out of can have a huge impact to insulation. Take cellular shades, which use overlapping layers of fabric which make “cells” to trap air. As a result, they can hinder air disbursement more effectively than products like pleated shades. Likewise, our Polywood louvered shutters, built from a durable faux wood composite, can block heat more than hard wood shutters. Polywood shutters also has seamless weatherstripping, which results in a snug seal when the panels and louvers are shut.

Improve Your House’s R-value In Riverside

Do you feel like your home could be a little cozier? How about installing Polywood shutters to increase your windows’ R-value? Contact us today by dialing 951-517-3030 or submitting the form below to get a free in-home consultation.

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