How Much will Window Shutters Really Cost for Your Palo Alto Home?

Trying to determine how much window shutters will really cost for your Palo Alto home can be quite a challenge. That is because there are many different styles, types, and manufacturers of window shutters on the market.

You could head down to your local home improvement superstore and find some of the cheapest window shutters on the market. These will generally be vinyl shutters that will not offer the same want an appeal that natural wood shutters can provide. In the stores, these shutters will look great. But once they are installed in your home, you will immediately notice the flaws that vinyl shutters possess.

The most important first step when you are shopping for interior or exterior shutters for your home is to understand that they are an investment. You could spend several hundred dollars per window on drapery and you will still be limited on the appeal and comfort factor. Multiply that by all of the windows in your home that require covering and you will see that this is a significant home improvement project. It is not something that you should take lightly, nor is it something that you should be focused first on price.

Determining Your Budget

The first step you should take when you are considering purchasing interior or exterior wood shutters for your home is to determine your operating budget. There are many great financing options available to help you purchase shutters for your home today and pay for them over the next year or even up to five years. First, however, you need to be able to understand what your budget should be for this home improvement project.

Cheap vinyl shutters can cost 20 to $30 up to over $100. Natural wood shutters can vary greatly in price as well. If you get basic, standard size wood shutters, you may be able to find some for as little as $20-$30, or custom-made larger shutters may cost you upwards of $200 or more per window. As a result, it is important that you determine how much you are willing or able to spend per window so that you end up with the shutters for your home and family.

First, calculate the number of windows in your home that require shutters. Ideally, you may want to have every room in your home fitted with wood shutters over all of the windows. This may not be practical at this time. Living rooms, dining rooms, family rooms, and even the kitchen can all benefit from wood shutters. Bedrooms can wait if you are on a limited budget at this time. Of course, it all depends on your preferences and your current needs.

Once you determine how many windows you will cover with shutters in your home, then determine how much you are willing or able to spend on shutters at this time. This should give you a general idea of your current budget for each window.

Keep in mind that certain windows will cost more for shutters than others due to the style of window and even the size.

Different Types of Window Shutters

The type of window shutters that you choose will impact the cost significantly. As mentioned earlier, vinyl shutters will be far less expensive then natural wood shutters. However, there is a significant drawback to choosing vinyl shutters for your interior windows.

Vinyl shutters do not have the natural and elegant look of custom-made or natural wood shutters. From a distance, they will appear decent but when you get closer, such as within 10 feet, it becomes apparent that they are plastic and not natural wood.

You will also be faced with options such as standard size slats, wide slats, paneled shutters, and plantation shutters. Each option will impact the overall cost of each shutter so you will need to make a determination on how important the shutters are for different windows in your home.

Hardware Options

Hardware will impact the cost of each shutter as well. If you choose less expensive hardware for your interior or exterior shutters, this will help to keep the cost of each shutter down. Keep in mind, though, that different hardware can be affected by the weather and humidity, as well as salt air if you live close to the ocean. If you choose hardware that can corrode easily and you live in a high humid area of Palo Alto, you can expect the metal to corrode and ultimately weaken faster than with stainless steel or other noncorrosive metals.

Installation

Many homeowners attempt to install interior or exterior shutters themselves, but they often find that they do not look right, are not sealed properly, or cause damage to the shutters. That is why it is important to consider hiring a professional contractor who has experience installing interior and exterior shutters to do the installation for you.

Depending on where you shop for your shutters, you may be given the option to have a company installer come to your home, measure the windows to ensure that the shutters you purchase are a precise fit, and then return when the shutters are ready to be installed.

Is this type of expense worth the investment?

If you value this new investment in your home, then paying extra for a professional installation of those shutters will be well worth the money in the long run. As you can see, there are many variables that can affect the cost of shutters. Trying to get an estimate or general idea by shopping on the Internet is generally a recipe for ending up with shutters that you are not happy with in the long term.

In order to choose shutters that you are going to be happy with, make sure that you talk to a professional shutter expert before making any decision. Even if you end up choosing the cheapest possible option, it is best to know what is available so that you make the right choice for yourself, your home, and your family in Palo Alto.

If you need the help of an expert to review your current shutters, give us a call. At San Francisco Shutters, we help our community find the right Palo Alto, CA shutters for their home. Stop by our showroom located at 1676 Gilbreth Rd Burlingame, CA 94010. Call us today at (650) 552-9020 to get started.