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

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

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency might be a large want for your Dallas window treatments. With a bad treatment, you might feel a good deal of heat loss, which can lead to bigger utility bills. To find the best energy-efficient window coverings, you will have to look at their R-values.

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

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

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your house that contributes to insulation -- from drywall to windows -- has an R-value. That number tells you how well an item hinders thermal energy from traveling through it. A larger R-value and the object is a more effective insulator.

So why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Dallas? It just so happens that your windows are one of the most common heat loss areas in the house. If you need to trap in the hot air during wintertime or keep your rooms cooler in warmer weather, you need a window treatment with greater insulation. A window treatment with a big R-value allows you to keep your house at the set setting.

Window Treatment R-value Comparison Chart

Every window treatment is not made with the same thickness, which plays a large part in how well they insulate. Though there can be some variation from the material and craftsmanship between models and companies, below is what you’re likely to find when comparing window treatments.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
No window treatment	0.75 - 1
Aluminum blinds	1.5 - 2
Window shades	2.5
Draperies	2 - 3
Hardwood Shutters	3 - 4
Cell Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Remember, the larger the R-value the more efficient the window covering. It should come as no surprise that cheap blinds, which are made with flimsy aluminum, bring almost no protection when compared to a more solid covering, like Polywood shutters. That insurmountable difference in R-value can show up in a variance of several degrees – enough to make an impact on your decision to dial up the temperature and waste money or not.

What Contributes To A Window Covering’s R-Value In Dallas?

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

A few things affect a window covering's R-value: construction and materials. First, coverings that have an ample amount of paths for heat to escape won’t have a large R-value. For instance, blinds dangle down, allowing air to leak out around the sides of the covering. However, interior shutters are custom-made around the window pane, keeping heat against the window’s glass when the louvers are completely shut.

Add that with the materials the window treatment is made out of can have a huge bump in R-value. Take cellular shades, which use precisely positioned layers of fabric designed to trap heat. As a result, they will stop temperature flow more efficiently than treatments like pleated shades. Likewise, our Polywood interior shutters, made from a impenetrable faux wood polymer, can repel heat loss more than natural wood shutters. Polywood shutters also has seamless weatherstripping, which results in a air-tight seal sound your windows when the louvers and panels are completely shut.

Increase Your Window’s R-value In Dallas

Do you feel like your house could be a little more energy-efficient? How about changing to durable Polywood shutters to raise your R-value? Contact us at Sunburst Shutters Dallas by calling 214-301-5066 or submitting the form below to get a no-cost in-home consultation.

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