Which Shutters Are Best for Storms, Security and Privacy?

People searching for storm shutters, security shutters or privacy shutters are often looking at three quite different products. Roller shutters, aluminium shutters and plantation shutters all sit under the word shutters, but they are built for different jobs. This guide compares them for Lake Macquarie homes so you can match the shutter to the problem you want to solve.

What are the three main types of shutters?

• Roller shutters are installed outside the window. Interlocking slats roll down from a box above the window to form a solid barrier.
• Aluminium shutters have adjustable louvres in a robust aluminium frame. They suit patios, balconies, verandahs, wet areas and windows.
• Plantation shutters are installed inside, with tilting louvres for light, airflow and privacy.

Which shutters are best for storms and wind?

Roller shutters are the heavy duty choice for weather. Because they close over the outside of the window, they take the brunt of wind-driven rain and flying leaves before anything reaches the glass. Homes around the lake that face into a southerly, or that sit high and exposed, often choose roller shutters for this reason.

It is worth being clear about what any window covering can do. No shutter makes a home stormproof, and roller shutters are best thought of as an extra layer of protection in front of the glass. Close them before bad weather arrives, and secure outdoor furniture as you normally would.

Aluminium shutters also cope well with weather because the frame and louvres will not swell or rot. They are a practical way to add shade and shelter to a patio or balcony, though with the louvres open they are designed to let air through rather than seal a space.

Which shutters give the best security?

Roller shutters again. When closed, they cover the whole window with a solid barrier, which makes the glass much harder to reach and makes a home look less inviting to anyone checking it out. They are popular for ground floor bedrooms, windows facing a laneway or side path, and holiday homes left empty for weeks at a time.

Plantation shutters are not a security product. They add privacy, so people cannot see in, but they sit inside the glass.

Which shutters are best for privacy?

All three give privacy in different ways:

• Plantation shutters: tilt the louvres so you can see out while people on the street cannot easily see in, and still let light into the room.
• Aluminium shutters: screen a patio, balcony or bathroom window from neighbours while keeping airflow.
• Roller shutters: complete privacy when closed, but they also block the light and the view.

For street facing windows in a living room or bedroom, plantation shutters are usually the best balance of privacy and light. For outdoor spaces, aluminium shutters are the better fit.

Do shutters reduce noise?

Roller shutters are the most effective at reducing outside noise, because they add a solid layer and a pocket of air in front of the window. That is why they suit bedrooms on busy roads and shift workers who sleep during the day. Plantation shutters can soften sound inside a room, but they will not block traffic noise the same way.

Which shutters are best for blocking light and heat?

Roller shutters give full blockout and stop the sun before it reaches the glass, which helps keep a room cooler on hot afternoons and holds warmth in winter. Plantation shutters let you fine tune the light through the day and help insulate the window, while aluminium shutters shade outdoor spaces and exposed windows.

Can you combine different shutters?

Yes, and many homes do. A common combination is roller shutters on bedrooms for sleep, security and noise, plantation shutters on street facing living areas for style and privacy, and aluminium shutters on the alfresco or balcony. You can compare every option on our shutters page.

How do you choose the right shutter?

Start with the problem you want to fix: weather, security, privacy, noise or heat. Then look at which way the window faces and how exposed it is. CBI Blinds is family and veteran owned and fully mobile, so we bring samples to your home, look at each window and recommend the right shutter, with a fixed written quote.

We are based in Warners Bay and install shutters right around Lake Macquarie, plus Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter, and Port Stephens. Roller shutters can be manual or motorised, and come in a range of colours to suit your home.

Want to compare shutters for your windows? Book a free in-home measure and quote or call 0406 755 878.