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

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

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency should be a large need for your windows. With a bad choice, your windows could fall victim to heat loss, which leads to higher energy costs. To get the best energy-efficient window treatments, you should to see their R-values.

But what window treatments get the best R-value in Phoenix?

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

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your house that plays a part with insulation -- from the walls to windows -- is assigned an R-value. That rating represents how well the item prevents thermal energy from flowing through it. A bigger R-value indicates a better insulator.

But why should you worry about a window treatment’s R-value in Phoenix? It just so happens that windows are one of the biggest energy wasters in your house. If you want to trap in the heat during the cold seasons or keep your house comfortable in summer, you will need a window treatment with greater insulation. A window covering with a high R-value allows you to keep your home at the set setting.

Window Covering R-value Rating Table

Every window treatment is not made equally, which is a big part in how they insulate. Though there might be some variation from the material and build between different models and companies, below is what you’re likely to find when looking at different window treatments.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
Only glass	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Window shades	2.5
Draperies	2 - 3
Wood 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 number the more efficient the window covering. It shouldn’t be a shock that mini-blinds, usually made of inefficient aluminum, bring almost no energy-saving value compared to a more weighty covering, like faux-wood shutters. That big difference in R-value can result in a difference of several degrees – enough to make an influence on your decision to change the temperature and waste money or not.

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

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

A couple of things affect a window treatment’s R-value: form and materials. To start with, coverings that have multiple paths for heat to escape won’t own a large R-value. For instance, curtains and blinds don’t firmly cover the window, letting heat to escape around the sides of the covering itself. On the other hand, interior shutters are custom-built snuggly around the window pane, trapping heat against the window when the louvers are shut.

Then what materials the product is made out of can have a big impact to insulation. Take honeycomb shades, which feature overlapping layers of fabric which make “cells” to trap air. As a result, they should stop temperature loss more efficiently than products like pleated shades. Likewise, Polywood plantation shutters, made from a solid faux wood polymer, can repel heat loss more than more porous wood shutters. Polywood shutters also employs seamless weatherstripping, which creates a air-tight seal sound your windows when the panels and louvers are completely shut.

Increase Your Window’s R-value In Phoenix

Do you feel like your house could be a bit more comfortable? How about changing to Polywood shutters to raise your windows’ R-value? Contact Sunburst Shutters Phoenix by dialing 480-485-7743 or complete the form below to get your free in-home consultation.

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