How to Adjust and Operate Plantation Shutters

Plantation shutters can add beauty, efficiency, and durability to your windows in a way that you simply can’t experience with any other window treatment. However, if you’re interested in plantation shutters, you have to keep in mind that they don’t function the same way other window treatments do. You might not adjust plantation shutters in the same way you would blinds; you can’t open and close them in the same way you would open curtains. Plantation shutters are something different and should be treated as such. With that said, in today’s blog let’s discuss how to adjust and operate plantation shutters.

Opening and Closing

Plantation shutters are hinged at the side of your windows, so they function somewhat like a door. Often, there are two plantation shutters that meet in the middle. These both open towards yourself and close just as easily. Plantation shutters can also include a latch in the middle in order to stay closed or locked for added security or they include knobs for ease of opening and closing.

Adjusting Your Shutters

Plantation shutters have the same sort of mechanism for adjusting the louvers that blinds have: a tilt rod. The general purpose of a tilt rod is to turn the rod, which will then tilt the louvers up or down to adjust the amount of sunlight that comes into the room. Shenandoah Shutters offers a range of tilt rod options for your plantation shutters:

• Single tilt rod – which adjust all the louvers at once
• Divider rail – separating the top louvers from the bottom louvers so they can be adjusted independently
• Split tilt rod – which adjusts the top and bottom louvers separately
• Hidden tilt rod – hidden discreetly behind a panel for a sleeker look

Differences Between Different Types of Shutters

There are a few different types of plantation shutters, and each look a little different. Operation is generally the same, but they may offer different levels of coverage or sunlight filtration. The first and most common is the traditional plantation shutter. Full-length and stately, this is the “grandfather” of plantation shutters. There are also cafe shutters, however, that only cover the lower half of the window, leaving the top half open or to be covered with a short cafe curtain. We also offer our subtle, patented Softedge shutters. They blend in to the window frame by excluding a boxy frame and concealing their hinges and tilt rod. Otherwise, however, operation is largely the same.

Plantation shutters are easy to adjust and easy to operate, especially when well-made by Shenandoah Shutters. Interested in plantation shutters of your own? Contact Shenandoah Shutters today to learn more about our plantation shutters or to order your own.