When you’re looking at getting some custom-fit shutters for your home, one consideration can stand high – do you want to place the shutters inside or out? What are the benefits of either? And what do we at the Scottish Shutter Company recommend?
Well, as can be expected, the answer has a lot to do with your property and the environment around it. Choosing the best shutters for the local weather conditions while taking into account the many other factors that need to be considered – well, that takes a little more thought.
Light Control and Glare
The primary purpose of shutters – or any window covering – is to control the light coming into your room. So, before we dive into some more weather-based considerations, let’s take a look at the difference between internal and external shutters when it comes to light control:
Internal
Internal shutters can be adjusted and controlled effortlessly throughout the day to meet the changing light outside. You can move the louvres to match the sunshine without blocking everything out entirely and easily adjust to reduce glare on screens – a common benefit shutter-owners enjoy.
When it comes to enjoying your everyday living space, internal shutters give you the light control you need.
External
Shutters placed on the outside of the home are more likely to remain fixed giving you more limited light control throughout the day.
SSC Choice
If light management is important to you, internal shutters give you more flexibility and control making it easier to adjust the amount of light you let into your home easily.
Weather Protection
Your shutters form part of the barrier between your internal comfort and the ravages of the outside world – and the years go past, we seem to be experiencing more and more of those powerful storms. Which type of shutter performs best as a barrier?
Internal
Internal shutters are shielded from the elements by the windows themselves, making them perform similarly no matter what’s going on outside. They add a secondary layer of protection that holds back drafts and helps stabilise windows, reducing rattling even in high winds. Your room remains comfortable even during sudden temperature changes outside.
External
Your external shutters provide a true physical barrier against storms and driving rain. When it gets particularly blustery, and things are flying about – from stray branches to the lids of recycling bins – external shutters offer true protection, holding back debris from the glass of the window.
This protection doesn’t just come into effect when you’re being threatened with a trip to Oz. Daily UV exposure and general wind and rain will wear away at your window frames, but not when a well-treated external shutter stands in the way.
Especially helpful in exposed locations (think coastal, hillside, or even when on the upper levels of a high-rise building), external shutters are a significant part of your weather protection.
SSC Choice
We’re going to side a little more with external here. Not to say internal shutters don’t play their part – they’re a key factor in insulation – but external shutters really are putting themselves out there, forming part of your barrier against the harshness of the elements.
Insulation and Energy Efficiency
Insulation is a key factor when choosing shutters. Far more than other window coverings, shutters really do make a significant difference to your home’s efficiency and bring a range of benefits in this area.
Internal
Internal shutters help keep the heat in. When you’re living through a cold Scottish winter, this is invaluable. Rooms are warmer and your central heating can be turned down, keeping those bills low.
In older homes, perhaps still lacking double glazing, shutters really do work well, turning previously draughty locations into sanctuaries of cosy warmth.
External
External shutters are fantastic when it comes to keeping out heat before it enters the building. This means that in the sweltering glare of a blazing summer, rooms are cooler – especially if you have large expanses of glass fronting your property. While they don’t quite have the insulation properties of internal shutters in the winter, they still provide a barrier that creates an air gap, helping ensure consistent room temperatures.
Combined with efficient double or triple glazing, external shutters offer excellent insulation.
SSC Choice
Internal pips the post for us. While the shading qualities of external shutters are absolutely incredible at keeping rooms cool in the heat (and lowering AC costs), it’s the winter that most of us are thinking of when it comes to insulation, and internal shutters are simply divine for that glorious winter cosiness.
Longevity and Maintenance
How long your shutters will last is a key consideration.
Internal
Being inside means internal shutters don’t have to face the weather directly. A powerful storm isn’t pouring rain onto the shutters themselves, so they get a significant helpful hand when it comes to longevity. This opens you up to a wider range of materials, making them lighter, cheaper, and easier to maintain – a simple wipe with a cloth is often enough to keep them in premium condition.
External
External shutters need to be made of weather-resistant materials that are designed to handle long-term exposure to UK weather. All external shutters installed by the Scottish Shutter Company meet stringent specifications to make sure they’ll last the test of time, even if they’re mounted on the outside of a windswept coastal property.
Will they last a long time? Absolutely – professionally selected and installed external shutters have finishes that resist weather, don’t fade, and won’t corrode.
SSC Choice
It’s easy to pick internal shutters here, but the truth is, external shutters are just as durable. As long as they’re properly chosen and fitted, you’ll never have a problem. We’re coming down firmly on the side of both – and we’ll stand by that with our dedicated guarantees of workmanship and manufacturers’ warranties.
Other Considerations
While the above details form some of the core thoughts regarding your decision between internal and external shutters, they don’t encompass every detail. Additional considerations include:
- Security – External shutters present a firm physical barrier to intruders.
- Privacy – Both internal and external shutters offer essential privacy, while leaving your view intact.
- Aesthetics – Internal shutters give your room a warm embrace and matched style, while external shutters enhance the architecture, adding to the appeal of the house from the outside.
- Cost – Bespoke shutters made to measure and professionally installed are an investment in your home. Your budget is going to have an impact on your final choice.
Perfect Internal or External Shutters with SSC
Our experts at the Scottish Shutter Company are here to help you evaluate the right shutters for your property. Book a free consultation or visit our showroom today, and let us discuss the exact needs of your home. Together, we’ll determine the perfect choice of shutters to bring the greatest benefit.
