Shutters are a relatively inexpensive way to add style and charm to any home. They come in two main types: interior and exterior blinds. The latter type has historically been used to protect houses and buildings from the weather; and provide residents with both privacy and a means to adjust the amount of light entering a room. Certain types of shutters can be beneficial for homeowners who live in turbulent or extreme climates. For example, Bahama shutters provide storm protection, while louvered shutters are a great way to block out large windows from various temperature swings.

Exterior shutters, especially distinctive or carefully crafted pieces of wood, can also add flair to many architectural styles. For example, Bahama shutters lend the historic flavor of British colonialism to architecture, while brightly colored board-and-batten shutters lend a touch of the American Old West to homes and other structures. Homeowners today have a wide variety of shutter materials to choose from, including wood, vinyl, and fiberglass.

Bahama Shades – A Unique Top Hinged Option

The design and functionality of exterior shutters vary by model. Bahama shutters (also known as Bermuda shutters) are top-hinged, so they contrast sharply with other side-hinged styles. The top-hinged design allows the homeowner to push their Bahama shutters out and away from the house. Most other styles of blinds are side-hinged, allowing the homeowner to open them from the center seam and push them out of the house.

Some common types of side-hinged shutters include:

– Batten and board shutters, which consist of large, well-formed slabs of shutter material. The rough designs are made to mimic the shutter styles found on American frontier homes.

-Slat blinds, which consist of wooden slats surrounded by a wooden frame. Today, louvered shutters are also often made of vinyl or fiberglass. They are good choices for blocking out large pane windows or multiple windows in a series, and can be customized to complement various building styles.

-Panel blinds, which are a European style of blinds and can be customized to suit period architecture or décor. They are usually square, with one or more rectangular panels recessed within the shutter frames. Panel shades also often come in fiberglass or vinyl models.

When people think of exterior shutters, they often envision one or more of these side-hinged styles. However, the less common Bahama shutter has some distinct advantages for owners. This style is worth considering as a quality, high-performance window covering option.

What are the advantages of Bahama blinds?

Bahama shutters are specifically designed to act as storm shutters. Because the hinges on these blinds run along the top of the window instead of on both sides, the blinds can be quickly opened and quickly closed in preparation for inclement weather. The quick-closing, storm-protective nature of Bahama shutters makes them a great choice for homeowners who live in storm belts.

The New Orleans, LA and Biloxi, MI regions of the United States were devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now, rebuilding is fast and ongoing. More importantly, architects and contractors have learned from past mistakes and are creating homes designed to withstand hurricane force winds, rain and flooding. Bahama shades are highly functional window covering options in this hurricane belt of the southeastern United States. When combined with intuitive architecture, such as home foundations that are raised off the ground to allow for flooding, Bahamian shutters can be useful assets during storm season.

Bahama shades also help in natural climate control. The top hinges are designed so that the homeowner can choose the angle at which he wishes to keep the shutters open. This allows the homeowner to control the amount of air that enters a room and allows them to place the blinds at angles that facilitate natural cooling through air circulation. Bahama shades are smart choices for homeowners who live in hot climates; Natural cooling properties allow homeowners to conserve energy while saving money on utility bills.

The Bahama style shutter benefits a variety of climates. In fact, homeowners residing in temperate climates can enjoy the benefits of Bahama shades in different seasons. Many major American cities, such as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York, experience rainy weather in the spring and hot, humid weather in the summer. Homeowners in these cities can reap the benefits of quick-closing window shades during periods of rainy weather and can enjoy the natural cooling properties of the window shade design during hot and humid summer spells. Additionally, homeowners in all climates can enjoy the privacy protection and noise dampening properties of Bahama blinds.

Like other styles of blinds, Bahama blinds can be customized. Reputable blind companies have design staff available to represent the style or shape of blind that each customer desires. Talented blind designers can often recreate blind styles from customer sketches or AutoCAD files. Like most other styles of shutters, Bahama shutters can be constructed of aluminum, fiberglass, or wood. Many wood styles and designs are elegant and sophisticated, and those made from Spanish cedar or mahogany are often the most durable.

Homeowners who want privacy, quiet, storm protection and climate control can benefit greatly by choosing durable Bahama shutters.