How to Determine Proper Shutter Slat Widths for Your Window

In building shutters for windows, a very important element is often overlooked - and that is the shutter slat width. The slat is the narrow strip of either metal or wood found in most shutters and other fixtures. It is basically the same as the strips you see in Venetian blinds. 

Now slat width corresponds to the measurement of the slat's breadth. Some slats come broad, some relatively slim. But how do you determine the slat width that goes best with your house or window? To find out, read on below:

1. The shutter slat width should be uniform in length. For starters, check first if the width is the same across all slats. For harmony and coordination, the width of the slats should be the identical to each other, leaving just a negligible point of difference.

2. The shutter slat width should be proportional to the size of the window. Long and big windows are better off with fat shutter slats. A width of about 4 inches is ideal. For a small window, one to two inches wide slats are preferable.

3. The shutter slat should width can rely on the type of material used. As stated earlier, shutter slats can either be made of wood or metal. The width of the slat should depend on the thickness the material.

A metal slat less than one-sixteenth inches thick are better off with a slat width with a maximum of 2 inches. This is to optimize strength. If the slats have to be wider, the thickness should first be adjusted. 

For a wooden slat, on the other hand, a 1/4 inch thick material is good for a slat width of 3 inches. If you have to increase the width of the slat, you have to add to its thickness too. Otherwise, the durability of your shutter will be compromised.

4. The shutter width slat should be shorter in areas where hurricanes are frequent. Your house should not be the only basis of your shutter slot width. Shorter slat width tends to be more heavy-duty as they increase in number. The shorter the slat width is, the stronger it will be. Hurricanes are more likely to be kept outside your homes is you use this kind of slats.

5. The shutter slat width should match the design of your house. Function is not the only thing to be considered here. Most of the time, aesthetic considerations are as important. Some houses have designs that looked good with shorter slat width, while some are better off with longer ones. As a general rule, low houses, like bungalows and other one-storey variations are fine with the short ones while bigger houses are advised to have longer slat width for their shutter.

6. Determine the shutter slat width according to the amount of privacy you'd like to get. Short slat width provide more privacy than longer slat width. This is especially applicable to those fixed shutters.

7. The shutter slat width should correspond to the amount of light you wanted in the room. Slats can also determine the amount of light that can enter the room. So if you want to have a brighter room, get the shutter with longer slat width and the shorter ones if you want to have a rather dim room.

These are the things you should consider when building or even buying shutters. The width is a very important element. That small detail has to be mulled over for the shutter and the window's optimum performance.