External shutters can be a highly effective way to add security to your home. Of course, it's an added bonus that shutters can add a unique look to the home as well. There are several options in external shutters today, with aluminium, wood, and wrought iron being among the most popular. Whilst wood and wrought iron shutters may have some benefits, aluminium is the clear choice for a variety of reasons. Here's what you should know about the aluminium advantage.
Longevity
Aluminium is among the most long-lasting materials used in shutters today. Aluminium can resist nearly any environmental conditions, from rain to stiff winds to hail. It can even bounce flying debris away harmlessly.
Other types of shutters just can't fight the weather in the same way. Wood can easily splinter and rot whilst wrought iron can rust and eventually crumble. Aluminium shutters last longer because they aren't susceptible to the weather or other environmental conditions, and this means less worry about maintenance or replacements.
Strength
As mentioned above, aluminium is quite lightweight — but that doesn't mean that it's not strong as well. In addition to its natural strength, aluminium shutters are often treated with a powder coating. This powder coating makes the aluminium even stronger, adding an extra layer of security to your home.
Because aluminium is so strong, it's quite difficult to break through. Many intruders might just decide to avoid homes with aluminium shutters because it would take too much time and effort to force through them.
Cost
Many homeowners initially resist aluminium external shutters because they're worried about the cost. It's true that aluminium is a more expensive material than options like cheap timber. However, over time aluminium actually works out to be cheaper. Wooden shutters won't last nearly as long as aluminium ones will — and you may constantly have to do repair work on wooden shutters, increasing your costs further. Between replacement costs and repair costs, wooden shutters can end up costing more than aluminium ones over the years.
The same is true of other shutter materials like wrought iron. Whilst wrought iron is strong and attractive, it's also highly vulnerable to the elements. This means that wrought iron shutters need repair and replacement much more often than aluminium ones do.
As you can tell, aluminium shutters are an excellent choice for your home's external shutters. Contact local external shutters contractors like Shutterflex to discuss options for your home.
