White and beige living room with white polywood shutters above a white couch.

The R-Value Of Shutters And Other Window Treatments In Denver

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency can be a big requirement for your windows. With an inefficient covering, you have a higher chance of heat loss through your windows, which may lead to higher heating and cooling bills. To discover the most energy-efficient window coverings, you need to see their R-values.

But what window treatments have the highest R-value in Denver?

How Can You Find A Window Treatment’s R-Value in Denver?

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your house that plays a part with insulation -- from siding to windows -- is assigned an R-value. Those digits represents how well the object hinders thermal energy from going through it. A bigger R-value tells you that the item is a more efficient insulator.

So why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Denver? Well, because windows are one of the most prevalent heat loss areas in the home. If you have to keep in the hot air during the cold seasons or keep your house cooler in warmer weather, you have to have a window covering with more insulation. A window covering with a large R-value allows you to keep your rooms at an optimal setting.

Window Treatment R-value Rating Chart

Every window treatment is not made equally, and therefore different window treatments have different r-values. Though there may be a bit of variation due to the building material and craftsmanship between convergent companies and models, below is what you’re going to find when contrasting window treatments.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
No window treatment	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Shades	2.5
Draperies	2 - 3
Real wood Shutters	3 - 4
Honeycomb Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

Source: R-values from Energy.gov and HouseLogic.

Remember, the bigger the R-value number the more energy-efficient the window covering. It shouldn’t be a shock that mini-blinds, which are made with flimsy aluminum, bring almost no protection compared to a more substantial product, like Polywood plantation shutters. That large gap in R-value can be seen in a variance of several degrees – enough to feel an impact on your decision to dial up the temperature and increase your energy use.

What Raises A Window Covering’s R-Value In Denver?

Light gray cellular shades inside a white and rustic styled living room.

A few factors affect a window treatment’s R-value: construction and materials. First, products that have multiple paths for heat loss won’t own a effective R-value. For example, blinds and curtains dangle down, letting hot air to leak out around the sides and bottom of the treatment. However, interior shutters are custom-crafted snuggly around the window, which traps heat against the window when you shut the louvers.

Secondly, what the covering is made out of can have a huge bump in R-value. Take honeycomb shades, which are made with overlapping layers of fabric that create “cells” to trap hot air. As a result, they will stop temperature flow more effectively than coverings like Roman shades. Likewise, Polywood interior shutters, made from a solid faux wood polymer, can repel heat loss more than natural wood shutters. Polywood shutters also has weatherstripping, which creates a snug seal on your window when the louvers are shut.

Up Your House’s R-value In Denver

Do you feel like your home could be a tad bit more comfortable? How about changing to durable Polywood shutters to up that R-value? Contact Sunburst Shutters Denver by dialing 720-538-0182 or submitting the form below for your no-cost in-home consultation.

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