In this post I will show you why it makes sense to use premium quality shutters on homes and condos and give my thoughts regarding which type of shutters should be installed in different locations around the country.
As I mentioned earlier, the most common reason people purchase and install custom shutters is because they want them to look nice. They want the windows to stand apart from each other and they want them to blend seamlessly with their home decor.
But that isn’t always enough to convince someone to go through with the project; the decision to get them is made after looking at several factors like cost, ease of installation/replacement, durability and overall value.
I’m going to take a closer look at those four points and explain exactly why shutters are great investments.
1. Premium Quality Shutters Are Worth Every Penny.
Premium grade shutters are usually constructed out of either aluminum or wooden slats that are coated in paint to protect the material against wear and tear. These types of shutters provide a number of benefits including better insulation, improved energy efficiency and increased resistance to moisture damage. But they’re far superior than cheap vinyl shutters in every way imaginable and that’s something worth pointing out. If you’ve ever seen vinyl shutters on display, then you’ll see just how cheaply these products can be produced. Vinyl shutters aren’t meant to withstand harsh weather conditions and they certainly won’t hold up well to years of rain, snow or sleet. Premium shutters, however, offer you peace of mind knowing that you’re getting a high end product and you can feel confident that they will serve you faithfully through many decades of service.
2. Easy Installation & Replacement.
Installing shutters requires some basic carpentry work but once they’re in place you’ll rarely worry about having to replace them again. Most homeowners can complete the job themselves without needing professional help. And while installing shutters is definitely a DIY project, replacing them may still fall under the category of “doable”. When you’re ready to swap out your current shutters for newer ones, most manufacturers allow you to simply order new panels and install them yourself.
3. Durability Is A Top Priority For Every Project.

We are proud to announce Carolina Design & Construction has acquired the exclusive license to manufacture Shutter Boys products nationwide with manufacturing facilities located in Lake City, South Carolina. We continue to be an industry leader for quality custom shuttered window installations, and hope to maintain this distinction for many years to come. If you would like us to install your Shutters please contact us today.
Inventory shortages during COVID-19 meant delays for some orders as well as cancellations during peak summer season demand. For those who missed out on ordering due to these problems; rest assured order placement will resume shortly! Our goal has always been to provide high quality window treatments with excellent customer service. Please check back soon as inventory should begin arriving once again. Thank you for being patient while waiting for the latest updates.
For additional information on custom manufactured shuttering, visit www.shutterboysmfg.

California shutters are becoming increasingly popular due to some great benefits they offer including energy efficiency. They help keep heat and cold inside during the spring/summer and fall months allowing homeowners to reduce heating costs and reduce air conditioning usage. For home owners who live in warmer climates this reduces monthly energy bills while protecting them against intense summertime weather conditions. These window coverings provide privacy and security which helps prevent burglars from seeing through windows. Also these beautiful wooden blinds allow natural light to enter homes reducing glare and improving indoor comfort levels.
Nowadays many styles and materials are available. When deciding on their choice check to see exactly how well insulated the material is because insulation will determine whether you should install insulating curtains or another type of shading.
We carry beautiful and affordable custom made shutters and screen doors designed to fit perfectly to complement every style. We manufacture products ourselves guaranteeing the highest quality with a full service warranty (1-2 years). All hardware is professionally installed by us directly to customer’s door frames. Our team consists of highly skilled craftsmen and we guarantee high end workmanship & attention to detail.

(Editorial Notes: The following article was written just prior to Hurricane Dorian hitting Florida)
After hurricane seasons past, many homeowners who suffered damage find themselves overwhelmed by having to repair everything they own. One thing people often overlook during this rebuilding period is home repairs including windows and screens. Fortunately for residents in coastal areas like North Carolina, window manufacturers and installers offer a plethora of options for customers needing replacement windows. Here are five things every homeowner should consider as they shop around for products and contractors.
1. Energy Efficiency
First and foremost is energy efficiency. A high quality window will help reduce heat loss, which keeps air conditioning bills down. Windows that use Low E coatings reduce heating by 30 percent while maintaining glare protection. They come in various styles and designs, but most include glass panes. You could go for something different with vinyl siding; however, these tend to be less expensive than traditional aluminum or steel clad homes. Consider your long term plans (Do you anticipate selling your home soon?) when choosing whether to invest in a vinyl house. Many sellers prefer houses built to withstand hurricanes better since insurance companies typically won’t cover damages caused by a storm unless the home meets certain standards. However, in other parts of the world, hurricane season lasts longer and some people feel safer knowing they’re protected no matter what Mother Nature throws their way.2. Window Size & Style
There are several factors involved in choosing a particular style of window frame and size. For example, the style determines aesthetics and functionality. Some popular choices feature casement frames with louvers, offering natural ventilation capabilities as well as privacy while being aesthetically pleasing. The type of glazing material used by each model depends primarily upon cost and durability considerations. Traditional metal framed windows are highly durable, but they lack modern design characteristics such as solar control and light reflection reduction. Wood cladding also offers good looks but requires special maintenance care because water tends to seep through cracks and voids under it. Vinyl, both fiberglass reinforced and standard polyvinyl chloride, are considered lightweight alternatives that provide excellent strength and resistance to insects and weather conditions. When shopping for shutters, remember that larger openings take more hardware — thus costing more — than smaller ones.

Wood shutters provide a superior quality home exterior feature with beauty beyond measure. They combine high functionality with design aesthetics; making them the ideal way to upgrade and protect your property while enhancing curb appeal and value. Although they seem like a pricey investment, wood shingles offer many unique advantages over vinyl alternatives including enhanced longevity, increased strength and improved resistance against weather damage. These benefits, along with other cost saving options make wood the clear choice for homeowners who wish to improve their home’s appearance without breaking the bank. Here are some key points to consider when choosing whether to go with wood or vinyl shutters:
For starters, wood shutters will keep your house cooler because they are made from renewable energy materials and natural products. When the sun hits wooden slats placed horizontally across windows during summer months, heat reflected back towards outside which helps reduce heating costs. Additionally, rainwater runs off faster through wood than it does through vinyl siding, helping prevent water accumulation on surfaces around doors and windows. For this same reason, wood also offers better protection for outdoor areas from insects such as ants, moss, algae, fungi, bugs, spiders and mice. Not only does this help improve overall health conditions but these pests also pose safety threats since they carry disease. While certain types of vinyl siding contain insecticide additives, it is often used sparingly due to potential side effects of exposure. Most importantly though, wood slats won’t rot, warp, crack or splinter unlike most window coverings and thus won’t ever require replacing unless the building needs structural repairs which usually happens after 30 years. As part of the building life cycle, wood also requires less maintenance than vinyl. Overall, wood is far easier to install than vinyl, especially considering current advancements that make construction projects quick, convenient and affordable.
While wood shutters are certainly a great solution, they aren’t infallible — no matter where you live. Weather patterns vary drastically and climate varies greatly throughout regions, so different varieties of both vinyl and wood shingles must be chosen accordingly. If you’re interested in finding information about specific brands of wood or vinyl shutters please see the reviews, ratings and customer satisfaction information available at www.shutterboysonline.com/reviews/.

We love talking shop with customers who are interested in buying shutters or window treatments in Charlotte County. If you would like us to come see your showroom or showroom visit please email us with your address and phone number and we will get back to you with details on your next appointment. We’d be happy to help answer questions regarding which shutters work well together and which ones complement each other. Also let us know if you have some great photos of rooms you’d like to include with this post!
If you live in Charlotte Count and are planning to install some shutters or blinds for windows, then please feel free use the form below to submit your information. We’ll reach out shortly after submitting the form to discuss further about your project.

I love getting questions from people who are just starting out with shutters. While I’m pleased to help answer them, sometimes they’ll get me thinking too; which brings us to this week’s question: “Why does everyone recommend installing shutters while still unfinished?”
Some folks tell homeowners to install the shutters after finishing the house–the theory being that you’ve already made everything nice and cozy during construction, why wouldn’t you keep things pleasant during the summer months? But that’s only half the equation…
In some cases, homeowners will be asking this question because at the time of purchase, they’re under contract to work with someone else on home improvements — including windows and siding. If those projects aren’t completed until late 2019/early 2020, then yes, you’d better wait to put in shutters until AFTER ALL THE WORK IS DONE. On the other hand, however, many customers come to us when their houses aren’t yet complete (i.e. only rough carpentry), but they like the idea of having shutters installed. For these homeowners, putting down the deposit ahead of time lets them focus on completing their project (and thus, save a lot of hassle AND money). And remember, it helps to shop around for contractors BEFORE YOU ENTER INTO ANY CONTRACT WITH THEM. Once you enter into a contract, you become locked in, particularly if it requires payment upfront rather than upon completion… So shopping around gives you flexibility should anything unforeseen happen once contracts go into effect. We highly suggest doing that anyway, regardless of whether you use us.

This is an exciting day for us! Our long awaited book, “Start a Design Business Online,” finally published today! When you buy the e-book version (only $97.00), you instantly receive lifetime updates to the latest version of the content–that’s right, no matter how often Apple changes iTunes 12, you pay once for the entire package…it really is worth every penny! Plus, if you order the printed book ($95) you will receive a FREE copy inside PDF form via email–no shipping charge whatsoever.

California shutters provide protection against harsh weather conditions such as rain, snow and wind. They offer a stylish appearance, while providing excellent insulation properties.
Charlotte County homeowners will find a wide range of options available to them for installing shutters. Whether they prefer to install custom made shutters, or they opt to go with a standard prefabricated model, they should be able to get exactly what they want for their home or condo.
Shutters are often considered an investment because they protect homes and condos from extreme heat and cold. However, shutters come in different styles and colors to match the homeowner’s taste and decor. Some people like dark colors for their windows. Others enjoy lighter shades of blue or green to brighten up dull spaces.
When choosing shutters for your home or condo, consider the following factors: style; size; material used; type and color of paint; whether the window needs to close completely; the amount of natural light coming through the windows; whether the area around the window requires additional shading; and the overall cost of materials.
For example, if it is necessary to cover every inch of glass, including the sides of the frame, then this would increase costs considerably. Also, shutters can become quite heavy, which could affect the structural integrity of buildings. If your property faces an extremely hot climate, then you may want to use aluminum rather than steel for shuttering. Aluminum offers better thermal efficiency but can be expensive.
Another key consideration is the location of your home or condo. Certain areas of Charlotte County are prone to hurricanes and other severe storms, which makes shutters essential to prevent damage to your property.
If you live near the coast and experience frequent flooding issues, shutters may prove useful in protecting windows from water damage.
In general, however, most homeowners are interested in shuttering only to block sunlight. For those who enjoy living in warmer climates, the benefits of shutting down winter winds and keeping cool during summer months outweigh the risks associated with shutting in hurricane season.

Charlotte County residents love living in beautiful homes but like most people who live somewhere else, they often complain about poor building insulation or leaky windows because these are common issues that can be costly to correct especially if you own a home already. If you have lived in Charlotte County for quite some time you probably hear this every single day “I wish I had put shutters on my house when I first built it.”
Well, in 2020, many homeowners are starting to realize that installing shutters makes sense just like installing air conditioning does.
In fact, according to Energy Star™ standards installed energy efficient windows save an average homeowner $1075 annually — yet only half of households are currently insulated. Insulated houses use less energy both during daylight hours and at night and therefore lower utility bills overall. And, insulating buildings helps keep them cooler in summertime and warmer in winter, which reduces heating costs. Plus, since heat transfer through window glass accounts for around 25% of the annual cooling requirement for air conditioned spaces, you reduce potential energy loss while lowering operating expenses.
And don’t forget air sealing and caulking. Even though it seems obvious, it’s something that many people overlook until after leaks become problems.
It’s also critical to remember that if you live in colder climates than southern ones, shutting out light isn’t necessarily bad; rather, keeping warm daylight out helps protect plants and prevents overheating indoors. A study published in 2017 showed that plants exposed to sunlight perform better and produce larger fruits (and vegetables!) than those inside.
So why should Charlotte County homeowners install Shutters?
Most folks simply assume they will get rain damage. But, actually that could cost them hundreds each year due to mold growth caused primarily by condensation accumulation. Rain damage is one thing, however, but having water damage could be devastating to your wallet and even health. For example, mold creates toxic spores that irritate skin tissues causing rashes and allergic reactions. Also, moisture causes mildew to grow on surfaces leading to structural rot of roof siding, exterior walls and ceilings. Finally, mold increases energy usage causing additional stress on HVAC systems and increasing monthly electric bills.

For those who aren’t familiar with what shutters are and how they impact home function, allow us to introduce them and explain why homeowners should consider installing these energy efficient windows and doors. We will be listing the top selling products and trends across 3 popular markets; Florida, West Coast States (California), and Midwest.
This post will contain information on which types exist, benefits they provide, features to look for while shopping, installation tips, and other details related to each category of shutters.
We believe that the quality of the products available today far surpasses the “good enough” offerings of yesteryear. For this reason, Shutterboy wants to offer only high quality materials built specifically to withstand years of use without replacement.
Why install California Shutters? Here are just a few examples.
Energy savings
Better comfort & indoor air quality
Exterior durability and protection against harsh weather conditions
Improved sound reduction
Longer life span
Saving Money Over Time
Many people overlook the fact that shutters serve several purposes beyond keeping heat inside during the summer months. They can keep rooms cooler in the warmer seasons thanks to better insulation properties than traditional blinds, window coverings and drapes. During periods like hurricane season, shutters can save thousands on repairs. And unlike most hurricane insurance policies, California shutters come with a limited warranty. So if anything goes wrong due to improper care after purchase, simply call a professional installer and get help getting things fixed quickly and effectively.
Our Commitment: If something isn’t working correctly with your existing system, whether its a door jamming under pressure or a latch breaking, it’s easier to correct problems early rather than having issues arise due to poor material selection. While many companies offer warranties on the actual windows/doors installed, it’s rare that anyone else offers a guarantee on the workmanship involved.

What Exactly Is A Cali Shutter™?
When most people hear this term they usually assume it must be some type of window treatment like blinds or shades. But while these types of shutters are great products, they are just one aspect of a complete home security system. They provide light control and privacy but they aren’t necessarily designed for total protection against intruders or weather damage like other systems offer. So why should anyone use them instead? Because, like everything else, they come in different shapes, colors, styles and designs, each providing unique benefits to homeowners depending on your needs. And because they’re made in America, they’ll help protect American jobs which makes us proud Americans happy.
So what’s my favorite style of California shutter? I’m going to tell you… My favorite California Shutters are Custom Wood Sliding Patio Doors. These beautiful patio doors will transform your outdoor space into a gorgeous retreat, giving homeowners amazing views year round without having to sacrifice energy efficiency or comfort. Not only does a custom sliding door system add beauty, function and value, the ease of maintenance and cost savings over traditional vinyl windows ensures peace of mind.
Why Shouldn’t We Use Vinyl Windows Anyway (Besides Cost)?
For starters, Vinyl Windows don’t always keep the heat inside of the house. Depending on climate conditions, temperatures outside can often feel colder than indoors. In addition to being less effective at keeping homes warm during cold seasons, vinyl windows tend to lose insulation quicker, making your home warmer faster. But perhaps the most important reason NOT to go the vinyl way is because there’s nothing worse than a cracked vinyl panel hanging precariously above water. In fact, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, “about 1,000 children drown every year.”
And finally, when you do decide to install vinyl windows, remember, no matter how well they fit together initially, it takes at least 2 days to fully assemble them — meaning you won’t get full functionality until after they’ve had a few days to dry completely. So when you buy them ready-made, you may end up paying extra for an inferior quality product, especially since many stores charge additional labor fees.