Shutter BoysUpdated
The short version: a D.R. Horton home is largely specified before you see it, so most of your choices come after closing. Note every window problem at the walk-through, let the first two months of warranty items settle, then add window coverings room by room, starting with the bedrooms.
Shutter Boys and Shade Boys aren’t connected with D.R. Horton. What follows about D.R. Horton comes from its own published pages, linked in the sources; the rest is our own advice.
Express, Emerald, Freedom: D.R. Horton’s series
D.R. Horton sells most of its homes under its own name and three series[1]. In its own words: the Express Series is its entry-level line for first-time buyers (“New isn’t impossible”); the Emerald Series offers “elevated floorplans and design options”; and the Freedom Series is “designed to fit your active lifestyle without the hassle”, aimed at buyers who want low-maintenance living. The D.R. Horton name itself covers homes from entry-level to luxury[1].
What that means for window coverings: the series sets how many choices you make before you move in, not whether you’ll need blinds or shutters afterwards. On the D.R. Horton listing we read in Virginia, buyers “Choose a color package” and “a selection of exterior designs”, and the page notes that “interior and exterior features, options, colors and selections will vary”[2]. Emerald adds more design options[1]. None of the D.R. Horton pages or feature sheets we read listed window coverings.
What a D.R. Horton feature sheet tells you about your windows
Each community publishes a feature sheet, and it’s the best guide to what you’re getting. The one we read, for Cresson Estates near Dallas–Fort Worth, lists “Double pane, Low-E, vinyl windows” and “Eased corners including window returns and no sills”[3]. Three things on that sheet bear on window coverings:
- Drywall returns and no sills. The window sits inside a drywall return with rounded corners and no wood sill. An inside-mounted shutter frame fixes to that return, so measure across the flat part of the return, not to the rounded edge, and check the depth from the room-side corner to the window frame and its latches. If the return is shallow or out of square, an outside mount on the wall around the opening is the alternative. Inside vs outside mount
- Ceiling fans “blocked for future”. The sheet lists the family room, bedroom 1 and game room (per plan) as “blocked for future ceiling fans”[3]. Those rooms have the support for a fan, which makes fans an easy after-closing upgrade.
- A covered patio (per plan) and a landscape package with full sod[3]. A covered patio is where outdoor shades go; more on that below.
That feature sheet also lists D.R. Horton’s Home is Connected smart-home package[3]. The Tulsa flyer lists “some or all of” a video doorbell, a programmable thermostat, a door lock, a smart light switch and a touchscreen control device, run on Alarm.com, and notes that “Other Smart Home technology features may be offered for an additional charge”[4]. Check what your home already has before you buy a thermostat or doorbell of your own.
From contract to year ten
D.R. Horton’s documents are written by state and division, so dates vary. This timeline uses its Kentucky homeowner manual, its Atlanta one-year coverage sheet and its Louisiana warranty overview as examples; the last column is our suggestion.
| When | What D.R. Horton says happens | Window coverings |
|---|---|---|
| Construction orientation | “Scheduled prior to excavation or during framing to review your plans”[5] | Ask which windows are which type, and where the fan blocking is |
| Walk-through and re-walk | After the final clean, before closing; a re-walk follows[5] | Note every scratch, chip and sticking window on the checklist |
| Closing | A final survey of the lot, subject to your sales agreement[8] | Photograph each window before anything is fitted |
| First 60 days | The Kentucky manual suggests waiting 60 days before submitting warranty lists[5] | Fit the bedrooms first; measure once any window repairs are done |
| Month 11 | One written service request at the 11th month (Atlanta)[6] | Check that every window still locks and slides with the shutters in place |
| Years 2 and 10 | Two years on wiring, ductwork and plumbing; ten on major structural defects, claimed with RWC from year 3 (Louisiana)[7] | Nothing to do; keep your photos |
The walk-through matters more with D.R. Horton than with most builders. Its FAQ says damage such as “scratched window glass” is not covered after closing: “These items must be noted on the Orientation Builders Checklist and taken care of prior to closing”[8]. Open and close every window and slider during the walk-through, look at the glass in daylight, and write everything down. A shutter frame screwed over a scratched frame makes the problem yours.
Fitting shutters without creating a warranty question
D.R. Horton’s Atlanta coverage sheet excludes “Defects in any item that was not part of the original home as constructed by D. R. Horton” and defects caused by “improper action or inaction, willful or malicious acts by any party other than D. R. Horton”, and warns in capitals that a repair by “AN INDEPENDENT OR UNAUTHORIZED CONTRACTOR MAY SERVE TO VOID THE REMAINING WARRANTY COVERAGE”[6]. None of that stops you adding window coverings, but it’s worth four habits:
- Report window problems first. A window that sticks or a seal that leaks goes on the warranty list before a shutter goes in front of it.
- Fix to the return, not the window. Our install guide fixes the frame into the opening around the window. Never drive a screw into the vinyl window unit or its flange.
- Don’t touch the caulk line. D.R. Horton’s manual treats caulking as maintenance that shrinks with time[5]; keep the shutter frame clear of it so you can still re-caulk.
- Leave room for condensation. The same manual says condensation on windows “is normal” and that damage from it “is not covered by warranty”, and advises opening blinds and curtains during the day[5]. Tilt the louvers open on cold mornings so air reaches the glass. Shutters and condensation
Matching shutters to D.R. Horton trim
D.R. Horton packages its colors: the manual notes that “Exterior colors are packaged together”[5], and interiors come from a color package too. Ask your sales agent or the warranty team for the interior trim paint’s brand, color name and sheen before closing; it’s easier than matching a chip later. White is our standard color; if your trim is a different white, the designer lets you name a paint to match.
Questions to ask before closing
- Is any window covering included in this community, and if so in which rooms?
- What brand, color and sheen is the interior trim paint?
- Which windows are sliders and which are single-hung, and how deep is the drywall return?
- Which rooms are blocked for ceiling fans, and is the covered patio wired for anything?
- What does the HOA require before anything is fixed outside, such as patio shades?
What to add after closing
With most interior finishes set by the series and color package, the upgrades D.R. Horton buyers make are mostly the ones that attach to a finished house. Our rule of thumb on timing, and where to look:
| Upgrade | When | HOA review? | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window coverings | Bedrooms in the first weeks; the rest when you’ve lived with the light | Usually only what shows from the street | Our made-to-measure wood shutters, or Shade Boys’ roller, zebra and cellular shades. Cordless if there are children at home. |
| Patio shades and screens | Before the first summer | Usually yes: most associations review anything fixed outside | Shade Boys motorized patio shades and retractable screens, fitted yourself or by a local installer. |
| Ceiling fans | Any time; easiest where the builder left a fan-rated box | No | ENERGY STAR lists certified fans[10]. Ask the builder which ceilings are pre-wired. |
| Smart thermostat | First month | No | ENERGY STAR certifies smart thermostats “based on actual field data”[11]. |
| EV charger | When you need it; cheaper if the builder ran conduit | Rarely, unless it’s outside | Level 2 is 240 V; “a qualified electrician can add circuits” and permits may be required[12]. |
| Solar panels | After you’ve seen a year of power bills | Often; read your association’s rules first | The Department of Energy’s homeowner guide[13]; incentives by state in DSIRE[14]. |
| Landscaping and irrigation | First planting season | Usually yes for front yards | “The average U.S. household uses more water outdoors than for showering and washing clothes combined”[15]; WaterSense lists efficient controllers. |
D.R. Horton’s FAQ adds two points worth knowing before you plant or build anything outside: “Trees, shrubs and grass are not warranted after closing” unless noted on the orientation checklist, and you should “check the Covenants and Restrictions for your neighborhood prior to making any alterations”[8].
Outside, and the rooms where shades suit better
Shutter Boys makes wood shutters. Our sister company, Shade Boys, makes the rest: windproof motorized patio shades that run in side tracks, for a covered patio or porch, which you can fit yourself or have a local installer fit, and indoor roller, solar and patio door shades made to measure. A sliding door or a wide wall of glass is often better served by a shade than a shutter; bedrooms and street-facing windows are where shutters earn their keep.
Anything fixed to the outside of the house usually goes to the homeowners association first. Ask for its architectural review form before you order patio shades, and expect it to ask for the colour, the mounting and a photo of a similar product. Shade Boys’ HOA guide covers what boards usually look for on the windows; no product is approved everywhere, because each association decides for itself.
What window coverings add up to
Most owners don’t do every window on move-in day. Here is a made-up four-bedroom home priced in stages, so you can see how the total builds:
| Stage | Openings | Price |
|---|---|---|
| First: bedrooms | four bedroom windows, 36 × 60 in | $1,620 – $1,980 |
| Then: main floor | three 48 × 60 in windows and a 72 × 80 in sliding door | $2,700 – $3,300 |
| Last: the rest | two 24 × 36 in bathroom windows and a 36 × 48 in stair window | $640 – $800 |
| The whole house | all twelve openings | $4,960 – $6,080 |
Each window is priced on its own, so the stages add up to the whole; splitting an order only means each part ships separately. Keep the louver size, moulding and colour the same from the first order so later rooms match. The designer prices your own sizes in a few minutes.
D.R. Horton areas we cover
D.R. Horton lists warranty documents for 38 states[9]. Our state pages show local housing and weather figures and what they mean for shutters: Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Arizona.
Common questions
Do D.R. Horton homes come with blinds?
Not as a rule. Blinds weren’t on the D.R. Horton feature sheet we read (Cresson Estates, Dallas–Fort Worth), and features vary by community and series. Check your own community’s feature sheet or ask your sales agent; if they aren’t listed, plan to add window coverings after closing.
What is the difference between D.R. Horton’s Express, Emerald and Freedom homes?
They’re D.R. Horton’s own series. It describes Express as its entry-level series for first-time buyers, Emerald as “elevated floorplans and design options”, and Freedom as homes designed for an active, low-maintenance lifestyle. All are built and warranted by D.R. Horton.
When should I submit warranty items on a D.R. Horton home?
It depends on your division, so read your own warranty documents. The Kentucky homeowner manual suggests waiting 60 days after closing before submitting a warranty list and using an 11-month list for the rest; the Atlanta coverage sheet asks for one service request at the 11th month, in writing.
Will installing shutters affect my D.R. Horton warranty?
Fitting window coverings is ordinary, but D.R. Horton’s Atlanta warranty excludes defects in items that weren’t part of the original home and damage caused by anyone other than D.R. Horton. Photograph the windows first, fix the shutter frame to the trim or drywall return rather than the window unit, and report window problems before anything is fitted.
Do I need HOA approval for window coverings in a D.R. Horton community?
Usually not for what’s inside, though some associations set rules for how windows look from the street. For anything outside, such as patio shades, D.R. Horton’s own FAQ says to check your neighborhood’s covenants first and that written architectural approval is usually required.
Is Shutter Boys connected to D.R. Horton?
No. We make made-to-measure wood shutters that many new-home owners add after closing. Everything here about D.R. Horton comes from its own published pages and documents.
Sources
- Home Series, D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Ladysmith Village home listing (Ruther Glen, Virginia), D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Cresson Estates feature sheet (Dallas–Fort Worth, Dec 2023), D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Home is Connected (Tulsa flyer), D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Homeowner manual (Kentucky, April 2023), D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- One-year builder’s warranty coverage (Atlanta), D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Warranty overview (Louisiana), D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Frequently asked questions, D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Documents and guides, D.R. Horton (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Ceiling Fans, ENERGY STAR (US EPA and DOE) (government)
- Smart Thermostats, ENERGY STAR (US EPA and DOE) (government)
- Charging Electric Vehicles at Home, US Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center (government)
- Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar, US Department of Energy (government)
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, NC Clean Energy Technology Center, NC State University (university extension)
- WaterSense: Outdoors, US Environmental Protection Agency (government)
- Go cordless with window coverings to avoid risk of strangulation to infants and children (2021), US Consumer Product Safety Commission (government)