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

Energy Efficiency And R-Value Of Window Treatments In San Diego

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency might be a large want for your San Diego window treatments. With the wrong choice, you could feel a draft due to heat loss, which can lead to larger energy bills. To get the best energy-efficient window coverings, you need to find out their R-values.

But what window treatments own the biggest R-value in San Diego?

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

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your home that promotes insulation -- from drywall to windows -- is assigned an R-value. That rating tells you how well the item hinders thermal energy from going through it. A higher R-value and the object is a more efficient insulator.

So why should you care about a window treatment’s R-value in San Diego? Well, because your windows are one of the most common energy wasters in the house. If you have to keep in the warm air during wintertime or keep your rooms comfortable in summer, you will need a window covering with greater insulation. A window covering with a high R-value lets you keep your home at your preferred setting.

Window Covering R-value Table

Every window covering is not built equally, and therefore different treatments will have different r-values. Though there may be a bit of variation from the material and craftsmanship between companies and models, below is what you’re likely to find when contrasting window coverings.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
Only glass	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Shades	2.5
Drapes	2 - 3
Real wood Shutters	3 - 4
Cell Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Remember, the bigger the R-value number the more the window treatment insulates your window. It should come as no surprise that mini-blinds, which are made with inefficient aluminum, offer almost no energy-saving value when put up against a more weighty covering, like durable faux-wood shutters. That big gap in R-value can show up in a distinction of several degrees – enough to make an influence on whether you dial up the temperature and waste money or not.

What Are The Factors In A Window Treatment’s R-Value In San Diego?

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

Two things affect a window treatment’s R-value: construction and materials. First, treatments that have multiple ways for heat to escape won’t own a substantial R-value. For instance, blinds just hang there, letting heat to leak out around the bottom and sides of the treatment. On the other hand, interior shutters are custom-made to fit around the window pane, trapping heat against the window’s glass when the louvers are shut.

Secondly, what materials the covering is made out of can also bring a significant impact to insulation. Take cellular shades, which are made with several engineered layers of fabric that create “cells” to trap hot air. As a result, they can stop air loss more effectively than treatments like Roman shades. Likewise, our Polywood plantation shutters, made from a solid faux wood composite, can repel heat more than natural wood shutters. Polywood shutters also use seamless weatherstripping, which makes a air-tight seal sound your windows when the louvers are shut.

Improve Your Home's R-value In San Diego

Do you feel like your house could be a little cozier? How about installing quality faux-wood shutters to raise your R-value? Contact us today by dialing 760-405-8887 or complete the form below for a no-cost in-home consultation.

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