In our current house offer, roller shutters are planned throughout the entire ground floor, with an additional price for extra shutters on the upper floor. However, on the north side of the ground floor, there is only the guest bathroom window, and on the east side, the utility room and kitchen.
My opinion so far is that I don’t really need shutters there for privacy or shading reasons. The bathroom and children's rooms also have east-facing windows. For simple privacy or blackout needs, shutters can be added later from the inside if necessary. Therefore, I would only choose shutters on the south and west sides to provide protection against summer heat.
My husband thinks that shutters on the ground floor are necessary for burglary protection and to maintain the house’s resale value.
After reading the relevant forum posts on this topic, I am still unsure who is right. How did you decide, or what would you advise us and why?
Thank you,
Kazazi
My opinion so far is that I don’t really need shutters there for privacy or shading reasons. The bathroom and children's rooms also have east-facing windows. For simple privacy or blackout needs, shutters can be added later from the inside if necessary. Therefore, I would only choose shutters on the south and west sides to provide protection against summer heat.
My husband thinks that shutters on the ground floor are necessary for burglary protection and to maintain the house’s resale value.
After reading the relevant forum posts on this topic, I am still unsure who is right. How did you decide, or what would you advise us and why?
Thank you,
Kazazi
D
DerBjoern8 Apr 2014 08:32At first, I also wanted to build completely without them. Then I considered at least partially. Eventually, I decided to install roller shutters everywhere. In the end, they were all installed as electric.
I’m glad I did it. Especially in new housing developments, where houses are quite close together, you can protect yourself from being overlooked.
I’m glad I did it. Especially in new housing developments, where houses are quite close together, you can protect yourself from being overlooked.
D
DerBjoern8 Apr 2014 09:04Sun protection should not be neglected under any circumstances. During the few sunny days in March, our house has already heated up to around 25°C (77°F) without the shutters being closed, even though the heating was turned off.
I completely agree on the need for sun protection—so definitely roller shutters on the south and west-facing windows. I’ll also seriously reconsider the shutter for the east-facing window in the children’s room; maybe Child 2 will then sleep a bit longer.
But for the bathroom on the ground floor, the attic, as well as the utility room and kitchen—neither thermal insulation nor complete darkness are that important there. For just privacy, can’t I install something much more affordable from the inside? Our current quote is about 230 euros per roller shutter, plus roughly the same amount again if it’s motorized. That would add up to around 2,000 euros more. While some might see that as a small amount, or not much compared to the total cost, when you face these “small expenses” on multiple fronts, you have to start collecting savings somewhere to stay within budget.
Do you think the resale value will suffer significantly if I skip the roller shutters only in the secondary rooms? Or at least if I forgo the electric operation? The latter can be retrofitted later much more affordably with some kind of electronic strap winder, right?
But for the bathroom on the ground floor, the attic, as well as the utility room and kitchen—neither thermal insulation nor complete darkness are that important there. For just privacy, can’t I install something much more affordable from the inside? Our current quote is about 230 euros per roller shutter, plus roughly the same amount again if it’s motorized. That would add up to around 2,000 euros more. While some might see that as a small amount, or not much compared to the total cost, when you face these “small expenses” on multiple fronts, you have to start collecting savings somewhere to stay within budget.
Do you think the resale value will suffer significantly if I skip the roller shutters only in the secondary rooms? Or at least if I forgo the electric operation? The latter can be retrofitted later much more affordably with some kind of electronic strap winder, right?
D
DerBjoern8 Apr 2014 09:30Interior solutions also cost money if you want them to look decent (pleated blinds, etc.).
I can now share our experience with our terraced house. You will have to decide for yourselves.
We only have windows on the west and east sides here – the south and north sides are directly adjacent to neighbors, so we have no windows there at all!
Our kitchen window and our bedroom window (a dormer window under the roof) face the east side. In summer, the blinds are only opened early in the morning for ventilation and at night for cooling. Still, the bedroom under the roof gets very warm and uncomfortable for sleeping! Having blinds is essential.
The kitchen might manage without blinds, but you can definitely feel how warm it can get on the east side in the guest bathroom and entrance area, where the blinds are always raised.
On the west side, the living room has floor-to-ceiling windows and the kids’ room has a floor-to-ceiling dormer window. Blinds are absolutely necessary here — for both the lower and upper parts. Without them, it would become unbearably hot.
So, leaving out east-facing windows on the ground floor might be okay, but upstairs it already gets hot because of the roof. Without blinds, it’s surely uncomfortable.
milkie
We only have windows on the west and east sides here – the south and north sides are directly adjacent to neighbors, so we have no windows there at all!
Our kitchen window and our bedroom window (a dormer window under the roof) face the east side. In summer, the blinds are only opened early in the morning for ventilation and at night for cooling. Still, the bedroom under the roof gets very warm and uncomfortable for sleeping! Having blinds is essential.
The kitchen might manage without blinds, but you can definitely feel how warm it can get on the east side in the guest bathroom and entrance area, where the blinds are always raised.
On the west side, the living room has floor-to-ceiling windows and the kids’ room has a floor-to-ceiling dormer window. Blinds are absolutely necessary here — for both the lower and upper parts. Without them, it would become unbearably hot.
So, leaving out east-facing windows on the ground floor might be okay, but upstairs it already gets hot because of the roof. Without blinds, it’s surely uncomfortable.
milkie
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