Calgary Shutters & Blinds Specialist

Hybrid shutters combine the great appearance and texture of wood with the strength, stability, and straightness of advanced modern day materials. Hybrid Shutters offer the modern elegance of quality shutters at an economical price.

The WoodLore from Norman Shutters is, I believe, the finest shutter in the world. WoodLore is a Hybrid shutter because it is an engineered wood that is then covered in polypropylene. Polypropylene is the coating found inside dishwashers and refrigerators. There are several excellent Hybrid shutters on the market today, as well as several solid Celuka materials. Your consultant will be able to help determine which is best for your project.

Several styles of shutters are now made from polymer. The polymers are made abroad by GE and shipped here to America. The shutters are then made to order. This process does increase the cost, but it also cuts delivery time in half. Poly wood shutters do have some limitations such as colors and sizes. One of the most significant limitations to Faux Wood/PolyCore shutters is door width. Where wider doors exist, real wood or reinforced composite, which are lighter in weight, is a good option.

Another alternative to wider doors is a wood material with aluminum reinforcements: polycore. They also offer a good price point, are a fantastic insulator, and are easy to clean. I have these shutters in my own home, and I was pleasantly surprised by how cool my home remains on hot days.

If you’re looking for a shutter with a fantastic stain or a well built composite shutter, there are several excellent hybrid shutters to choose from.

Shutters that are made in China have excellent finishes and superior workmanship, and they're often less expensive. Their delivery schedule ranges from six to eight weeks. Shutters made in America arrive generally within three to eight weeks and are manufactured in two distinct qualities:

• First, when the shutter is made from materials imported from China, the shutter is superior in every respect. However, when the shutter is milled and painted in the United States, the finish is consistently inferior – this is due to EPA regulations.
• Also, the price is increased substantially due to the costs associated with doing business in the United States. Shutters made in Mexico are no better, taking three to eight weeks and cost the same as shutters made in America. Anecdotally, many American made shutters I have seen are replete with flaws and imperfections.

Faux and composite wood blinds have come a long way in the past 10 years. A faux wood purchased today is more stable, won’t discolor and is 30%-40% less expensive than real wood.

If you’re looking for a stained wood blind, they are now available in composite (faux) wood blinds. Many manufacturers offer composite wood tones that look great. One of the best benefits of faux wood blinds is the durability. You can leave your windows open without having to worry about the blind being damaged. I suggest that your windows never be left open with real wood blinds because they may warp, or the finish may be damaged.

In the window covering industry, there is a term used to denote blinds that are sold in large hardware stores—they are called "cut-downs". Cut-downs are bought by the boatload as blanks and are kept in stock. The purchaser of these blanks is required to measure their own windows so that the blanks can be cut to the desired width. These cut blanks will then be ready for self-installation, after which there needs to be an additional cut to achieve the desired length.

Professional speaking, I have yet to see a quality product available from cut-downs purchased at the large chain stores. However, a few online blind companies do exist, which are now selling cut-downs that are of excellent quality.

The downside, however, is that these cut-downs (quality or not) still require the home purchaser to meticulously measure, cut and install the cut-downs themselves. Should the measurement be off, or should they become damaged in any way during the installation, the purchaser is 100% responsible. The cost savings that might have been realized from a do-it-yourself project can quickly evaporate with even small mistakes.

Surprisingly enough, more often than not it is actually less expensive to hire a professional window covering consultant to manage the entire job. Not only does the professional offer an exceedingly wider selection of blinds, colors, and textures, they offer years of experience as to what product is best for the window being covered.

They will ask questions the home buyer will never think to ask and advise the most appropriate materials. They’ll help the homeowner weigh such variables as the nature and use of the room, the quality of light, the direction of sunset/exposure, energy savings, and mood or feel desired. Not only will their knowledge and expertise prove to be invaluable, but they also take on the responsibility of measuring, cutting and installation.