Plantation Shutters for French Doors
Few window treatments enhance a french door more than a plantation shutter. Whether you already have shutters on adjacent windows, or you just want to add style and functionality to your door, a french door plantation shutter turns a door into a statement.
How are plantation shutters installed on French Doors?
Plantation shutters can be installed two different ways on a french door.
The first option is to drill the shutter directly on the door. In this setup, the shutter louvres cover the glass. The louvres can be tilted in the open position for light and view, and can be closed for privacy or to darken a room. When the shutter is installed directly on the door, you are able to open and close the door without opening the shutters. For doors with levers for handles, a circular cutout is made at the lever so the door can be opened without interference from the louvers. For doors with knobs, a cutout is not necessary.
The other method for french door shutter installation is to install the shutter over the frame of the door. In this setup, the shutter is not installed directly on the door. This makes the shutter appear to be the door itself. If you want to open and close the door, you must swing the shutter panels out. You can still open and close the louvres for light control and privacy.
In either setup, the shutters can come in 2 ½”, 3 ½” or 4 ½” louvres. For plantation shutters installed directly on the french door, larger louvres might require a build to operate properly.
Are plantation shutters for French doors energy efficient?
Plantation shutters help with heat issues by darkening a room and reducing heat. For the most energy efficiency, a honeycomb shade can be placed behind a shutter when the plantation shutter is installed over a french door. Honeycomb shades are the most energy efficient of any window treatment on the market. The combination of a honeycomb shade and plantation shutter gives the ultimate in style and functionality.
How much do plantation shutters for French glass doors cost?
Plantation shutters on french doors can range in price from $500 for a basic white vinyl shutter on a single french door to nearly $5,000 for a wood shutter over a double french door. There is a wide range of price depending on the material and the type of installation. While white is the most popular color for shutters, they can also be made in wood tones or painted colors.
