A Buying Guide to Sliding Shutters for Your Home

Sliding shutters offer a space-saving alternative to traditional hinged shutters for covering windows, doors and room dividers. Rather than swinging open and closed, sliding shutter panels smoothly glide side to side within tracks.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about purchasing sliding shutters. We’ll look at types of sliding systems, materials and colors to choose from, ideal room placements, cost considerations, customization options and sliding shutter pros vs. cons compared to hinged shutters. Let’s explore how movable sliding shutters can enhance your living spaces.

How Sliding Shutters Work

Sliding shutters feature panels that roll horizontally rather than pivoting. The smooth glide mechanisms come in two main forms:

Bottom Rolling – Panels stack by rolling along a sill track. Operation is similar to patio sliding glass doors.

Side Rolling – Panels glide along vertical tracks at the edges and stack by overlapping or pocketing. Mimics room dividers.

Sliding shutters give a cleaner, less cluttered look by eliminating hinges and tie backs while offering smoother operation. Remote controls or wall switches make them easy to operate.

Benefits of Sliding Shutters

Some of the advantages unique to sliding shutters include:

Space saving since they don’t require room to swing open
Discreet appearance with no visible hardware when closed
Smooth, quiet operation rolling on tracks
Can divide spaces while allowing flexible open concepts
Cordless electric operation available at the touch of a button
Customizable track placements to suit any floorplan

For locations where standard shutters are impractical or intrusive, sliding versions open new possibilities.

Types of Sliding Shutters

Several sliding system designs exist:

Bottom Rolling

Panels roll horizontally along a sill track. Stacking options include:

Standard – Panels collapse left or right
Bipart – Half the panels slide left, half slide right
Curve – Panels follow a radiused curved track

Side Rolling

Panels suspend from an overhead track and slide sideways. Designs include:

Accordion fold – Panels zigzag stack into each other
Pocket – Panels disappear into recesses in the wall
Bypass – Panels overlay past each other without stacking

The system chosen depends on space allowances and desired stacking behavior.

Materials for Sliding Shutters

Sliding shutters come in a variety of material options, each with their own characteristics:

Wood – Warm and natural looking but prone to warping. Basswood is a good choice.
Composite – Offers the appearance of real wood but with superior stability and water resistance.
Vinyl – Budget friendly and moisture resistant, but lacks dimensional depth.
Aluminum – Lightweight, durable and low maintenance but industrial looking.
Glass – Provides full visibility while maintaining sleek modern style.

Consider factors like cost, weight, climate, sound insulation and privacy when selecting sliding shutter materials. Composite and aluminum are best for coastal regions.

Available Color Styles

Sliding shutters come in an array of color and finish options:

Wood Shutters

Clear sealants to showcase natural wood grains
Stains in chestnut, mahogany, cherry and other wood-tones
Custom paint colors for any color scheme

Synthetic Shutters

Solid whites in glossy and matte sheens
Bold brights like red, navy and teal for dramatic pops of color
Neutral earth tones like beige, gray and taupe
Dual-tone combinations with different interior/exterior colors

The color possibilities are virtually endless to complement your existing decor. Neutrals suit traditional schemes while bright colors make modern statements.

Ideal Rooms for Sliding Shutters

Sliding shutter styles work well in these home spaces:

Room dividers – Sliding panels create movable barriers between rooms without permanently closing them off.

Corner windows – Eliminates issues of swing clearance with hinged shutters.

Bathrooms – Provides privacy at tub and shower windows where standard shutters are impractical.

Closets – Doors can slide away out of walk zones.

Staircases – Handy to conceal staircase views or close off levels.

Patios – Side stack accordion shutters cordon off outdoor lounge areas.

Anywhere swing clearance is limited, sliding shutter operation makes them the practical and logical choice.

Pairing Sliding Shutters with Other Window Treatments

Layering window treatments allows customizing function and ambiance:

Add drapes over sliding shutters – Provides softness and sound absorption. Shutters offer privacy and insulation.
Install blinds inside sliding glass patio panels – Blinds fine tune light control. Shutters provide blackout darkening.
Choose roman shades layered under sliding panels – Shades filter light pleasantly. Shutters offer full privacy.
Use sliding screens on windows flanked by side-stacking shutters – Screens increase ventilation on nice days while shutters control views.

Creative pairings maximize capabilities like room darkening, airflow and softness.

Customization Options

To make sliding shutters truly custom:

Materials – Select premium woods like Sapele Mahogany or opt for color-through synthetic composites rather than surface laminates.

Sizes – Shutters can be tailored to custom widths and heights to perfectly fit openings.

Louver design – Match existing window pane configurations or create specialty arched louver designs.

Cutouts – Add shaped cutouts for character like circles, curves, crescents or abstract patters.

Embellished frames – Incorporate raised molding, hand carvings, specialty edge profiles or inlay designs.

Hardware – Upgrade to custom pulls, handles and finger slots in premium finishes rather than basic plastic.

Customized sliding shutters make windows stand out as architectural focal points rather than gaps to merely cover up.

Adding Privacy Options

To make sliding shutter operation private:

Remote control – Concealed motors are activated using a remote control or wall switch.

Soft-close hardware – Cushions the final closure so panels shut silently.

Manual finger pulls – Discreet side-mounted grooved finger slots to manually glide panels.

Privacy glass – Integrate textured, mirrored or opaque glass inserts.

Bottom tracks – Low-profile tracks are less conspicuous than overhead tracks.

Smooth electric operation or subtle finger pulls allow quietly modulating privacy without grabbing attention.

Special Considerations for patio Sliding Shutters

Tailor shutters covering exterior sliding patio doors for weather protection:

Choose durable materials like aluminum, composite or marine grade woods that resist moisture.
Include weatherstripping along the panel edges for a tight air seal during storms.
Ensure sill tracks have adequate drainage holes so water doesn’t pool.
Use corrosion and UV resistant metals and finishes.
Account for width when doors are completely open so shutters can still fully close.
Consider accordion or pocket styles to save exterior deck space.

With careful material selection and hardware protection, sliding patio shutters stand up to the elements while sheltering interiors.

How Much Do Sliding Shutters Cost?

Project costs vary based on:

Shutter sizes – Larger and multiple panels increase cost
Materials chosen – Real woods, composites and metals cost more than vinyl
Operation types – Motorized systems are pricier than manual operation
Mounting and tracks – Ceiling mounts or rear pocketing adds expense
Accessories – Customization like cutouts, glass and embellishments raise costs

Cost range estimates:

Standard vinyl sliding shutter – $300 – $800 per panel

Wood or composite sliding shutters – $800 – $2500+ per panel

Wall to wall multi-panel system with motors – $5000 to $10,000+

Obtain quotes from several providers to compare pricing for your specific project scope.

Pros of Sliding vs. Hinged Shutters

Sliding shutter advantages compared to hinged shutters:

Greater design flexibility for tricky spots hinged shutters can’t fit
Discreet, uncluttered look with no visible hardware
Smoother operation guided by tracks
Space saving since no swing clearance required
Can easily divide rooms while retaining open visibility
Automated electric operation possible for convenience

If windows or geometry make swinging shutters impractical, sliding types open new possibilities.

Cons of Sliding vs. Hinged Shutters

Some limitations to consider with sliding shutters:

Generally cost more than hinged shutters
Multi-panel systems can be heavy requiring robust tracks
Side stacking consumes wall space around openings
Expensive to motorize if manual operation becomes difficult
Can only span window width, not wrap corners
Not adjustable to modulate light gaps like hinged louver designs

Unless space saving and unobstructed access are critical, hinged shutters often make more economic and practical sense.

Conclusion

With their ability to smoothly glide and stack sideways, sliding shutter systems open creative design opportunities unable to be solved by standard hinged shutters. Tailored sliding shutters make an especially ideal choice where space constraints make hinged operation difficult.

Hopefully this guide provides helpful knowledge to evaluate whether smooth running sliding shutters could be ideal window treatments for your next home project. With custom sizing and design, they not only solve space issues but also make stunning architectural statements. Our team would be happy to help assess your home and design goals to determine if sliding shutters are a fit. Reach out anytime to discuss the possibilities.