Insulate your home with shutters and shut out the winter chill for good. Doesn’t that sound like a wise investment? You will enjoy a cosy home in winter and a cool home in summer. Install shutters on your windows for year-round comfort and reduce your electricity bill.

Here’s why shutters are our hot tip for a warm winter…

Sun shining through shutters onto wooden floorElegant Insulation for Windows & Sliding Doors

A sunny climate means South African homes feature oversized windows and sliding doors. Big windows capture the light and cool summer breezes but tend to make homes harder to heat in winter.

Studies estimate your home loses between 18% and 30% of its heat through windows. Shutters aren’t as energy-efficient as double-glazed windows, but they will reduce heat loss. And they are still more efficient than any other window treatment such as curtains or blinds.

Shutters (like double-glazing) create a barrier in front of the windows. This stops some of the warm air inside your home from touching the cold glass windows and losing heat. In summer, the reverse is true. Shutters act as a barrier to stop warm air from passing from sun-drenched windows into your home.

Both wood and aluminium shutters act as insulators. But it’s the design and not the material that makes them effective. Wood is a natural insulator, and aluminium is an efficient conductor of heat. But either material is suitable for interior shutters. It’s the snug fit of custom-made shutters that creates an insulating effect.

Shutters: The All-In-One Window Treatment

Insulating your home is only one of the many benefits of installing shutters. Like curtains or blinds, they control light and airflow and provide privacy. Security shutters also protect your home, replacing the need for traditional burglar bars.

Aluminium shutters are suitable for interior and exterior applications, like patios and balconies. And they’re the best choice for wet or steamy rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens.

White shutters are classic but versatile, functional yet aspirational. They transform any room and can even control the temperature.

Save Money & Add Value

Aside from reducing the cost of heating and cooling your home, shutters are an investment that increases the value of your property. And shutters make a property more desirable to potential buyers too.

Schedule a consultation with a House of Supreme sales consultant, to see how shutters will transform your home. And for more tips on cosying up your home in winter, read our Winter Decor Tips from interior decorator, Rene Fourie at Vine & Co Interiors.

Living and Dining Room with White Shutters

Our shutters have the slimmest frames on the market – and yet, they pack more safety features than any other. Investing in security shutters can be daunting if you’re unfamiliar with them.

So to help you buy security shutters with confidence, we’ll walk you through some of the features to look out for.

First of all, let’s get the big question out of the way…

Are Security Shutters Burglar Proof?Security Shutters at Yzerfontein

It’s a question we’re asked all the time. Are residential security shutters a sound way to protect your family and your home? Yes, they are. Many insurance companies recognise them as home security because they’re a physical barrier.

But answering the question, ‘how tough are security shutters’ is a little trickier. No security measure is foolproof. With enough time and the right tools, thieves can penetrate almost anything. That includes steel security bars, solid metal doors and yes, shutters. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t an excellent deterrent.

A better question to ask might be ‘how long does it take to break through security shutters?’. In that case, the answer would be, long enough for you to escape, or call for help or for the intruder to give up and go away. Keep reading for a real-life case of our security shutters in action.

Security Shutter Feature Checklist

Ready to purchase? Here’s a handy checklist of features to compare as you shop around.

  • Locks

There’s no point paying for aluminium security shutters if you can pick the lock in five minutes. Be sure to ask the sales consultant about the locks they use. Ask them about the features that make their locks pick-proof.

  • Bolts

Bolts form part of the lock mechanism and most home security shutters have two bolts. One bolt locks the shutter panel to the top track while the other locks into the bottom track.

Strong materials such as solid steel, bronze or brass make the best bolts. So again, be sure to ask about the bolts on the security shutters you’re interested in.

  • Louvres

All aluminium louvres are hollow and although it’s a strong material, it’s not strong enough on its own to keep intruders out. Another point of weakness is where the louvre attaches to the stile.HOS Shutter Panel Diagram

Ask the manufacturer what reinforcements they add to their louvres and end caps to strengthen their shutters.

  • Frames

Sometimes, it’s what you don’t see that counts. That’s the case when it comes to shutter frames. Here are two things to look out for.

First, ask about the grade of aluminium. High grades of aluminium have a higher Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS). That means the material can tolerate more stress when it’s stretched or pulled.

But that’s not enough. Remember that the frame is hollow, not solid. Ask the consultant what reinforcements they add to the frames to make them stronger.

What Makes House of Supreme Security Shutters (Almost) Impenetrable?

You can’t tell by looking at them, but our shutters have more security features than any of our competitors.

Security Lock Keys

  • Superior Shutter Locks

Practically pick-proof! That’s how we describe our Super C-Class Cylinder locks. With a clever design incorporating the latest lock technology, these locks are impossible to pick.

  • Stainless-Steel Bolts

There’s no skimping on quality when it comes to security and our stainless steel bolts are proof. There are two bolts on our security shutters. An 11.5 mm bolt extends into the top frame, and a 16.5mm bolt extends into the bottom track.

  • Reinforced Louvres

Our louvres feature a double-layer centre core which adds strength and stability.

  • Hardened Steel Rods

We’ve reinforced the end caps (that’s the part that attaches the louvre to the stile) with 100 mm hardened steel rods.

  • Internal Support

Our slim frames are what set us apart from the competition. We design our shutters to be aesthetically pleasing but never compromise your safety. Some hidden ribbing inside the aluminium extrusion adds strength and stability.

  • High-Grade Materials

We use a high-grade 6063 T6 grade of aluminium for our security shutters. T6 temper 6063 has an ultimate tensile strength of at least 190 MPa (28,000 psi).

  • Smart Design

The design alone makes them one of the trickiest barriers to penetrate. With moveable louvres, there is no leverage for a crowbar or similar tool to dislodge the louvres.

Need More Proof?

Not convinced that shutters are as strong (if not strong) as steel burglar bars? How’s this for proof…

Security Shutters Break-In Damage

These photos, taken around three years ago by one of our clients, are from an attempted break-in. The would-be burglar couldn’t make it past the security shutters. And although he managed to damage some louvres, we were able to repair them.

This is what the client had to say about our security shutters:

‘I’m very impressed with the product, you can see the guys spent quite some time trying to get in.’

Our security shutters are even better today. We’re always working on ways to refine and improve our window treatments. And that’s why we’re confident that ours are the best on the market.

If you’d like to know more, schedule an in-home consultation with a sales consultant. We’ll show you how House of Supreme manufactures the best security shutters.

Sash-type insect screens are the type of window screens you might recall from your childhood. Their classic design has endured and there are many reasons why they’re still so popular.

Let’s explore what makes this insect screen an old favourite.

Design & Configuration of a Sash-Type Insect Screen

It’s a simple design. One fixed panel and one moveable panel are placed within an aluminium frame that fits over the window.

If you have a top-hung window, the screen will slide up and down, giving you access to the window handle at the bottom.

But if you have a side-hung window, we install the screen vertically. That means the moveable panel slides from left to right so you can access the window handle on the side of the screen.

Sash-Type Insect Screen Configurations

Features & Benefits of Sash-Type Insect Screens

You can install sash-type insect screens on existing aluminium and wood frames. But they still work best with the steel frames they were originally designed for.

Here are some other features and benefits of our sash-type insect screens you should know:

  • Easy to operate
    Slide the moving screen out of the way to access the window handle and open your window. Then, pull the screen back across the opening for complete protection against pests.
  • Durable
    A marine-grade powder coating protects the aluminium frame from exposure to the elements. Even the mesh (insect and pet) gets a coating of Polyvinylchlodrode (PVC) to protect it from the sun.
  • Easy to Install
    Our sash-type screens are available as a DIY option. But you can always let our trained installation teams do all the work for you.
  • Easy to Clean & Maintain
    You can wipe the aluminium frame down with a damp, soft cloth. And you can run your vacuum over the mesh to keep your screens sparkling. If the mesh tears or wears down over time, you can have the screens re-meshed.

Insect Mesh or Pet Mesh?

The sash-type screen design is one of three Flyscreen Supreme applications that also work with Pet Mesh.

Don’t know the difference between Insect Mesh and Pet mesh? We cover it in detail in this article on Pet Screens.

But for now, you only need to know that Insect Mesh keeps pests (like flies, mosquitoes, moths and even spiders) out. Pet Mesh does all that and is strong enough to keep pets inside.

Anatomy of a Sash-Type Insect Screen

Sash-Type Insect Screen Anatomy

In the diagram, you’ll see that our screens consist of four elements:

  • The aluminium frame
  • The two individual sashes – one fixed  and one moveable
  • Mesh
  • A small handle for operating the moveable screen

Sash-Type Insect Screens Burglar Bar Cut OutDealing with Burglar Bars

Burglar bars are a common feature on steel windows. But you needn’t worry about them getting in the way of your flyscreens. We have a solution for that.

When installing your screens, all we do is mark the position of the bars on the frame of the screen. We use these marks to cut out a small notch in the frame so it sits snugly against the bars. The screen forms a tight seal against the window, keeping bugs locked out. And the screen blends in with the window.

Install or DIY?

You can install our sash-type insect screens yourself. If you have steel windows, the screens can attach to your windows with clips.

You’ll need some tools such as a drill and screwdriver for wood and aluminium frames. But it’s very straightforward and we provide you with all the necessary screws and a set of instructions.

Or you can let our teams of trained installers install your screens, and we recommend this. Our installers have the tools and knowledge to fix any issues on-site immediately. And you can rest assured that your screens are correctly installed.

Sash Screen Triptych

Looking for inexpensive, durable insect screens with an unobtrusive design? Our sash-type insect screens are the obvious choice and have been for decades. Get in touch with us today to request a quote for your home.