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The Importance Of A Waterproof Window Treatment in Gainesville

September 29, 2016

Anywhere you live, from Gainesville to hundreds of miles away, your home has a need in common with just about every other house in the country: waterproof window treatments. Regardless of the style of your house, the outdoor conditions, or the number of people who are living in your home, you’ll usually have the same rooms with humidity: the basement, bathrooms, and the kitchen.

Like most homeowners know, not all window treatments are made equal in regards to how effectively they handle water and humidity. To make it easier to understand, we’ll break down effective each window treatment is at handling moisture and let you know which products work best in the rooms that experience the most humidity.

Level 1: Window Treatments That Won’t Handle Water

Experienced Gainesville homeowners know that some materials just can’t handle moisture. Simply ask the owner of a hardwood floor what humidity does to lumber. Solid wood has a bad relationship with water, as it can cause wood to bloat and bow, which can make wood window treatments inoperable. Extended contact with moisture might also turn the existing pockets of the lumber into a haven for bacteria. These facts suggest solid wood window treatments should not be used in rooms that may get damp such as the kitchen.

Fabric window treatments don’t do great with water either. Even though the harm to fabric might not be as intense or easy to see, long term and recurring exposure to moisture can compromise the weave of several fabrics, which can may result in discoloring and fabric weakening.

Level 2: Water-resistant Window Treatments

Gainesville kitchen faux wood blinds.
 
Albeit not technically waterproof, window treatments in this category aren’t in danger of permanent damage when placed in moisture-laden rooms. This level of window treatments comprises just about every product labeled as “faux wood,” like faux wood blinds. Faux wood blinds add the look of a natural wood window treatment, adding contemporary fashion to your bathroom and privacy to boot, without the headache that may occur if the room starts getting too steamy.

Other window treatments that can resist almost all damage from water are aluminum blinds. Though not offering quite the level of style and coverage as some other window treatments, aluminum blinds are adaptable. They’re offered in a wide range of hues, with cut-out options and additional features for privacy, at the same time being well-suited to those possible problem rooms. Remember though that blinds that have pull cords or fabric bands are not optimal for moisture-laden spaces.

Level 3: Certified Waterproof Window Treatments

Plantation shutters in Gainesville bathroom.
 
Finally, the category that homeowners have waited for: the window treatment that can shrug off humidity, dampness, liquid and more like no other window treatment. Sunburst Shutters Gainesville is pleased to offer one of the only 100% waterproof window treatments available in our Polywood® plantation shutters. The best partner for the bathroom or laundry room, Polywood shutters are constructed from a formulated compound that is completely immune to the debilitating effects of dampness, no matter if they’re originating inside your home or from outdoors.

Don’t believe it? We can show you the lengths at which Polywood can handle wear, and we’re so confident in its durability that every product is backed with our Lifetime Limited Warranty. In fact, you could hose Polywood shutters off in your lawn and they’d still function fantastically, without any problems.

Make Your Windows Prepared For Anything, Gainesville

If you live in a rainy or coastal part of the country, or if you need more effective window treatments for the bathroom, a waterproof window treatment ought to be your chief priority. Let Sunburst Shutters Gainesville help by calling 813-602-5966 to set up your free in-home design consultation. And to receive more inspiration for those rooms and beyond, read through our new Ultimate Room Guide to learn about the best window treatments for every space in your Gainesville house!