Plantation shutters in Albury.

Plantation shutters are the most permanent and best-insulating window furnishing you can fit. Unlike a blind they become part of the architecture, which is why they suit the period homes around Central and East Albury and the larger windows in newer Thurgoona and Hamilton Valley builds. The material and louvre size are the two decisions that matter, and they change room by room.

• Basswood: Lightweight painted timber, the widest colour palette, the classic crisp louvre look. The default for living rooms, bedrooms and heritage frontages. ~$450-$650/m².
• PVC / poly: Fully waterproof and easy to wipe down, so it owns the wet rooms: bathrooms, ensuites, laundries and kitchens. ~$350-$520/m².
• Aluminium: For outdoor and weather-exposed openings, alfresco screening and patio enclosures. ~$500-$650/m².
• Louvre size: Wider 89mm and 114mm louvres give a cleaner view and more light; narrower 63mm suits smaller heritage windows. We advise per opening.

A worked example.

A heritage East Albury living room with two 1.2m by 1.5m sash windows in painted basswood works out near $1,100 to $2,000 for the pair, fitted. Add a PVC shutter to the adjoining bathroom window (around $400 to $600) and you have a consistent louvre look through the front rooms that will outlast several sets of blinds and lift the home's resale appeal.

Year-round insulation that earns its keep.

Many older Albury homes are single-glazed, so the glass is the weak point for heat and cold. Closed shutter louvres plus the frame create an insulating barrier that keeps the summer heat out and the winter warmth in, trimming running costs on the reverse-cycle. If you are weighing shutters against a blind, our blinds vs shutters guide lays out the trade-offs, and for the softer rooms you may prefer curtains and sheers.