Flat Versus Oval Louvers

One of our most frequently asked questions is why Stanfield Shutter uses flat louvers instead of oval louvers. We feel:

1-Theslim-line horizontal design louver looks more like a shutter.

2-Theslim-line horizontal design louvers offer a better view.

3-Thelouver to tilt rod connection is more secure.

4-Thereare fewer nicks in the slim-line horizontal design louver blade.

5-Symetry—ovallouvers are frequently lopsided.

6-Theoverall finish is smoother and nicer.

1. Almost20 years ago Grant (one of our sales consultants) and Gary (the generalmanager) were approached by several designers with a problem. Their customers werecomplaining because their guest kept complimenting them on their blinds when theyhad paid good money for shutters. After researching theproblem it was determined that the small edge of the oval louver made theshutter look more like a blind then a shutter. Once the slim-line horizontaldesign louver was introduced the problem was resolved and our customers weremuch happier.

 2. Theslim-line horizontal design louvers actually offer a better view then thearchaic oval louvers. The diagrams you see are actual representations of our slim-lineflat louvers compared to the oval louvers of our competition. The  difference is astounding! As these scalerepresentations show the slim-line horizontal design louver is almost eighth of an inchthinner then its oval counterpart. On standard windows you could have 2 ¼ to 5 ½ inchesmore viewing space just by choosing the slim-line horizontal design louver!

3. Becausethe slim-line horizontal design louver has more meat on the edges the staplesused to connect the tilt rod to the louvers hold tighter and longer then thosein the oval louvers. Because of the increased meat the louvers do not break outaround the staple like the oval louvers do. In addition, the oval louver onlyhas a small edge for astaple to hit to be perfectly aligned. Many staples on oval louvers miss theirmark and look funny because they are on the surface of the louver instead of onthe edge where they are supposed to be.

 4.Whenever you ask a professional mill worker to mill wood for you he will askhow many knife marks per inch are acceptable. What he wants to know is how manyknife nicks you will accept per every inch of the wood. Since oval louvers mustbe manufactured with larger and wider blades the opportunity for the blade tonick the wood increases dramatically which will eventually show up in the finalproduct as little lines in the paint or dark lines in stained shutters.

 5. If youhave ever looked at an oval louver from the side you would be able to see thatthe louver is uneven. The edge of the front is smaller or bigger then the edgeon the back, the curve of the louver is different on the top and bottom andfrom left to right, and so forth. On the other hand, the slim-line horizontaldesign louver isperfectly symmetrical on all sides giving it a nice, balanced look and feel.

 6.Shutters are very difficult to finish properly. There are many different anglesto spray and multiple parts that have to be adjusted to obtain a nice finish.Because of this most shutters are primed and sanded before they are finished.Electrical sanders, however, are flat which makes sanding oval louvers properlydifficult at best. Trying to sand the curve of the oval louver by hand issketchy at best since the human hand will never maintain a constant shape andwill not be able to apply constant pressure to the sand paper and the louver.In short, the finish on oval louvered shutters is more inconsistent and not assmooth as the slim-line horizontal design louvered shutters. 

For over 20 yearsStanfield Shutter has been using the slim-line horizontal design louver in ourshutters. To date we have not had asingle recorded complaint concerning the design, in fact, we receivecompliments on a routine basis. If you are looking for a shutter that lookslike a shutter then a shutter built by Stanfield Shutter with the slim-linehorizontal design louver is the right shutter for you.