Hidden Tilt vs Tilt Rod
Plantation shutters owe their reputation as a sought-after window treatment from a hundred years’ worth of history. With being around for quite some time, it’s hard not to know what these practical and attractive window coverings look like. You can’t miss a shutter panel’s frame and louvers, but how about the tilt rod at the center? Not all plantation shutters have them—at least not in plain sight.
Along with material and louver size, the tilt system is also a deciding factor when shopping for shutters. Here’s everything you need to learn on how to choose a tilt system for plantation shutters that’s right for your home.
Tilt Systems: Function and Types
Louvers can be tilted depending on your preference for light control, ventilation, and privacy in a room. With the help of a tilt rod, you can adjust the louvers’ angles together with one single move.
All plantation shutters have tilt rods that can be categorized into two tilt systems: tilt rod and hidden tilt.
Shutters traditionally use the tilt rod system, which includes vertical tilt rods hung at the center of the panels. A hidden tilt system has built-in tilt rods inside the shutters itself.
They both serve the same purpose. Depending on the type, they can alter a shutters’ overall look and provide homeowners with other practical benefits.
Tilt Rod System: Operation and Benefits
Most plantation shutters in older homes have a visible tilt rod attached to the louvers with staples. It usually runs down the center of the panel, but it can also be offset to the left or right. Whatever the position, the tilt rod can be moved up or down to close, open, or set the louvers into any desired angle. With all this work, it’s best to buy tilt rods attached with metal staples. They’re a bit pricier, but they’ll last longer. Cheaper tilt rods use plastic staples not meant for heavy-duty work.
With a better understanding of the tilt rod system, you can now weigh in its features that suit your needs and preferences. Here’s what you can get from your tilt rod shutter:
- Classic / traditional look for a home
If you want to add old-world charm for your home, tilt rod shutters are perfect for you. Since visible tilt rods have long been completing shutters’ unique aesthetic, they fit in with classic and traditional styles.
- Design flexibility and character for windows
By not being limited to the center of a shutter, tilt rods allow for versatility in styling your windows. A simple repositioning of the tilt rod can change a shutter’s look and feel.
- Convenience for users
Since most people are familiar with tilt rods, having them in plantation shutters is convenient for homeowners and guests. A visible tilt rod is handy and easy to use, especially for older users. They might get confused with a hidden tilt type.
Hidden Tilt System: Operation and Benefits
As the name implies, the hidden tilt system uses a tilt mechanism built-in within the stile hidden from plain sight. Without a visible tilt rod, you can gently tilt the louvers by hand.
Though hidden tilt rods share the same function with visible ones, being concealed creates unique benefits. Here’s what you can get from your hidden tilt shutter:
- Modern / contemporary look for a home
The elimination of the vertical tilt rod gives hidden tilt shutters a more streamlined look that fits in with more minimalistic styles. With fewer lines, they are ideal for modern and contemporary homes.
- More light and unobstructed view through windows
Without a tilt rod cutting through the louvers, hidden tilt shutters allow more light inside a room and a clearer view outside the window.
- Safety for children
Since there’s no visible tilt rod to play with, a hidden tilt system reduces the risk of children getting hurt. This prevents accidents and damage to your shutters as well.
Tilt rod and hidden tilt systems are both excellent choices for any home. Each type has its own distinct advantages. While these benefits mostly cater to your design taste, they also meet the users’ needs. Consult with professionals from DFW Shutters to help you better in choosing the right tilt system for your shutter.