Benefits of Hidden Tilt Rods For Your Plantation Shutters in Southern California
When shopping for plantation shutters, you’ll have some decisions to make. Do I want real wood shutters or faux wood shutters? What louver width should I pick? What paint or stain on my shutters will work best with my decor?
One option you may not know about is the choice between a standard front-mount tilt rod and a hidden or rear-mount tilt rod. Here are some pros and cons of hidden tilt rods, and if you should pick a hidden tilt rod for your plantation shutters in Southern California.
What Are Hidden and Rear-Mounted Tilt Rods?
You’re probably acquainted with traditional plantation shutters where the louvers move by a center tilt rod. When you want to adjust the plantation shutters to bring in more or less light, you simply hold the tilt rod and glide it up or down to slant the louvers.
A rear-mount tilt rod is a slender metal strip on the back of the louver that is hard to see from the front. When you move one louver, the rest move as one unit.
You may see a hidden tilt rod that’s in the side of the shutters to control the louvers’ movement. Unfortunately, these hidden tilt rods are more prone to break and tough to repair, which is why we sell hidden tilt rods as rear-mount only.
What Are the Benefits of Rear-Mount and Hidden Tilt Rods?
Hidden or rear-mount tilt rods offer a couple of benefits over classic front-mounted tilt rods.
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Modern look - Shutters with hidden tilt rods work with homes that have a modern or contemporary feel because of their streamlined shape.
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Great with thin or tiny windows - If your windows are thin or tiny, then hidden tilt rods can be the perfect option due to their clean look.
What Are Some Drawbacks of Hidden Tilt Rods?
Hidden or rear-mounted tilt rods aren’t for everyone. Here’s a list of a couple cons to hidden tilt rods.
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Shutters with hidden tilt rods might appear too sparse for some people - Some homeowners in Southern California want the traditional plantation shutter look and design with the tilt rod front and center. The front tilt rod provides more definition and prominence to your window treatments, versus shutters using a hidden tilt rod where the look is more modern.
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Some homeowners find front-facing tilt rods less of a hassle - Front-facing tilt rods can be more user-friendly for some people to operate. You simply grab a hold of the tilt rod and slant the louvers to open and close, versus having to slant the louvers themselves.
What Homeowners Should Consider Hidden Tilt Rods on Their Shutters?
Another variable is how hectic your house is with kids and pets. Many teachers in Southern California who own child care from their home inquire about hidden or rear-mount tilt rods so that there’s less chance of a child damaging a front-mounted tilt rod.
Need More Help Selecting the Perfect Shutter For Your Family?
If you’re interested in buying plantation shutters in Southern California but need some assistance, give us a call at 888-611-2474 or complete the form below to schedule a free in-home consultation. When we come, we’ll walk you through a variety of shutter options - and both front and rear tilt rod options - so you can see them in your own home.
