External blinds, like those at Blind Outlet, and shutters can certainly help to make your home more aesthetically pleasing. Yet these solutions pose a number of additional benefits. It's no secret that in Australia homeowners are subjected to extreme weather conditions through the different seasons, and if you live in a rural location, you can also be susceptible to devastating bush fires. Homes are also under constant threat from intruders. The installation of roller blinds can help to protect from you all these threats—and more.
Technological Help
Advances in technology help to prepare the homeowner in any eventuality and to introduce the element of uncertainty in the war with potential burglars. For example, roller shutter systems today can be programmed so that they close and open at different times. You might like to set the system so that it works in accordance with sunrise and sunset times, if you are going to be away on holiday. Another option is to activate the system at specific times of day, or to operate in a random order. This will help to make it difficult for any potential intruder to figure out whether you are at home, or not. Wireless apps may also be configured to work with your home security system to activate the shutters, no matter where you are. Look also for devices that help to apply pressure at the windowsill location, so the roller shutter device is even more firmly closed and is extra resistant to attempts to pry it open.
Weather and Fire Protection
Australian weather forecasting systems are a lot more accurate now, with advance warning more likely. If you learn that a storm is approaching roller shutters can be engaged to protect from flying debris and the risk of broken glass. High-quality shutters can also create a fire resistant barrier to help mitigate damage from an encroaching bushfire. Unprotected glass may well implode when an adjacent fire's temperature gets to a certain point, while the best roller shutters are designed to maintain their integrity during such exposure.
Resistant to Attack
While storms and bush fires may be relatively rare there is always the risk posed by an intruder. Look for a shutter system that is engineered so that it resists any attempt to push or pull out at the periphery. Make sure also that the box that contains the mechanism is difficult to access. Roller shutters that are double walled and are made from stainless steel are especially resistant to well-armed burglars.
Saving on Your Bills
While you help to protect your home from intruders and natural catastrophes you can also keep a lot of the warmth inside and heat outside as the seasons change by fitting roller shutters. Your air conditioning bills will be correspondingly lower.
Share2 January 2015
My yard is in the shade of both of my neighbour's homes for most of the day which makes it quite hard to grow some of my favourite plants. Even though the yard is shady I still want it to have some nice look ground cover and be a cool place to entertain people. I have used a combination of shade resistant plants and pavers to create a lovely space that is good for entertaining all year round. This blog has some tips on creating a pleasant atmosphere in your shady backyard, particularly if you have a yard that is too shady to grow many kinds of plants.