To feel baffled as to why buildings don't have shutters in the UK

[DontSingSusan]

I just find it baffling that virtually no buildings in the UK have shutters.

I get that the climate is changing and they wouldn't necessarily have been needed in the past but why don't new builds have them?

Every time there's a heatwave, people are going on about AC, but shutters are a much easier, cheaper and more climate-friendly option.

It's really striking in the UK as everywhere else in Europe seems to have them.

We've got temperatures around 40 degrees all week (not in the UK) and couldn't survive without them.

I would love external shutters. Our next big house project will be replacing old windows with sashes and fitting shutters on all but North facing windows.

Baffled? Really?

This. There is nothing baffling about it.

Agreed! I have been thinking that.

Where do you live?

I don't understand all the objections to the word "baffled". I hear people use it in real life too.

I would love external shutters on my house - they are very common in Alpine places like France and Switzerland so they must be good for hot and cold weather. Have also used them on holiday in Spain and Portugal and they're great at keeping the heat out.

Also to the poster who said the west is damp and doesn't need shutters, sadly it was 33C here yesterday and our grass is brown. 😫

MN: shocked, baffled, hurt, ban, report......

I live in a flat and have bought a parasol that clamps onto the balcony railing. It is FAR more effective at keeping my flat cool than shutting my curtains. It only cost £50. A fantastic investment!

I agree, Op, new builds should be built to prevent too much heat building up and obviously also to stay warm in winter: Passive cooling such as shutters and shades are very effective and cheap. It’ll only happen with legislation or possibly intense consumer demand.

England. In my childhood house(s), the windows opened outwards. Since then I've lived in houses with sash windows, or with inward-opening ones. So that's about 45 years.

Windows open outwards in the uk.

Until recently it wouldn’t have been thought that they were needed. The U.K. was hardly renowned for blisteringly hot summers.

As pps have said, outward opening windows mean that we can’t have the type you see in so much of mainland Europe.

For myself, I’d never have windows that don’t open (to me) properly - outwards. Sashes are also fine - at least you can have half the window properly open.

The answer is surely blinds on the inside.

There isn’t consistent heat or sunshine in the UK. Most houses don’t need shutters.

Not yet

@Theeyeballsintheskythey also keep heat in. Very common in Scotland.

Good point!

Oops! Actually the top sections open outwards 😂 Apologies for being a numpty 😂 🪟

The south-facing windows on my last house had awnings, which are another eco-friendly option, unlike air-conditioning. You want to stop the light getting to the glass in the first place.

In France most houses have external shutters, even in regions historically quite cold (Northern France, Alsace, Britanny, Lozère...) it doesn't just offer protection against the heat but also against the cold and the wind and intruders.

I must say, as a french person, I'm quite nostalgic of the ritual of opening the windows and shutters every morning.

Building regs in Scotland require heat pumps / solar panels on new builds.

I’ve lived in the north of Germany, the climate there is very similar to large parts of the UK. Their windows with integrated external shutters are just soooo much better. Keep the house warm in winter, cool in summer. Make it properly dark and secure at night. The shutters even can protect from the rain - you can semi-close the shutters (rolling them down about a third of the way) and open the window “auf Kipp” behind - the window tilts inward slightly to let in fresh air.
They'd be perfect for all UK weather! However I imagine they’re more expensive to install initially so developers skimp on quality. The cost for the extra heating in winter/aircon in summer will not be on them of course.

Shutters don't make that much difference to the heat. You would be better off asking why all houses don't have air conditioning.

I've got shutters and retractable awnings, which I wouldn't be without, but I do understand why they're not a thing in the UK.
What I don't understand is why people don't have fly screens. They keep all the insects out and you can keep your windows open without being bothered by mosquitos. Concertina pull-out ones work with patio doors and you can get ones which work like roller blinds for windows which open outwards. They're not even expensive.

I've never been bothered by mosquitos in the UK. It tends to be the odd fly or wasp, easily extracted from the house. Oh and spiders. Nothing significant though.

Proper external shutters make an enormous difference to keep out heat. All for free once they’re installed.

We’ve installed rolling metal shutters on our velux windows - they are amazing at keeping heat out in summer and in over winter. Much more energy efficient than air con.