People fit shutters for two reasons: to keep the room cool in summer, and to keep the inside out of view when nobody is home. Both are true. There is a third benefit nobody mentions: they cut outside noise noticeably.
A monoblock shutter comes with its box recessed into the window frame, so nothing shows from outside. On new builds, or when the windows are being replaced anyway, that is what we fit. A surface-mounted shutter goes on top of the existing window; if you want a shutter without touching the glazing, this is the way. The box stays visible outside and takes about a week to get used to.
The slats are filled with polyurethane and the insulation benefit is real, but let us not overstate it. A shutter is not air conditioning. It stops the sun before it reaches the glass, which slows the room heating up. That is all. If you go for aluminium slats, pick a light colour; dark slats hold more heat in the sun.
If you are buying a motorized shutter, ask which motor is inside. Most of the price difference comes from the motor. A cheap one starts making noise in two or three years and then gets replaced. Make sure there is a manual override too; summer power cuts are routine in Bodrum.
We repair shutters as well: motor replacement, belts and pulleys, jammed slats, remotes that will not pair. In Bodrum we get called most in summer, since motors tend to fail after heavy use. When you are looking for someone to do shutter work, ask who stands behind the motor, the fitter or the manufacturer. With us it is both. The survey is free.