Louver Aesthetics - Design Options for Architectural Louvers

Learn how to turn boring, square louvers into works of art.

At a Glance

• Architectural louvers are thin line louvers that provide unique architectural features to a building's envelope.
• There are options available to change the look of the louver, including specialty shapes like circles and triangles.
• Finishes help louvers blend in or stand out, so that they always fit in with the project's aesthetic.

Louvers have many uses. They can allow air to pass in or out of a building or protect its interior spaces from rain and severe weather. Louvers can also enhance a building’s aesthetic.

Architectural Louvers

Architectural louvers – also known as thin line louvers – are designed to accent a building’s face. Their light weight and thin design make it easy to place architectural louvers on any surface, using special vertical blade supports. This creates a continuous blade look that accents the lines of a structure.

Architectural louvers are only meant to enhance aesthetics, and don’t serve the typical functions of a louver. For the purposes of air movement (intake and exhaust), these louvers are considered non-functional. However, architectural louvers can be connected to intake or exhaust louvers to extend the louver past the opening. But architectural louvers aren’t the only way to make your building look good.

Looking for more? Are you more focused on the louver's function over its form? Learn more about louver style with these other Newsstand articles:

• Seven Specialty Applications for Louvers
• The Condenser - Style with Louvers
• Louvers for Every Occasion? - Choosing for Various Applications
• Options for Louvers

Hidden and Recessed Mullions

For many standard louvers, you can choose a recessed or hidden mullion option. These options can remove the visible divisions between louvers, creating the same continuous lines for louvers linked.

A recessed mullion has a support member hidden behind the conjoined blades. This style still shows a small bit of mullion, which may be noticeable as a viewer gets closer to the louver. A hidden mullion will have supporting members behind the conjoined blades. Although this design hides mullions completely behind the louver blades, it might affect the louver's wind load capabilities. The lack of structural integrity, compared to a standard frame louver, will make the blade supports vulnerable to high winds.

Consider where your louver will go and what will be required of that louver before making your choice. And if you have questions, you can always consult the manufacturer.

With recessed and hidden mullions, a series of intake louvers can look like a single louver. And even better, these changes won’t affect the louver’s air performance.

As seen on the left side, the recessed mullion will still be visible behind the blade profile.  The hidden mullion on the right will use supports behind the blades to eliminate the mullion from the blade profile.

Custom shapes

Many louvers are also available in custom shapes. Louvers can be more than just squares and rectangles. A custom shaped louver can be any shape you want. Need an arch shape? Or a circle? How about a nice triangle in your entry way?

With custom shapes, you can make your louvers fit your design, not the other way around.

There is one important thing to consider when creating a custom shape louver. Changes in louver shape will alter the louver's performance. AMCA's standardized test methods only account for rectangular louvers. The data and ratings from these tests will not apply to custom shape versions.

For instance, if your louver has an AMCA rating seal for air performance, that seal is invalid if the louver is any shape other than rectangular.

Wind driven rain and hurricane louvers are not available with these options. Their specific purpose—withstanding heavy storm conditions—prevents design changes. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever with a bare-metal severe weather louver. There are other ways to spruce up a louver.

Finishes and Color Options

Louvers can also come in different colors, thanks to powder coatings. These finishes are available in a variety of colors and finish types, from a standard powder coat to the long-lasting Duranar 500 and Duranar XL coats. You can also choose an anodized coating for your aluminum louvers, giving them a smooth metallic sheen.

If you don’t see a color you want, you can also request a color match to achieve that perfect shade for your building’s accents.

Your building’s aesthetic is important. Your louvers don’t have to be square, metallic eyesores on your building. You have a variety of options available. Make them work with your design!

Looking for louvers? Arrow United Industries can help. We build stationary louvers with a variety of options, including custom shapes and finishes. Start your next project with excellence, experience, and versatility. Contact Arrow United today.

Louver aesthetic is important. Should the louvers match the project or is it better if they clash? What would you add to your louvers? Tell us in the Comments section. MCDLG wants to know what you think!

Are you starting a project and need advice on louvers? Do you need help meeting requirements? We can help! Contact MCDLG today and let's work together on your next project.