Saying Goodbye To Wood Shutters

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The traditional wooden shutter is normally made from wood, needs quite a bit of maintenance, and looks as if it was right out of an episode of an old comedy. These shutters have been around since the Colonial Times, and are quite a bit old. Most people never close them, yet the hinges still need to be shined and oiled.

These days, it may be the time to get rid of the traditional wood shutters on your home and go with a more modern choice such as aluminum window shutters, as they resist the elements and never close. This will help cut down on your replacement and maintenance costs for keeping the exterior of your home looking the way it should.

Below, you'll find several different types of shutters offered today.

Vinyl window shutters

Vinyl shutters are easy to clean, very affordable,and last around forty years. They will give your home a traditional look without the need for replacing them on a regular basis. They weigh a little of nothing and are available in traditional, louvered, board, and even batten panel styles. To make things better, they will arrive primed and ready to paint any color you wish.

Composite window shutters

These types of shutters resemble a thick particle board that is made from a collaboration of weather and rot resistant material. They are made from molds that offer many different styles that include the louvered, board, batten,and even raised panel styles. You can also find these shutter types in a cupboard style which is hinged at the top so you can open and close them like the old fashioned wood
shutters of the past.

Fiberglass shutters

Fiberglass is the most expensive type of shutter although they will last around 20 years or so. They are molded as well and offered in a variety of designs that include Bahama,louvered, board and battened, and even raised panel styles.

Fiberglass shutters are also stronger and more secure than other types and can also be used to protect your windows during storms and hurricanes.

Aluminum shutters

Aluminum style shutters are offered in a variety of styles that include the faux colonial louvered style and Bahama style. These shutters are strong and offer great protection for your windows, and come in thousands of different colors and textures. The only bad thing about aluminum shutters, is the fact that most companies will only offer a warranty of around three years.


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Wooden Shutters And Hurricane Protection

If you live in an area that is prone to storms or hurricanes, there are several types of security storm shutters available that will help you protect yourself and your home. Storm shutters aren't in the wooden shutters category, although they are durable shutters that move horizontally between the lower and the upper track.

Interlocking blades found on the storm shutters are made from aluminum and make up a wall of
protection in the shutter. If you have a large area to cover, it can half a center opening with half of the shutter moving to the right and the other half to the left.

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Even though this shutter doesn't fall into one of the most decorative styles of shutters, it does provide great protection against theft, flying debris, forced entry, and even the dreaded hurricane. Storm shutters will also give you more privacy and help to reduce noise.

A great example of a protective covering that will do a great job in protecting from the sun's glare and heat is the aluminum awning. They are affordable in price and very functional, they fit doors, patios, porches, and windows as well. There are two types available - the standard awning and the winged awning, and both will easily close down to convert to storm shutters.

For those who live in bad storm areas, storm shutters are among the best ways to help
protect your family and your house. They don't cost a lot of money, they are easy to install, and they won't make your home stand out in a crowd. If you want the best in protection from Mother Nature and the peace of mind in knowing it - storm shutters are just what you need.



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Wooden Shutters

The best wood for building interior wooden shutters is basswood. The tree can be found from Quebec south to Delaware and the Atlantic coast west to Eastern Kentucky with an average height of 65 feet. Basswood is a renewable resource and careful forest management ensures that the harvesting is done responsibly by balancing the wood growth with wood removal.

Basswood interior shutters are very straight and they also have a fine uniform texture with a very indistinct grain. The wood machines well and is easy to work, screws well, glues well, and it can be stained to a smooth finish.

Basswood shutters do not warp, they are lightweight yet very strong, offer uniform grain for a superb stain finish, and they offer superior gluing and finishing properties.

Oak shutters

Oak is a very heavy wood which makes for very heavy window shutters. Oak interior shutters will add a lot of weight to window jambs, with screws requiring pre-drilling. They aren't suitable
for painting and the louvers tend to warp over time.

Maple shutters

Maple is heavy like oak and produces interior shutters that are very heavy. Maple also requires
that the window jambs be pre-drilled. The wood louvers with maple are hard to tension uniformly.

Poplar shutters

Poplar shutters mill and paint very well. The mineral streaks and green color help make popular
wood unsuitable for staining. For shutters, poplar wood is moderately heavy. The wood is widely available and less costly, although it also produces a lesser quality of wood shutter.

Cedar shutters

Cedar wood mills and finishes nicely, although the color varies greatly for staining. Cedar
is pretty soft and can dent or scratch very easily.

For exterior shutters, cedar works very well. The amazing durability and resistance to decay of
incense cedar makes it perfect for exterior use wherever moisture is presented. Requiring
long service with very little maintenance, it's also hated by bugs!

Alder shutters

Alder is an excellent choice for interior shutters, as the tree is very small. Tall window shutters
using alder wood will require finger joints.

Pine shutters

Pine is a soft wood, with many different species and grades available.

Always remember that there are also poorly constructed wood shutters that will rank very
low on the scale of quality. You should always look for a smooth, well sanded surface, thick
durable paing, glued and doweled joints, and a straight light hardwood. Before you commit
to any shutter company, always request a sample so that you know what to expect.



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Wooden Window Shutters

Almost all wooden shutters are constructed from a solid hardwood. This helps to give the shutters the necessary stability for daily usage. Windows can be a naturally harsh environment, with direct sunlight, fluctuating humidity, and the rapid change in temperature.

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All types of wooden shutters can withstand all of these types of conditions. Wooden shutters are constructed to withstand harsh climates from the intense heat and sun of the tropics to the intense cold of the North. Keep in mind, not all shutters are created equally, as the selection of wood, types of joints, and overall design will determine the quality of the ending product.

In the overall structure of a wooden shutter, the type of wood is very important. All wood is chosen based on durability, weight, straightness, length, and overall finishing qualities. Basswood is one of the best examples, as it builds an exceptional shutter. Basswood also ranks high in just above every characteristic you could possibly imagine.

The joints of the wood will need to be solid and strong in order to create a long lasting wood shutter. Finger joints are also important, as they connect two shorter lengths of wood. The finger joints show through the finish of a painted shutter and may look poor from the start for a stained wood shutter.

Having strong joints between stiles and rails will prevent the two components from separating or tearing apart. The joints should be glued and dowled for the strongest bond and the best overall performance.

By purchasing wooden shutters, you'll get quality shutters at a great price. Before you buy, do your research on the company and make sure that they know what they are doing. If you buy from a reputable seller, you'll get everything you need for excellent wooden shutters,and instructions on how to install them yourself if you wish.


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