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Thursday, May 28, 2009

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.

French window shuttersImage via Wikipedia



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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Sunday, May 24, 2009

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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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

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.

French window shuttersImage via Wikipedia



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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Monday, February 23, 2009

Woodwork Plans

A wide range of free wood working plans are available on the internet. Indeed you will get valuable information from free wood working plans that can be used for home renovation purposes. On some websites amateur wood workers share their experience, tips and ideas that make up for great free wood working plans. Some free wood working plans that are commonly used are bookcase plans, bed plans, shed plans, workbench plans and entertainment centre plans

Cherry Bookshelf plans :

It consists of 13 pieces that are screwed and dadoed together. The shaping and joinery is done with the help of drill press and a table saw. The bookshelf has slats and pyramid top posts. Cherry wood is used as it is lighter. You can use other types of wood such as quatersawn white oak. For building this bookcase you require screws, screw hole plugs, slates and shelves. The dimensions of these items will differ according to your requirements.

Break Down Chair Plans :

This high backed chair and has no wedges or pegs. You can easily make 2 chairs out of 4’x8’ sheet of good quality plywood. It is very easy to make these chairs.

Antiqued Table plan :

Clear pine is used to make this antiqued beauty. Tools that are required to make this table are trim saw or handsaw, bits and drill, spray bottles, wet rag and belt or orbital sander. Materials that are required to make this table include legs, apron, fastening strips and table top. You also require screw and washer, shellac and carpenter’s glue and 8 hanger bolts. Depending on the size of table you want, you should select the dimensions.

Circular Kitchen Table Plan :

Solid black walnut wood is used to make this kitchen table. The tabletop which has a radius of 2 feet is a perfect circle. The circular top is on a pedestal base which is constructed using laminated bridle joints. Warmth of this wood enhances as tung oil and polyurethane are used for protecting the finish. The contemporary design of this antique table is much more attractive than formal dining style. Jointer, jigsaw, hand router and some other tools are required to make this piece.

Mahogany bed plan :


This ideal master piece is ideal for any bedroom décor. The bed is made from solid mahogany. The bed with its contemporary style has convenient rail hangers A series of slats are required for supporting the bed. A box spring is not required once you use these slats. Depending on the thickness and length of the mattresses the dimensions of the bed will vary. The dimensions should be such that it should be able to handle queen size mattresses. The bed is designed in such a way that you can disassemble it easily.

Jewelry Box plans :

This elegant case has a simple design. If there are some beautiful small wooden boards in your house then you can make this box on your own. It won’t take you long to build this attractive box. This can indeed be a perfect last minute gift for a friend.



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