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A Wood Shutter Can Highlight Your Home

Traditional wooden shutters were the standard for as long as we’ve had shutters.  Now, though, vinyl and other types of shutters have taken the place of traditional wood house shutters.  The reason why wooden shutters are quickly becoming anachronistic is that they are very high-maintenance. Homeowners today are open to a way to eliminate maintenance around the house.  Wooden shutters require repainting or re-staining every so often, even if they are interior shutters. Let’s look at some alternatives.

Exterior house shutters are now exclusively used for decorative purposes and are never actually used, unlike in days gone by when shutters were first invented.  Shutters used to protect the house from rain and wind a long time ago, before double paned glass.  Nowadays, shutters are never actually used, but do add a finished look to any home. 

As we slowly say goodbye to wooden shutters, we can explore the advantages of the following types of shutters:

Vinyl Shutters

Just like vinly exterior siding, vinyl house shutters require no regular repairs and will not rot or fall apart. The only drawback with vinyl shutters as opposed to wood is that they have a tendency to ding if anything is tossed at the shutters. In other words, they are less durable than wood for blocking rocks, hail or other debris.  Many people are willing to put up with this because vinyl shutters are attractive, are affordable and maintenance free. 

Composite Shutters

These are cheaper shutters which use composite woods as opposed to solid woods.  The good thing about composite shutters is that they are unaffected by termites and rot and will last a lifetime.  They are normally sold pre-stained and do not require upkeep like solid wood, yet strongly resemble real wood.  Composite Shutters are a happy alternative for anyone thinking about maintenance free shutters. 

Fiberglass shutters

Fiberglass is tough and hard-wearing.  Fiberglass is well suited to exterior house shutters and has been used in areas where the shutters need to be closed, such as parts of the world that are regularly hit by hurricanes.  Fiberglass shutters are slightly more expensive, but they are stout, maintenance free and built to last.  They are the perfect choice for anyone who lives in an area affected by hurricanes for the reason that they can take a battering. 

Aluminum shutters

As with vinyl shutters, aluminum shutters are made like aluminum siding and are a popular choice for homeowners. While vinyl was very popular a generation ago, knocking aluminum out of the running, aluminum shutters showed up again and are presently very popular among people who want good looking and maintenance free shutters that are built to last. 

Whether you are purchasing shutters for the exterior or interior of your house, you will find many different maintenance free shutters for your home.  The type of house shutters that you eventually buy will depend upon finances as well as the primary reason for the shutters.  Wood House Shutters are engineered for everything from blocking the wind and rain from a hurricane to improving your curb appeal.  Find the ones that are right for house.

Posted by gardening - September 28, 2009 at 12:30 pm

Categories: Landscaping   Tags: , , , , , ,

Is Vinyl a Good Material for House Shutters?

Interior shutters can give a finished look to any room.  Interior shutters have been employed for the purpose of interior decor for years.  Traditionally, all interior shutters were crafted from wood.  There was no other option.  Plastic would look too cheap and metal would be impossible. Nowadays, though, there are different designs of interior house shutters and some options besides wood.

One style of interior shutter that is gaining acceptance for homeowners is vinyl house shutters.  There is a continuing dispute over which style of shutter is better.  There are advantages and disadvantages regarding both vinyl and wood interior shutters. 

Wooden shutters

Wooden house shutters look attractive and are very old-fashioned. They give an atmosphere of richness to any building, whether they are installed inside or on the outside. Most homeowners appreciate the look of real wood, and wooden shutters are tough and resilient as well. 

Wooden shutters can be quite handsome, when stained or painted.  They have to be either stained or painted and sealed before installation.  Then, on a regular basis, they need to have this done again and again.  Maintaining wooden shutters requires time and money.  They are also particularly costly to pay for, especially if you purchase them pre stained. 

Wooden shutters are also vulnerable to fungus and insects. Because they are made of natural materials, they will eventually fall apart. 

Vinyl shutters

Vinyl shutters need no repairs.  They do not need any painting, staining or sealing no matter how long you own them.  They are available in a variety of different colors and styles and are a good-looking, maintenance free choice for shutters for your home. 

Regrettably, vinyl shutters can get dings in them whenever anything hits them, like hail or a Frisbee. Although any material can be dented, vinyl seems to take more of a bruising because it is a more pliable substance.  Many people will not use vinyl because it is cheap and can look cheap.  There are still many consumers who prefer real wood.

Vinyl shutters are, let’s face it, plastic.  Occasionally, some types are made to look like real wood, but cannot fool the discerning eye. While vinyl shutters are less expensive than wood shutters and are maintenance free, wood shutters are most often preferred by the majority of individuals.

Your decision on house shutters will be influenced by your budget, which designs you like, and how much much time you intend to spend maintaining the shutters.  If you are looking for a shutter that needs no attention and looks attractive on or in your home, you will prefer vinyl house shutters. 

If you do not mind doing maintenance every other year or so and do not mind spending a bit more money, you might perfer wooden shutters.  Regardless of the material, shutters make a lovely complement to your home and are available in a variety of styles, shapes and colors.  Whether the material you prefer is vinyl or wood, you will almost certainly discover the house shutters that meet your needs and are perfectly suited for your home.

Posted by gardening - September 8, 2009 at 7:07 pm

Categories: Landscaping   Tags: , , , , , ,

Here’s How to Install House Shutters

If you have some carpentry experience and know how to use a ladder you could install your own house shutters.  If you feel uncomfortable about doing the job, you could easily hire a professional to install the shutters for you.  However, installing house shutters is relatively easy and can be done by anyone with basic knowledge.

Do not be intimidated at the thought of installing your exterior house shutters.  If others can complete this easy job, so can you.  You only need to learn the basics.  There are two different procedures to follow when installing your shutters.  You can decide on an inside mount or an outside mount.  It is preferred to install an inside mount because it can be accomplished straight from your open window. 

Inside mount installation

For an inside mount installation, the shutter attaches upon the inside of the window casing on the window jamb.  This is usually a better manner of installation and is much preferred by carpenters because it is less complicated and requires no framing strips. 

Begin by checking to see that the window jamb is in good shape.  You will want to attach the shutter hardware with screws.  You will have to drill a hole into the jamb at the appropriate areas so that the unit can be screwed into the window jamb.  The jamb has to be solid so that the hardware will be secure. 

When you have attached the hardware, you need to make sure that the shutters align properly with the window.  You can use a level to be sure that they are lined up. Follow the enclosed literature as each brand of inside mounted shutter is different.  If you know how to use simple power tools, you will be able to easily accomplish an inside mount for your shutters. 

Outside mount installation

Predictably, an outside mount is connected to the outside of the window, most often into the trim, and sometimes the wall.  If you are using an outside mount on shutters inside your house, please don’t screw the unit into sheetrock unless it is anchored because the unit will likely rip itself out of the wall.  Some people favor an outside mount because you can be less than perfect when it comes to the measurements, which an inside mount will not allow. Of course this means that the outside mount does not look as finished as the inside mount.

Make sure you use a plumb bob and level when installing house shutters to make sure that the shutters are hung straight.  Your eyes may give you bad information, but a level will not.  You will also require an electric drill, a way to mount the screwdriver heads, as well as molly bolts if you are installing into drywall without a stud. 

Do not be afraid to install your house shutters yourself.  This is not a difficult job and when you have installed one unit, the rest will be easy to do.  As long as you have the proper tools, which are a screwdriver, drill, toggle mounts (if installing into drywall) and a level, you will be able to do this job easily and within a short period of time.

Posted by gardening - August 23, 2009 at 1:05 pm

Categories: Landscaping   Tags: , , , , ,

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