Nothing can deliver an instant charm to an otherwise ordinary home than exterior shutters. Exterior shutters are becoming a popular trend, adding a burst of contrasting color to your home exterior. The origination of shutters dates back to Ancient Greece where they were fashioned in stone, but most people connect
exterior window shutters with the classic French style Louvre consisting of small bright colored slats with their traditional wood structure. However, the shutter choices available today are endless.
Exterior shutters exist in two forms – functional and non-functional shutters. Functional shutters offer the flexibility of being closed up in case of harsh weather conditions and so, they are hinged and latched. On the other hand, non-functional shutters are decorative shutters which are too narrow and cannot be closed. Exterior shutters are again available in different types as well as style.
A Louvered shutter is a ubiquitous style of shutter consisting of horizontal slats of wood which can be stationary or moveable. Then there is raised panel shutter similar to the panels on a six panel door. It is a solid piece consisting of a decorative raised portion in the center. Batten and Board shutter consists of boards which are lined up in a horizontal manner with some additional boards running across horizontally to hold them together. These are again available in two types – A style in which there is no space between the boards is known as closed style whereas the boards with spacing between them are called open style.
Exterior shutters make use of different materials including plastic, vinyl, composite and wood. Exterior shutters of plastic are the most economical ones, but they come with their limitations. Plastic shutters are limited to stock sizes and as the back side is hollow, their usage is limited to stationary shutters. They can also be damaged owing to the harsh sun. Vinyl shutters are similar to plastic ones but they also come in higher grades which are finished from both the sides. Composite shutters are strong and durable which are fashioned from recycled materials. Wood shutters are the most versatile and can be custom made. Shutters from hardwoods like Cedar, Mahogany and Teak are preferred over soft woods as they are much more pliant to moisture and are less susceptible towards problems. However, wood shutters from soft wood consisting of pine are much more inexpensive and are easily available.
Once bought, make sure that you either brush or wipe the shutters to prevent them from stains and paint them with suitable shade and primer to maintain their charisma. One thing is assured; exterior shutters do add sophistication and appeal to your home.
