Wood Shutters

Those that feel as though their house windows seem to be missing a decorative taste, or simply want to further reinforce the efficacy of their windows should consider purchasing wood shutters. Shutters are simply an additional solid covering for a window. These coverings can be mounted on either the interior or exterior of any window, and may be fitted to any number of sizes. Many people choose to install wood shutters that are fixed and serve only as decoration, while others mount them to be mobile and actually cover a window when they wish.

There are several variations of mobile window shutters, such as ones that are used to restrict the amount of light and air that enters a room (i.e. louvers), or types that are simply constructed to block rain from entering a room or staining glass. There are also types that are used to protect houses from more severe weather conditions like hurricanes. These types of shutters can be installed in the interior or exterior of a window, depending on what functions the user wishes the shutters to serve. For example, if someone wanted to protect their house from flying debris or hurricane-force winds, exterior shutters would be appropriate. If the desired function was to regulate light and air, then interior shutters would typically be used.

When considering wood shutters, a buyer should generally decide what function they want the shutters to serve. This includes deciding if the shutters will be used for decoration, light regulation, or weather protection. Once this is known, it should be decided whether the interior or exterior of the house will be the location of installation. Once these decisions have been made, the buyer can then shop for a variety of wood shutters.

Those that consider purchasing for decoration should look into the quality of the wood that they wish to have their shutters built from. There are many methods of staining that give wooden shutters different appearances, making it possible to better match the surface of the house or other nearby features. If more color is preferred rather than a fine wooden appearance, than paint can be applied.

When buying exterior shutters, people should definitely consider the type of wood used. Some specific materials are often vulnerable to rotting and decay from moisture, such as Spanish cedar and teak. A professional should always be questioned regarding the type of wood being used to build the shutters, and more specifically, whether or not they breathe moisture or are subject to degradation due to the elements. Finished wood shutters generally have lengthened lifetimes, and combat outdoor problems fairly well. Another problem to consider when dealing with exterior shutters are problems caused by insects. To avoid having insects use shutters as homes or food, tannins are used in the woods, so this aspect must also be kept in mind.

The installation of shutters often require simple mounting of hinges, such as with louvers or fixed brackets, although others can be more complicated, such as ones that require the use of motorized controls. Shutters often come with specific installation instructions, especially when the installation does not involve any complicated procedures. Fortunately, there are many professionals that can install wooden shutters without any problems, even ones that operate on motorized controls. Installing wood shutters is typically easier than shutters of other varieties, as other types of materials often require additional hardware when mounting.

When shopping for wood shutters, many stores can be considered, such as basic home appliance stores like Home Depot. If shopping online, there exists a variety of companies such as ExteriorSolutions.com, ShutterHutInc.com, and buywoodshutters.com, among many others. Better prices can usually be found when shopping online, but stores normally offer additional benefits such as home consultation and installation and several other services.

Wood shutter prices vary depending on quality, size, and the store of purchase. Some businesses sell pairs of shutters for a fixed price, usually ranging from $50 - $150, though some woods and fancier designs can cost a bit more. This technique involves measuring window sizes beforehand and arriving at stores with a specific size in mind.

Other businesses charge based on square footage, though prices usually end up falling in the same range as mentioned earlier. The cheapest shutters available are generally interior shutters that cover smaller windows (not sold in pairs). They become more expensive with size, material quality, added functions (such as adjusting shutter angles), decoration, and of course the additional accessories such as motorized controls. If a specific price range is being sought when considering the purchase of shutters, many company sites often include a quoting service, where information is placed in the appropriate fields such as size and style.

Wood shutters are very beautiful accessories for window decoration and protection, and can serve as extremely useful products that you will enjoy for years to come.

For more information on home and garden topics, check out the links to my other Hubs below.

• Protecting your home with hurricane shutters
• Decorating with wooden venetian blinds
• Buying from Hillarys blinds
• Using a Coleman generator