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Buying And Installing A Plantation Shutter

March 13, 2010 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

Long before it was convenient and cost-effective to have curtains and blinds covering every window, the plantation shutter was widely in use. Shutters were used for several hundred years not only for privacy, but also for protection from the elements. Today, plantation shutters are as much about good design as they are about covering windows. Mounted on the interior windows of your house, plantation shutters add a touch of class to your home.

Plantation shutters can be made from wood, as they have for centuries, or synthetics. Today’s synthetic plantation shutters are usually vinyl, and although they may have a high similarity to wood, they still maintain a plastic appearance. The advantage to synthetic shutters is their low price, durability, and resistance to moisture.

The disadvantage is that vinyl shutters will not take a stain, and are not offered in a broad range of colors.

Cheap plantation shutters pale by comparison to a high quality wood shutter. Interior plantation shutters must be crafted from wood that is very true, and absorbs stain evenly. Alder, beech, and birch woods are all good choices for stain.

A well-made wood plantation shutter should be about 1 1/8″ -3/4″ thick, with louvers between 1 1/2″ and 5″ thick, and elliptical in shape to better hold their form. To be more accurate, ‘traditional’ shutters have a skinny panel with wedge-shaped louvers, while plantation shutters will have between a 2 1/2″ to 5″ movable louver.

When your plantation shutters are closed, they should provide a wonderful amount of privacy while still allowing a soft amount of light in through the window. When your shutters are open, they should offer an unobstructed view. For the most visibility, choose the widest panel movable louver for your shutters.

Plantation shutters are well-suited to every room in the house, providing ample privacy, illumination, and protection for furniture and rugs. The charming and handsome wooden panels blend well with many styles of decor, whether contemporary or traditional.

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Professional installation of interior plantation shutters is always recommended, as the fit needs to be as tight as possible to ensure the best appearance and function. There are many choices available for the do-it-your-selfer however, and like many DIY projects, installing your own plantation shutters may be a more economical option. Start with quality shutters, and perfect measurements. So long as the shutters are built to the exact measurement of the opening, the installation can be completed without a problem.

The key to measuring is to first decide on the placement of the shutters; do you need to measure the outside or the inside of the opening? The simplest and cleanest method is to mount to the inside window jamb. Once you have this measurement, determine the depth of the window, which will tell you how wide the louvers can be. The company you choose to buy your shutters from should have detailed measuring instructions, build their shutters with mortised hinges, and be accurate to within a 1/16th of an inch. These are the keys to a perfect fit.

There are many brick and mortar and online companies specializing in custom built interior plantation shutters. If you solicit a bid from a local shop that builds their shutters to order, a representative will come to your home, take all the measurements, and provide samples and stain choices for you to look at. This takes away the worry of getting the measurements wrong, but for all that service and customization, you may pay a premium price. Is there such a thing as quality discount plantation shutters? Absolutely. Shop several companies and you are sure to find a quality manufacturer of plantation shutters.

House Shutters – Materials and Styles

August 31, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

The trend in home design lately seems to be leaning towards a cookie cutter design of houses that all look the same. It is no longer abnormal to drive through a modern suburb and feel a strange sense of de ja vous as you look at the front of each property. They all have the same driveway, are made of the same materials, and even have the same style windows and doors. Some people try to break away from this similarity by enhancing the outside of their home with house shutters.

There are three basic materials that exterior house shutters are made of; wood, aluminum and vinyl. Wood has stood the test of time, being the original material that has been used for many hundreds of years. For those of you that want a traditional and classic look, wood shutters are the way to go. If you choose to with wood, you can further decide whether you want the natural raw look of the wood, or have them painted. If you want the grains of the wood to show through on your shutters, then you are going to want to have them lacquered or stained. If this is your choice, then you will need to regularly maintain hem to keep up their appearance, and to protect them against the harsh weather. For a little more protection, you may decide to have your wood painted. There is an endless array of paint colors that you can get for wood shutters, and having a contrasting color to the rest of your home can make a great statement.

Vinyl is becoming a very popular material to use as well. The obvious benefit of vinyl over wood is the price. Wood shutters are generally quite expensive, whereas vinyl is a lot easier to manufacture, and therefore a fair bit cheaper. On top of the price benefits, vinyl will usually have a longer life span. Unlike wood, very little maintenance is required with vinyl house shutters, a regular wipe over will keep them looking great, and they will not suffer from the fading effects of the sun like wood can.

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The four most common styles of shutters for the home are Plantation, Colonial, Tudor and Bahama. Plantation shutters are the original shutters that were used back in colonial days to protect homes from bad weather and hot sun. They are characterised by their thicker slat style and are the perfect choice for larger windows.

Colonial style shutters originated in the North East of the United States. They have smaller panels, which, when opened, lay on either side of the window, flat up against the wall. Many people prefer this style for the look they give the home when they are opened. In fact, there are people who have fake colonial shutters that are just attached to the wall for the look and do not open and close at all. The real colonial shutters have the benefit of providing an uninterrupted view out of your window.

Similar the colonial shutters are Tudors. This style works along the same principle of having a double panel up against the wall either side of the window, but instead of slats, they generally have a more solid appearance. This means that when the shutters are closed, there is no light entering your home at all, giving you optimal protection and privacy.

Bahamas are a unique style of exterior house shutter that do not swing open on hinges on the side, but open from the bottom with hinges on the top. To hold these shutters in place when open, they will usually have a telescopic arm that keeps them propped up. The downside of this style of shutter is that you lose the view out of your window, but for those windows that are not used much, it can give your room great protection while still catching any breeze and funnelling into your home for those hot summer days.

Filed Under: Outdoor Shutters Tagged With: exterior house shutter, exterior house shutters, house shutter, house shutters, vinyl house shutters

Exterior Shutters – Batten Down The Hatches

August 28, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever considered adding the charm of exterior shutters to your home, I am here to ensure you that not only will it make a great difference to the look of your home, but it will ultimately add value to it as well. If you talk to any real estate agent, they will tell you that there are certain things that you can do to your home that won’t cost you a fortune, but could end up making thousands of dollars difference to the resale value of your house. Installing exterior shutters is one of these methods. However, even if you are not considering selling your home any time soon, this style of shutter will ultimately make a big difference to the character for your home as well, adding a rustic charm reminiscent of the old plantation days.

The two most common types of materials that are used in exterior shutters are wood and vinyl, and no doubt if you do a little bit of research on the internet, you are bound to find people from both sides of the fence that swear that their material is the only one that should be considered. The wood lovers will tell you that there is nothing like the natural grains of wood to enhance your property, while the vinyl fanatics will try and tell you that wood has a lot of problems that are solved with the more sturdy option of viny.

exterior shutters As with anything in life, the most important opinion is your own. After all, these shutters will be on your walls, and it is ultimately you who will be looking after them, or replacing them in a few years time when they start deteriorating. Wood is of course the more natural choice of the two, that cannot be denied. However, there is a difference between natural and environmentally friendly, which many people don’t seem to get. Just because it came from a real tree, doesn’t make it an eco friendly solution. On the contrary, chopping down trees for use on homes has become a major environmental problem and one which more and more people are deciding needs to be fixed.

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Vinyl, while using a lot of chemicals in it’s processing, ultimately leaves the trees along. People will try and tell you that vinyl is a weaker material and will not last the difference on your windows, but seeing as though many retailers offer a 20 year guarantee on their products, I really wouldn’t consider that too much of a viable argument for not buying them. The best part is, compared to wood; exterior vinyl shutters are dirt cheap. With the money you save, you can do a lot more enhancing around your home that just the windows.

Most retailers will offer three unique styles of exterior shutter. The most popular is the louvered shutters. Within this style you can have a few varying options. You can choose different widths of your slats. Thinner slats are great for smaller windows and doors, while thicker ones are more suited for a bigger opening. You can also get slats that are moveable, or stationary ones. Obviously the ones that are moveable require more hardware on the shutter and are therefore a little more expensive, but the ability to control the amount of light that comes into your home by moving the slats is a great plus for any home owner.

Another popular style is the board and batten. As it sounds, you have a couple of battens running along the back of a group of vertical boards. Two different sub styles exist in this style, you can either choose to have the boards fit into each other via a tongue and groove joint, or you can have gaps between them for more insulation. Either choice will add an incredible country style charm to your home.

The other style that people love is the raised panel shutter. Although not as popular as the other two, it is nevertheless a great choice if you are after maximum security from would be intruders, maximum insulation from extreme weather, and maximum privacy from prying eyes.

Buying exterior window shutters is not a decision to be taken lightly. If you are seriously considering this purchase, you need to make sure that you are getting the best value for your hard earned money. This means shopping around as much as possible to get the best deals, not only around your local area, but also online, where there are many great bargains to be had.

Filed Under: Outdoor Shutters Tagged With: exterior house shutters, exterior shutter, exterior shutters, exterior vinyl shutters, exterior window shutters

Vinyl Shutters – Inexpensive, Yet Robust

August 28, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

When it comes to groundbreaking trends in the window treatments industry, none has been more noticeable than the continuing rise in popularity if the vinyl shutter. Vinyl is one of the most inexpensive materials available for covering your window, which is probably the main reason that it has become so popular. Don’t be fooled by its price though, this is actually a very sturdy option for longevity and security.

Before vinyl came along, the most popular material was wood, and wood has been around for a very long time, so when a material comes and knocks it off its perch, we really should be sitting up and taking notice. The problem with wood is that it tends to get bent out of shape if it’s not looked after (just like my wife). Even when it is cared for regularly, you can only expect a wooden shutter to look good for the first eight to ten years of it’s life, after that it starts to look weathered and old (just like…. never mind).

As far as finishes are concerned, the world is your oyster. There are literally thousands of different colors, shades, patterns and prints that can be applied to vinyl shutters, each one custom picked by manufacturers to fit a specific need in the market. Many people like to pretend they have wood shutters, even though they have opted for vinyl, and as a result you can get vinyl that not only looks like wood, but has actual textured grains just like the real thing as well. This is a great option if you are trying to achieve a traditional look in your home.

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There are four main styles of vinyl shutters. Louvres are by far the most popular of the four, as they are the ones that have been used since shutters were first invented. Louvres come in a few different width options, from the thinner style for smaller windows, up to the vinyl plantation shutters for those large spaces like sliding doors. If you want a more solid appearance, then raised panels or board and batten styles are the way to go. Board and batten are a particularly rustic look, resembling an old barn door. You can also get spaced board and batten vinyl blinds that allow light and air into your home as well.

The best thing about vinyl window shutters is their ease of maintenance. With wood you need to be constantly varnishing and sanding them, and you need to be careful not to get them wet in case they warp. With vinyl, however, all it takes is a simple wipe over with a bit of soapy warm water and a damp cloth once a week or so. You can even get vinyl blinds with anti static properties, which will help to keep the dust off them.

Many people seem to perceive vinyl as being on the weaker end of the materials that are used in the creation of window coverings. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Vinyl is in fact, extremely strong, there are even large ranges of vinyl hurricane shutter available that will withstand even the hardest of beatings. This style of shutter is particularly good, not only for protecting the glass of your window, but also the interior of your home.

Whether you are after interior or exterior vinyl shutters, you are sure to find a huge range available if you do a bit of digging. Interior shutters have the benefit of being easy to get to, so that you don’t have to go outside to close them all if there is a big storm coming. On the other hand, having them on the outside of your home will give your window more protection, and add to the character of the house.

Filed Under: Vinyl Shutters Tagged With: exterior vinyl shutters, vinyl plantation shutters, vinyl shutter, Vinyl Shutters, vinyl window shutters

Rolling Shutters – Rolling Down The Window

August 26, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

If you either own a retail business or a residential home, and are concerned about security, privacy and protection, then rolling shutters are something you should seriously consider. For businesses, a strong barrier over your windows and doors is a necessity. Retail shops are constantly targeted by criminals who are looking for a quick way in and out. If you have some sort of shutter over your weak points, then they are more likely to move on and try and find somewhere easier to target. Another benefit of having security shutters on your place of business is that you will be paying a lot less in insurance premiums, and as I’m sure you already know, that can be quite a considerable expense.

Rolling shutters may not be as obvious a solution for home owners, but I can guarantee you that there are many homes that take advantage of the added security a shutter can provide. I think many people are put off by the look of a shutter when they see them on shop fronts, but shutters for your home do not have to stand out as much and be as obvious. Shop fronts want the shutters to stand out, as a visual deterrent more than anything, but you do not want to be ruining the look of your home for the sake of security. Luckily, rolling shutter manufacturers understand this, and have worked hard to come up with designs that are inconspicuous and at times even an attractive addition to your home.

rolling shutters Security isn’t the only benefit provided by roll down shutters. While crime is on the rise, not everyone lives in high crime areas, however they still benefit from the protective nature of these shutters. This is one of the best forms of protection against heavy storms and hurricanes. With the weather changing so rapidly, we are seeing a rise in the number of hurricanes every year, as well as their severity. There are places where bad storms used to be very rare, that now have them on a regular occurrence, and residents in these areas now have to look at ways they can protect their homes. Roll down hurricane shutters are especially manufactured to withstand the severe beating a hurricane can give your home. Your doors and windows are the weakest points, and having them well protected is a must.

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Even though the most important functionality of a rolling shutter is security and protection, they are also a great way of adding another layer of insulation to your home. Many people have three layers of protection on their windows; a blind and curtains on the inside, and a security shutter on the exterior. This combination of protection is a great way to keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter, greatly reducing your need to pay high electricity bills to keep the house comfortable.

Rolling shutters can come either automated or with manual operation. Many people prefer the automated shutters, as they can be operated from inside the home, without the need to go outside when there is a storm brewing in order to close up. Automated rolling shutters are, however, a lot more expensive than manually operated ones, so if money is an issue, you can save a fair amount by settling for something that is going to give you just as much protection, with just a little more effort involved.

There are three common materials used in the manufacture of rolling shutters, aluminum, steel and uPVC. Aluminum and steel are the strongest choices, but are mainly used in commercial properties and businesses. uPVC stands for “unplasticized polyvinyl chlorine”. It is a lot cheaper than the metals finishes, and comes in many different colors and finishes. You can even get your shutters to look like wooden ones, while still benefiting from the strength of the PVC. The only downside to this material is that it is not very environmentally friendly.

Filed Under: Rolling Shutters Tagged With: roll down hurricane shutters, roll down shutters, roll shutters, rolling shutter, Rolling Shutters

Wooden Shutters – Shut Out The Bad Weather

August 24, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

Wooden shutters are the oldest known window covering, they have been in use ever since we started building our own houses, and are still as popular all these centuries later. In America, shutters became a necessity during settlement, as people who were looking to settle in places that had rich soils for farming were finding that many of those areas were prone to bad storm seasons. By installing shutters on their windows, not only were they protecting themselves from these storms, but they were setting a trend that would continue right up until present day.

The most popular style of shutter is still the exterior wooden shutter, just like the settlers had back in the days, but it is becoming a growing trend to put shutters on the inside of windows. On of the big benefits of having your shutter on the interior is that it is much easier to open and close. When you get some bad weather, you really don’t want to have to go out in it and get soaking wet closing all your shutters. Some people prefer the look of curtains in their homes, and if this is the only thing keeping you from getting shutters, then you should know that an option is to put a set of curtains over the top of the shutters. Having double panels over the top of wooden shutters can really accentuate the look and make your window a focal point of your room.

If wood is the material you would like to use on your windows, then you need to be aware that there is some regular maintenance involved with these shutters. If would is not cared for on a regular basis, it won’t be long before it starts to crack and fade. Even worse, if you are in a moist area, for example you get heavy dews in the morning; your wood is liable to warp. When interior wooden shutters warp, they can get jammed inside your window frame, making them impossible to open. In severe cases it can also knock the frame itself out of alignment, which can be a real expensive problem.

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If you’re looking for more of an excuse to fork out the money and get some wooden shutters, another thing to keep in mind is that they will add a great deal to the value of your home, much more than they originally cost you. Any real estate agent will tell you that the addition of wooden shutters to a home that is up for sale will make it sell much quicker, and for a higher price than originally intended. This is because the shutters give a real feel of homeliness, comfort and warmth.

Although you can get flat panel shutters, the ones with louvers in them are a lot more popular. You can get different sized slats, and the general rule of thumb is that the larger the window is, the larger the slats should be. Small louvers on a large window look too busy and confusing, whereas large louvers on a small window just look silly. You can get louvers that don’t move, but if you can afford a little bit extra, I would recommend getting the moveable style of shutters. This gives you a lot more functionality, allowing you to swivel the slats to control the amount of light that is coming into your room.

As I’m sure you’re already aware, wooden shutters can be quite a large expense, especially if you have more than a few windows to cover in your home. If money is tight, you may want to consider installing your own. A lot of the expense comes from installation, and if you are handy with a drill and a tape measure, installing window shutters is not such a difficult task. Many shutters will come with their own instructions, so it’s just a case of following the steps.

Filed Under: Wooden Shutters Tagged With: exterior wooden shutters, interior wooden shutters, wooden shutter, Wooden Shutters, wooden window shutters

Shades Blinds and Shutters – A Brief Rundown

August 24, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

I would like to give you a brief rundown on some of the more popular styles of shades blinds and shutters that we have discussed so far. Each window treatment has a different use, and gives a different atmosphere in your home. In order to make an informed decision, it is important that you have a little knowledge about the following types of blinds and shades…

Wood Blinds – The most popular style of material for blinds by far, wood adds natural warmth to your home that can’t be achieved by any other type of material. The downside to wood is that it needs regular maintenance to stay in tip top condition.

Faux Wood Blinds – For those that cannot afford wood, but love that natural grainy look, faux wood is probably the next best thing. The two main materials used in the production of faux wood are wood composites and PVC. Faux wood is only a fraction of the price of the real thing.

Shutters – There are two main categories in the world of shutters, based on the width of the slats. The smaller window shutters generally have a slat size of 1 or 1 1/2 inches. Larger slat sizes are often referred to as plantation shutters, and are generally used on the exterior of your home, or on larger windows.

Mini Blinds – One of the most inexpensive styles of blinds that you can get, mini blinds are characterised by their small horizontal slats. There is some confusion between mini blinds and venetian blinds, but the two phrases mean basically the same thing.

shades blinds Sliding window Blinds – The most popular choice for vertical blinds are for large sliding doors. They are perfect for this use, as the blinds tuck right away into the unused corer of the room when they are not needed, while giving overall coverage to your door when it gets sunny outside.

Panel Track Blinds – This is a newer style of blind that is increasing in popularity. It consists of larger horizontal lengths of material that fold into each other when not in use. They work similar to the principle of the vertical blind, but also make great room dividers.

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Cellular Shades – The biggest benefit of cellular shades is their amazing insulation properties. These are a lightweight shade that packs a real punch. Some people refer to them as honeycomb shades, because of the shape of the individual cells. You can get these shades in single, double or triple cell versions; the greater the number of cells, the better its insulating properties.

Woven Wood Shades – The name of these shade blinds is a little misleading, as although there are some that are made of actual wood, the more popular styles use bamboo, jutes and reeds to create the shade. Woven wood shades are a perfect solution in any place that you are trying to create a natural organic feel.

Roman Shades – Roman shades are usually made using fabric, although there are styles created in vinyl and even bamboo. The roman shade is a classic window covering that rolls up to the top of your window in pleats when not in use. Roman blinds are great for smaller windows in the bedroom, giving you complete privacy.

Roller Shades – Out of all the shades available, the roller shade is the most simple in design. Roller shades consist of nothing more than a tube of aluminum, with a length of fabric wrapped around it. When not in use, the fabric is wrapped around the tube at the top of the window via a pulley system.

Sheer Shades – For those times when you want a little bit of privacy but don’t want to block out the world (or the sun) entirely, sheer shades are the way to go. They make an elegant solution for places like the kitchen, and are usually made from very thin and light weight fabrics,

Solar Screens – Similar to roller blinds, but instead of using material solar shades use are usually plastics and synthetics. They work on the principles used in sunglasses, diffusing the light while still allowing you to see out your window. They are particularly popular on large glass doors or windows that look out onto a view.

As you can seem there are a huge variety of window shades and blinds out there, and we have only touched the surface, For more information on any of these individual styles, feel free to browse through the rest of this site.

Filed Under: Blinds, Shades, Shutters Tagged With: blinds and shades, shade blinds, shades blinds, window shades and blinds, window shades blinds

Interior Window Shutters – Shut Out The World

August 22, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

Most people think of shutters as being something that is installed on the outside of your windows. If you haven’t seen interior window shutters before, then you would be forgiven for thinking this, because all you’ve ever seen while driving around is shutters on the outside of homes. But you never know what goes on behind closed doors, and I can guarantee you that interior shutters are becoming more and more popular all the time.

If you’ve made the decision that curtains and roller blinds aren’t the right thing to get for your house, then you have probably narrowed your options down to either blinds or shutters. While blinds are terrific for some situations, there are many benefits to be had with an interior window shutter. For one, they are a lot more solid. While blinds are usually loosely fitted against a window frame, shutters become an integral part of the window. For this reason, they tend to be much better insulators than blinds, as there are no gaps for the cold air (or hot, in summer) to come through. Shutters, however, are more of a permanent fixture. If you change your mind, blinds are a lot easier to replace than shutters are.

There are two types of shutters that you can get for the inside of your home. The first is with stationary slats, and the second is with moveable slats. Although they cost more, I would definitely go with moveable slats if possible, as they give you a lot more control over what light comes into your house and when. Usually the shutter will have a handle running down the side or the middle of it that allows you to rotate the slats and filter out the sunlight as desired. interior window shutters There are different thicknesses of slats that you can get. Generally, the bigger the window is, the thicker the slat should be. The only real reason for this is aesthetics, as a small slat on a large window can look a little strange.

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There are many different types of materials available for shutters. Most people think of wooden interior window shutters as the only option, and while they are great, there are also shutters made from vinyl, plastic, faux wood, and even metal. Vinyl is a lot easier to clean, as you just need a wet rag and some soapy water to get marks off, and the same can be said for faux wood. Vinyl interior window shutters are also the cheapest option available, and many of us need to be extra careful with our money.

If you really like the look of curtains, but love the functionality of shutters, then don’t forget that it is possible to have the best of both worlds. A nice set of curtains installed over the top of your shutters can look absolutely stunning, especially when the curtains are tied back to reveal the slats. This way, you can have your cake and eat it too.

If at all possible, it is recommended that you get your shutters professionally fitted and installed. If you are a bit of a handy person, you may be able to get away with doing it yourself, but if you make one wrong measurement, you could end up with wood interior window shutters that just don’t fit. At least if a professional makes a mistake, they are responsible for replacing your shutters.

Filed Under: Indoor Shutters Tagged With: custom interior window shutters, interior window shutter, interior window shutters, wood interior window shutters, wooden interior window shutters

Outdoor Shutters – Enhancing the Outside of Your Home

August 19, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

A lot of people spend so much time decorating the inside of their home, making it look just right, that they forget all about the exterior. What they haven’t realised is that the outside of your home is the first thing, and quite often the only thing, that people see of your house. As far as visitors are concerned, the first impression is always the most important, and it’s the outside of your home that creates that first impression for your guests, making it either inviting or not.

For many years outdoor shutters have been used primarily for protection, but in recent times they have become very much a fashion statement for your home. The allure of an outdoor shutter gives your home a certain old world charm that cannot be created in any other manner. They have the ability to take you back to a more peaceful time, and give your home a sense of nostalgia. Not only will these shutters enhance the look of your home, but they will also increase the value of it as well. Spending a few hundred dollars on exterior shutters can literally add thousands to the resale value of your home.

Of course, as aesthetically pleasing as they are, they still serve an extremely important role in protecting your home. For starters, they are a great deterrent for intruders, as someone interested in breaking into a home is much less likely to do so if it looks like it’s going to be a difficult task. outdoor shutters They will more often than not move on to a home that just has glass that can easily be smashed in. Another safety aspect of outdoor window shutters is that they will protect your windows in the case of storms. In some areas of this country, storms can get extremely wild and woolly, and having something over your windows will greatly reduce the risk of them being damaged by hail or flying debris. Glass can be very expensive to replace, not to mention the dangers of having shards of the stuff flying into your home.

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If you are interested in getting an outdoor window shutter for your home, then the first thing you need to do is get your measurements written down. To do this, you need to measure the outside of your window frame. It’s no use doing your measuring from inside, as quite often these dimensions will differ on the external part of the frame. You need to measure the height of the frame on both the left and right hand side, as well as getting the width on the top and bottom. Once you have these measurements, the next step is to determine whether you will be able to get a standard sized shutter that will fit in that space, or whether you will need to get something custom made.

Traditionally external shutters are made from wood, and many people much prefer this material than any other, as it adds to the old world charm that they are trying to create in their home. Wood is extremely expensive, however, and there are vinyl outdoor shutters out there that do every bit as good a job, are a whole lot cheaper than wood, and will also last a lot longer without warping, cracking or fading.

The most important thing is that the shutters that you decide upon match the exterior of your home. For many, this is an easy task, as this style of window covering will fit many different types of homes; however you also need to take into account the hardware that comes with the shutters. By this I mean the knobs, locks, hooks and hinges. All of these extra items will have a direct impact on the finished product, and careful consideration should be given to each.

Filed Under: Outdoor Shutters Tagged With: outdoor shutter, Outdoor Shutters, outdoor window shutter, outdoor window shutters, vinyl outdoor shutters

Security Shutters – Safe As Houses

August 15, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

It’s an unfortunate truth that crime in our country is at an all time high, and continues to grow worse every passing year. As more and more people become unemployed, they become desperate, and many of them turn to crime as a means to survive. Even in rural areas, the number of break ins are increasing, and it’s gotten so bad that people that never even locked their doors at night are now starting to buy security shutters for their homes to give them peace of mind.

The benefits of having a good security shutter installed are many. Not only do they protect the valuables in your home, but they protect your most important asset of all – your family. When going away on holidays, I’m sure you would ask someone to come and check the house on a regular basis, but that’s not a failsafe approach to keeping your home secure, and there is nothing worse than coming home from a wonderful week or two away, to find your house has been broken into. Taking some security measures around your home will act as a natural deterrent to would be thieves. They will just move on to easier pickings the majority of the time.

Another benefit of security roller shutters that you may not have considered is the added protection it gives your house against extreme weather. Security Shutters If you live in an area that suffers from severe storms, or even hurricanes, then you will have a good understanding of just how destructive the forces of nature can be. During these violent episodes, all sorts of debris can be thrown around, and an unprotected window is no match for a sheet of tin hurtling towards it at top speed.

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One of the most popular types of security screens is the security roller shutter. The great thing about these is that when you are not using them, they roll up into a small box at the top of your window or door, and are unobtrusive. You would hardly even know they are there, so they won’t take away from the look of your home. You can either get a cheaper model that is operated manually via a system of a pulley and chain, or you can spend a bit more money and get a motorized version that can be operated by remote control. You can even get shutters that work on a timer, so that you can program them to lock up themselves at a certain time of the day.

Most security window shutters these days are manufactured using aluminum, which is great because this is an incredibly string material and can be disguised quite easily with the right color to match your external walls and doors.

There are, of course, other security measures that you can, and should, take to make sure that your home is thief proof. For example, having an alarm system, getting security cameras installed, and making sure that all your windows and doors are fitted with deadlocks. You can never be too careful, especially when it comes to your family and belongings.

Filed Under: Security Shutters Tagged With: home security shutters, security roller shutters, security shutter, Security Shutters, security window shutters

Indoor Shutters – Outside In

August 11, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

Trends in home design are always changing and shifting. Some people feel a need to keep up with all these changes, and modify their homes to suit whatever the newest trend is out there, while others spend more time contemplating what they want out of their home, rather than what someone else dictates what they should have. Of these two types of people, the ones who base their decisions on their own desires are the ones that will end up feeling more comfortable in their homes. That said, there are some design ideas that stay in fashion throughout the years. One of these designs is indoor shutters.

Shutters started their life outside the house, protecting people from damaging storms and even hurricanes, they are still used to a great extent in storm prone areas for this reason, but the charm that they add to a home has been recognised by many who live in areas that will never need that sort of protection. Once people started realising that they desired the look of a shutter, without having to worry about going around the outside of their house every night closing them all up, they figured that they could just as easily put these shutters on the inside of their home. Not only would this bring the charm inside, but it would prevent the shutters from getting as worn from the harsh sunlight.

Indoor window shutters are generally used on larger windows; they are basically built into the inside of the window frame. The skeleton of the shutter consists of a couple of vertical boards down either side, and two or three horizontal ones (one at the top, one at the bottom, and sometimes one that runs through the middle of the frame). The gaps are filled up with louvers that can be of either the stationary sort, or moveable ones that can be adjusted via a rod running down the middle of the shutter. indoor shutters To get the most benefit of these types of window coverings, you will need enough room either side of the window so that the shutter can swing open and allow full access to the window when needed.

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There are two basic materials that are used in the design of an indoor shutter; wood and vinyl. Most people prefer indoor wood shutters, as they give much more natural warmth to your home, and look more like the shutters of old that were used back in the days of settlement. There are two problems, however, with wood. The first is that it is very expensive. The price of wood continues to rise as people become more and more concerned about dwindling forests and greenhouse gases. The other problem is that wood tends to warp over time, especially in damp environments, and needs to be treated on a regular basis.

Vinyl indoor shutters, on the other hand, need a lot less maintenance and last a lot longer. They can be easily cleaned, and with advancements being made in manufacturing techniques, can look every bit as good as their more natural wooden counterparts. Ultimately the choice is yours. It’s obviously true that nothing can compare to the natural charm of wood, but if your money situation is not going to allow for that extravagance, then vinyl can be a palatable alternative.

Filed Under: Indoor Shutters Tagged With: indoor shutter, Indoor Shutters, indoor window shutter, indoor window shutters, indoor wood shutters

Plantation Shutters – Old World Charm

August 11, 2009 By Joe Franklin 1 Comment

Plantation shutters are nothing new, but they have recently been making a resurgence in interior design circles. This style of window covering originated back in the colonial days. As farmers started settling in places that looked good for their crops, they would build their homesteads on these sites and start working the land. When the storm seasons arrived, however, they learned that there was a price to paid for such fertile soil; the weather. Many homes were lost and had to be rebuilt in those first few years of settlement. To protect their newly rebuilt houses, the settlers started installing shutters on the outside of their windows. This was not a new concept, as it had been used in Europe with great results as well.

Nowadays, the farmers in those areas still use the same design principles that were employed way back then to protect their homes, but the charm of these shutters was so great, that people who didn’t need that level of protection had them incorporated into their homes anyway. Because of this popularity, there are not many window covering specialist stores that you will enter that don’t have some style of these shutters available.

For the most part, you will find these shutters attached to the outside of the window. They are attached to the window frame by the way of hinges, allowing them to swing open like doors and lay back against the wall on either side of the window. You can also get interior plantation shutters, although they are not as popular because of the space needed to swing them open. The one big benefit of having them inside is that you don’t have to go out to close them up, which can be a real hassle if you have to do it a couple of times a day.

Plantation shutters usually are attached to the inside of the window frame. Their frame consists of two vertical boards running down side, two horizontal boards, one on the top and another on the bottom, and optionally another one running along the middle. Between the frames are louvers, or slats, which allow light to enter your room while still giving you the protection you need. There are two different slat styles; moveable and stationary. Moveable louvers are usually operated using a rod that runs vertically down the middle of the shutter. This allows you to change the amount of light that enters your room as the sun moves. It also gives you the option of complete privacy when needed.

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The traditional material used in plantation shutters is wood. This goes back to the days of the settlers, when most of their home was made from wood. In modern days, wood plantation shutters are still the most popular material, mostly because of the warmth and country charm that it adds to the home. The downside is that wood needs to be treated regularly. If you don’t treat your shutters on a regular basis, then it won’t be long before you start to notice wear and tear, the wood will fade and crack, and in some cases even warp, making it difficult, if not impossible to open and close your shutters.

For this reason, some people prefer to use vinyl plantation shutters as a modern alternative. If you can get over the notion that this material is synthetic and defeats the purpose of having something classical on your windows, then you will realise that this material is extremely hardy, and can look every bit as good as the real thing, without the extra maintenance.

If you are contemplating plantation shutters, you should be warned that there is a decent amount of expense involved. Compared to plain curtains and blinds, these guys will cost you a fair amount of money. There are a few ways that you can look at cutting these costs a bit. The first way is to get discount plantation shutters from a store that stocks factory seconds. Usually, these shutters will only have a small flaw in them, in most cases unnoticeable, and you will be able to get them at a fraction of the cost. If you would prefer not to by seconds, there are still plenty of cheap plantation shutters to be found online, you just need to do a bit of shopping around.

Filed Under: Plantation Shutters Tagged With: cheap plantation shutters, discount plantation shutters, interior plantation shutters, plantation shutter, Plantation Shutters

Window Shutters – Inside and Out

August 6, 2009 By Joe Franklin Leave a Comment

Curtains and blinds are great for those windows that you want to access on a regular basis, but if you are after something a bit more solid and permanent, then you are probably going to want to look at window shutters. The majority of shutters are made from timber and consist of a vertical frame on either side of the window and twp or three horizontal frames (top and bottom, and optionally one in the middle). Within this frame a shutter will usually have louvres, which can be either fixed in place, or movable so that you can open and close them. Some shutters are fixed into the window cavity permanent, while others are set on hinges, and can be opened and closed as needed. There are many different reasons why people use shutters in their homes. Shutters with louvres that open and close are great for privacy, whereas outdoor shutters are used to protect your home from the harsh weather. Some people just love the look of them, and install them for no other reason than their aesthetic value.

Interior Window Shutters

Usually the shutters that you install on the inside of your windows will have hinges on the inner window frame, allowing them to swing open and closed. In the case of corner windows this is not possible, as the shutter “door” will have nowhere to swing. You can get interior shutters that have louvres that can be moved up and down to control the amount of light that is filtered through, and you can also get stationary louvres that do not move. Stationary louvres are usually cheaper, but are not recommended for areas that see a large amount of sunlight. There are different sized louvres available, the larger slats being used more widely on larger windows. This style of shutter is often referred to as “Plantation Shutters” or “Californian Shutters”, and can be used to great effect in the right situation. The slats that open and close are quite often split into two pieces, so that you can open the louvres in the top half of the shutter, while leaving the bottom half closed, or visa versa.

Exterior Window Shutters

Exterior shutters have been used since colonial days to protect your home from the extremes of weather that mother nature throws at us. Having the shutters on the outside of your window protects the glass in the case of flying debris or heavy rain. As with the interior variety, outside window shutters are usually attached to the side of the window frames using a hinge, allowing you to open and close them as needed. The downside is that they are not as easy to access as indoor shutters. You can also get shutters that are not functional and do not even close over your window. Obviously, these are purely for show. When purchasing shutters for windows, especially exterior ones, a great deal of attention needs to be paid to the materials used. Shutters on the outside of your home are going to be exposed to the elements day in and day out, and it is important that they are made of a sturdy hardwood and coated in weather proof paint or varnish in order for them to last the distance.

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Of course, wood is not the only material available for shutters. You can also get synthetic materials that are very sturdy and lightweight, however they do not have the charm of real wooden window shutters. If you are on a tight budget, and really want the look of shutters in your home, then it would be well worth your while to investigate vinyl window shutters. The benefit of vinyl is that it is hard wearing, and will not fade in direct sunlight as wood can. You can also get vinyl shutters in many different colours, so for the modern decor or the kids bedrooms, this can be used to great effect.

Filed Under: Window Shutters Tagged With: exterior window shutters, interior window shutters, shutters for windows, window shutter, Window Shutters