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.
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.
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.