Sunday, April 27, 2008

Wood Shutters for Your Home

Here in Edmonton, Alberta, as the days get shorter and the sun sinks lower in the sky, sunlight streaming through the windows can become an annoying distraction. wood shutters could be your answer. Not to mention the neighbors who have more evening hours to look into your brightly lit living room. Once again, wood shutters could be your answer. You could put up shades to foil prying eyes, but a pair of swinging shutters would definitely be more interesting.

Wood shutters are a great way to add architectural and historical detail. Shutters help windows do their job better, keeping out the elements, whether it's winter's chilly winds or summer's oppressive heat. And easy to install on any window because they attach to a thin frame that either sits inside the window opening or around the outside of the casing. As long as the frame is positioned correctly, the wood shutters will swing freely - and close out the day's distractions with a satisfying click. Are these your answer?

Wood shutters can be an expensive alternative to your design theme. There didn't used to be as many choices there are today. Some were either made of wood, metal or stone. Materials had to be harvested or mined and then fashioned into whatever shape needed to construct the finished product your wood shutters. Today it is much different. New, synthetic and composite materials are cropping up everywhere and are proving to be not only a viable alternative to natural materials, but one that makes life a bit easier when choosing your wood shutters.

The shutters are constructed by stapling the slats with tiny staples to the frame of the wood. This can cause a problem over time with the staples working their way out of the wood shutters. Then the slats to the wood shutters start to fall out. The slats on faux wood shutters are able to be attached with strong adhesives that don't become detached with time.

With faux shutters, there is no change in size or shape just because of the weather. Faux wood shutters can also maintain a bright finished look without frequent painting. Your shutters can be washed with mild detergents and look as new as the day they were installed. Many are treated with dust repellents too. This causes dust in the air to flutter on by instead of sticking to the wood's surface. This makes housekeeping chores much lighter. Wood shutters can require very frequent dusting to keep them clean.

The best thing about faux wood shutters is that they can be used inside and outside the window. These resist fading in the sunlight too. Also can be used alone in interior decorating, or in place of a shade or sheers as a backdrop to draperies or valances.

Exterior

What is the best wood to use for exterior shutters? The best wood for exterior use is cedar because of its outstanding durability and resistance to decay. Cedar gives long service with little maintenance in applications such as mud sills, window sashes, sheathing under stucco or brick veneer construction, wood shutters, greenhouse benches, fencing, poles, trellises, and exterior shutters. Cedar is also used extensively for exterior siding because it is dimensionally stable and holds paint well, in addition to being a deterrent to bugs.

Installing exterior wood shutters is a relatively quick way to add style and color to the outside of a house. Historical and modern houses alike benefit from the timeless style of wood shutters. As with any home improvements, the quality and longevity of an addition should be evaluated before proceeding. Exterior shutters are available in many shapes and materials as are interior shutters.

Kelly Kramer owns a plumbing company and buy and sells real estate, if you liked this article you can learn more at http://www.edmontons-business-directory.com/Window_Coverings.html

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