Window shutters have been a popular addition to the exterior of houses and apartment blocks for hundreds of years in countries all over the planet. The benefits window shutters provide have meant that they have continued to be popular even when used only for aesthetic purposes. If you feel that the exterior of your house is missing something, why not look into installing some exterior window shutters to bring it all together as one complete design concept.
In some areas of the world window shutters are more than just a design element. Due to extreme weather conditions in certain parts of America, window shutters are used to protect window panes against debris during storms. In areas that experience regular and heavy snow storms shutters are used to protect the window glass from caving in due to a build up of snow outside the house. They also serve to massively reduce the amount of light that protrudes into a room and can increase the safety of your home against potential burglary.
Shutters that are used for functional purposes are often constructed of hard woods as they are exposed to the elements and softer woods will degrade very quickly. Some modern examples are made of PVC and fibreglass, the latter being the strongest and most hardwearing choice due to the method of manufacture. Certain hard woods that are used in shutters actually breathe out moisture, protecting them from rot. Using reinforced plastic shutters will mean that they will not sag over time and will look as good in 10 years as they do 1 year after installation.
Ultimately the decision of what type of exterior window shutter to choose from will come down to its primary function. When looking for shutters for safety purposes against weather conditions, reinforced plastic shutters are ideal but not all plastic shutters are designed for this purpose so you must check with the manufacturer before you commit to purchase. There are also strict building codes that must be adhered to when installing window shutters for this purpose.
Commonly the most popular style of window shutters in areas such as France and Switzerland is hardwood shutters made from Teak, Spanish Cedar or Honduran Mahogany. Some hardwoods contain tannin which helps to repel most insects, and actually breathe out moisture to prevent rotting, so they make a great choice for exterior shutters. The only downside to hardwood shutters is that they require regular maintenance as every few years they will need to be repainted or re-stained.
In some areas of the world window shutters are more than just a design element. Due to extreme weather conditions in certain parts of America, window shutters are used to protect window panes against debris during storms. In areas that experience regular and heavy snow storms shutters are used to protect the window glass from caving in due to a build up of snow outside the house. They also serve to massively reduce the amount of light that protrudes into a room and can increase the safety of your home against potential burglary.
Shutters that are used for functional purposes are often constructed of hard woods as they are exposed to the elements and softer woods will degrade very quickly. Some modern examples are made of PVC and fibreglass, the latter being the strongest and most hardwearing choice due to the method of manufacture. Certain hard woods that are used in shutters actually breathe out moisture, protecting them from rot. Using reinforced plastic shutters will mean that they will not sag over time and will look as good in 10 years as they do 1 year after installation.
Ultimately the decision of what type of exterior window shutter to choose from will come down to its primary function. When looking for shutters for safety purposes against weather conditions, reinforced plastic shutters are ideal but not all plastic shutters are designed for this purpose so you must check with the manufacturer before you commit to purchase. There are also strict building codes that must be adhered to when installing window shutters for this purpose.
Commonly the most popular style of window shutters in areas such as France and Switzerland is hardwood shutters made from Teak, Spanish Cedar or Honduran Mahogany. Some hardwoods contain tannin which helps to repel most insects, and actually breathe out moisture to prevent rotting, so they make a great choice for exterior shutters. The only downside to hardwood shutters is that they require regular maintenance as every few years they will need to be repainted or re-stained.
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