The Final Touch

You’ve been working on the outside of your home for months now. You removed the dead trees. You had the lawn treated. You redesigned the flowerbeds. You stained the driveway. You painted the house. You had new windows installed. The result? The curb appeal of your home has improved considerably. Now you just need to add some final touches, starting with new shutters.

Your shutters have taken a beating over the years, and now it’s time you replaced them. Before you start the shopping, you need to determine the style of shutters you want. Perhaps you want what you had before. Perhaps you want something new. Shutters come in four basic styles: louvered, raised panel, board and batten, and Bahama. Louvered are the most common, and their traditional look suits most home styles. Raised panel shutters also feature a traditional look and work well on homes with paneled doors. Board and batten shutters are simple in design – a few vertical slats held together by a horizontal board on the top and bottom – and suit most rustic, country homes. Bahama, or hurricane, shutters serve both form and function, adding a touch of style while protecting the windows of homes in areas prone to hurricane weather. They cover the entire window and open like an awning.

Shutters come in a variety of materials. PVC is popular with homeowners because it requires very little maintenance. It does fade, crack, dent and bend, however. Wood is another popular choice, and there are several types of wood suitable for shutters. Some of these include pine, cedar, cypress and redwood. Wood does require some maintenance, in particular primer, paint and sealer. If you plan to use Bahama shutters, you will also have to select hardware. A number of styles are available for shutter dogs, hinges, tie-backs and hold-backs, locks and caps. Hand-forged are the best.

Once you have an idea of the shutters you want, you will need to take accurate measurements. Measure your old shutters and have the figures with you when you go shopping. Homeowners who do not have shutters might want to have a professional come out to their home and take accurate measurements.

For the best results, you should shop for shutters locally or online with a reputable vendor. Ask questions, know what you are purchasing and make sure you are able to handle the installation yourself. If not, hire someone reputable. You don’t want to spend a lot on new shutters only to damage them during the installation process! Protect your investment with smart choices from beginning to end.

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