Wooden Shutters

The Four Common Types Of Wood Shutters

Wood shutters are made to be both a decorative and functional window treatment for the house and other buildings which have a liking for such especially in a thematic style neighborhood area or street blocks. As we pass around different types of neighborhood in our locality or in other places and states, we could also often see the different appearances, in terms of design and style, of wooden shutters that are installed in some homes and edifice. This is so because of the different types of wood which are being used in their creation. In this post, we will try to tackle the popular woods in which these shutters are made from. Each wood type has their own distinct traits that make them suitable to a vast range of shutter construction or even in some designs of cheap wood blinds which has found their niche in some way. Basically, these are all hardwoods but not all woods are equal in strength and quality.

Oak wood is another hardwood that is known for its elegant looking color shade. However though, it has a characteristic grainy texture which may not be appealing to some house owners. One reason that made it popular is the fact that there is an abundance of oak trees where timber used to make shutters can be sourced.

Bass wood, perhaps, is the most durable type when it comes to wooden window shutters. It possesses an inherent temperature resistant characteristic which makes it ideal for exterior applications. In addition, its toughness makes it highly resistant to dents and major scratches. However though, it can also be used as an interior wood house shutter. Its natural shade and fine texture are suited to most interior house window settings. Although it may cost more compared to other types of wood, it certainly has been a consistent hot selling type in the window shutter world.

Maple wood shutter – As we all know, maple trees grows in abundance; hence, another reliable source of timber products. Maple wood shutters are naturally yellowish to golden in their color shades. Although maple wood products are also characterized by their heavy weight, they have found their form in many shutter products too.

Cedar wood is another hardwood that has color shade that can blend well with its surroundings. However, most nice looking shutters made out of cedar are either painted with a glossy finish or stained with a more appealing color. Although it is lightweight and easy to carry around, cedar wood can easily get dented.

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The Benefits of Using Basswood Wooden Shutters

Much like exterior wooden shutters are preferred my many homeowners as a window treatment, basswood shutters are considered to be the cream of the crop when it comes to durable shutters. Although shutters of synthetic materials abound in the market (i.e. PVC and vinyl type shutters), those made of wood has still captured a large audience who prefers to have that natural look brought by wood exterior and interior shutters. Since in is innate in most people to get the best of the best, basswood has become a hot commodity in the wood shutter market. Why? It’s because of the many positive characteristics of basswood over other kinds of timber.

Just to share a few facts, basswood belongs to the tree genus of tilia who has the inherent characteristic of very sturdy trunks. Some other names which basswood is known are lime and linden. One factor which makes this wood highly suitable for shutters is its fine texture. Other types of trees possess a coarse and porous texture which. The advantage of having a fine texture is that a uniform and smooth finish will be achieved; hence, giving much positive impact to the overall texture of the shutter frame.

Because of its sturdy nature, basswood is highly resistant to warping. Other kinds of wood are not as resilient when it comes to warping. Warping can occur when lumber or wood is commonly exposed to heat and water. That is, deformation can occur which makes a shutter appear incongruous and out of shape. Certainly, a warped wood shutter hanging out of the window gives out a negative look. It sticks out like a sore thumb affecting the general appearance of the windows and the house in an external view perspective. Although no wood is immune from heat and moisture, basswood has a high endurance against those. But nevertheless, basswood shutters may also warp over time. However though, it would probably take very much longer than other types of wood and timber. In addition to being a sturdy wood material, basswood are easy to work around with adhesives. Why is this so? It is because of its non-porous nature making. With porous wood, adhesives would have a hard time sticking on both surfaces due to less surface contact.

Interior and exterior wooden shutters made out of basswood may cost more than those made up of other types of wood or timber. However, the benefits of using one can be much worth than its money value.

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The Need To Maintain Your Wooden Window Shutters

Window shutters made of wood, no matter how resilient they are against the elements and temperature changes, will need some repair and maintenance attention at some point in their service life. Good repair habits can lead to their longevity and long term usefulness thereby prolonging the need to totally change those shutters which, in turn, can save you some extra cash. However, doing these repairs need not be costly especially if you are the do-it-yourself type who wants to work around with tools.

The most common adversaries of most wood products are sunlight and water. Sunlight can be destructive to wood because, of course, it brings heat that may cause the wood material to warp and get deformed in some way. Furthermore, during rains, some rainwater might be able to seep through the pores of the wooden shutters which might cause them to rot from the inside. That being said, your shutters, especially if installed on the window exteriors are exposed to intense heat during the dry months and exposed to rain during the wet months. Fortunately, there are some solutions, aside from routine window cleaning, that can be applied that can, at least, give some extent of protection against the scorching sun and rain that might cause some damage to the overall structural integrity of the shutter. In addition, burrowing insects can also cause some damage to the shutter frame itself as they burrow deep inside the wood material. However, this can be addressed already as most lumber used for shutter construction are already treated.

One noted solution is to apply a protective coating to the shutters or reinforce the coating (if already coated) at regular intervals. Keep in mind that any applied protective coating to a wood product can get faded or worn out when exposed to direct sunlight and rain. This can lead to possible areas of penetration by the heat and rain. Hence, a yearly application of fresh protective coating can work in most cases. It would not cost much though. You won’t need large amounts of paint anyway. However, light colored coating is the better bet because dark colors of paint tend to absorb large amounts of heat from the sun. Furthermore, there are paints and lacquers that have glossy characteristics. It would probably be nice to use those. Their glossy surface will most likely result in the reflection of much of the sunlight thereby reducing the heat on the wood shutter surface.

Filed Under Shutter Repair, Window Shutter Maintenance Tips, Wood Shutters | 1 Comment

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