My Style

Currently, shutters are made in a number of different
materials, with wooden shutters still being the
benchmark for quality window coverings. Quality
wood shutters are designed to last for the lifetime
of your home. Deciding on the material for your
shutters is the first step in making things work.

Selecting your shutter style
There are two basic styles of shutters available.
The traditional style uses a narrow shutter panel
with 1-1/4″ louvers. Traditional shutter louvers
are normally wedge shaped, being thicker in the
front and narrower in the rear. Plantation type
shutters are generally 1-18″ thick with larger
louvers.

Selecting the shutter finish
Shutters can be stained, painted, or both. Almost
all companies offer a number of paints with stain
colors, while some don’t. Paint colors will
generally include a variety of whites and lights.
The stains will help enhance wood grains in a
number of tints and tones, starting from light
natural tones to an almost black pitch. Keep in
mind, both synthetic and wood composite shutters
can’t be stained.

Determine the price
Because of their material options, shutters will
come in a wide range of prices, with many suppliers
calculating the price on the square foot. Prices
are calculated based on the exact window size,
shutter, style, finish, and number of panels
involved.

Deciding on the unit
Shutter units can use a number of different panel
configurations within a window. The number of
panels across the shutter is determined by the
shutter style, traditional or plantation, and
the width of the window. The traditional style
panels are normally narrower than the plantation
style and would use more panels across the window.

Each specific company offers guidelines for the
number of panels to be used with a window. If
the window is tall enough, you may want to
consider a double tier, or two tier shutter
unit that uses one set of shutters at the top
and one set at the bottom.

Each set of shutters will then open independently
on the other. You can also use a divider rail,
which is is a horizontal bar that creates a top
and bottom louver section within a single style
of panel.

Measure and order
Carefully follow the measuring instructions,
then determine the window type and installation
provided by the company you have selected. The
directions should be detailed, yet very easy for
you to follow.

The company should also offer phone assistance
should you have any questions.

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Installing exterior shutters to a window is a quick
and easy way to add style and flair to the outside
of a home. Both historical and modern houses will
benefit from the timeless accent of having exterior
shutters. As with all types of home improvements,
the quality and longevity of the exterior shutters
should be evaluated before you make a purchase.

The exterior window shutters for your home are
available in many different shapes and materials.
Vinyl or wood shutters are easily available at most
home improvement stores, and they can also be a
cost effective option. You can also make wooden
shutters operable with functional hardware.

Exterior shutters can also be made out of several
types of wood. The best wod to use is cedar, as
it offers outstanding durablity and resistance to
decay. Cedar also provides long service with minimal
maintenance in applications involving mud, silk,
window sahes, fencing, poles, and even exterior
shutters.

The tannin oil in ceder is what really makes it an
ideal wood for exterior shutters. It will prevent
moisture penetration - and bugs hate it. Keep in
mind, exterior shutters shouldn’t be left unprotected.
It is however, best to finish the shutters before
you install them, so that all surfaces can be
fully covered.

The ideal base for exterior shutters is a primer
coat of oil base primer that is tinted as close to
the final color as possible. The oil will penetrate
into the wood, giving better protection. For the
best results in painting, you should always consult
a professional painting company.

You can mount exterior shutters to your home with
a 1/2″ spacer between the back of the panels and
the building to allow ventilation. If you aren’t
using functional hardware, you should use rust proof
screws that sink flush to the wood. Once you
have finished the installation, simply paint over
the heads of the screws.

By having on opaque finish painted on the wood, it
will prevent light rays from penetrating the finish
and breaking down wooden fibers of your exterior
shutters. If you choose, you can also stain
exterior shutters.

Anytime you are staining shutters, you should use
finishing products that are designed specifically
for exterior use, and be prepared to do proper
maintence on your shutters to keep them looking good
all the time.

Exterior shutters will add color and style to the
outside of your home, making them a purchase you
can’t go wrong with. Wooden exterior shutters are
the most popular and best to use - making them
something you truly must have for your home.

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A lot of companies claim to sell custom shutters,
although they may actually be selling customized
interior shutters. Customized types of shutters
will start as pre-built individual stock size
shutter panels, which are then cut down and hinged
together to achieve a specific size of shutter.

This will generally result in shutters that are a
poor fit for the windows of your home. The
shutters aren’t proportional to the window size
and depending on how much of it was trimmed, the
panels themselves may also be compromised.

Synthetic shutters on the other hand, normally
use pre-made stiles, rails, and louvers, then cut
them to size for quick production. This can also
result in an improper fit and components that
aren’t in proportion to the window.

Other companies out there sell custom made shutters,
which are shutters specifically made from the start
for each individual window. Even though this may
sound very nice, the results are normally those
you wouldn’t want to display on your home. With
your home being very important, the last thing
you want is shoddy shutters.

Custom made shutters are fabricated so that all
stiles and rails can be uniformed throughout the
house or office. Even though they claim the
custom made shutters are perfectly made for
your windows, it generally isn’t the case

When you go out and purchase shutters, you should
always avoid companies that sell customized types
of shutters. Instead, you should use the old
fashioned method and measure what you need,
then go out and buy.

This way, you’ll know exactly what you need to
buy. You can select the shutters you like the
best, even those that match the interior or
exterior of your home. Before you know it,
you’ll have the shutters you’ve always wanted -
your way.

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At some point in time, all of us have come across
mini blinds at the local home improvement center.
They look really nice sitting there, although
no one wants to spend a few days removing the
dust from them. Regardless of what you may hear
or think, it doesn’t always have to be this way.

Detail oriented
It will probably seem obvious, but you should
close the slats prior to dusting. Weekly blind
dusting is the best way to go, using a lamb’s
wool duster, as lamb’s wool will naturally attract
dust and can help prevent buildup as well.

If lamb’s wool isn’t available, a paintbrush
may also do the trick. Make sure you place
some towels underneath the blinds to catch any
excess dust. If you want to be thorough, you
can also take the blinds down and clean them
in your bathtub.

To remove the grease from the blinds, an all
purpose cleaner can be used. Spray the blinds
good, then let the cleaner work on them for a
few minutes. Then, wipe the cleaner off with
a soft cloth, although rinsing the cloth will
make it even more effective. To clean the other
side of the blinds, flip it over and do the same
thing as mentioned above.

Fast and simple
This one is simple - simply use an old pair of
cotton gloves to clean your blinds. Slip the
gloves on, dip your fingers into a solution
of 1 teaspoon ammonia and 1 quart water, then
run your fingers through the mini blinds.

If you prefer, you can also use the vaccuum
cleaner hose attachments. You can even use
the vaccuum cleaner without having to remove
the blinds. Putting a dryer sheet on the
blinds will remove any static so that dust
will no longer be attracted to the blinds.

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