My Style

The traditional wooden shutter is normally made
from wood, needs quite a bit of maintenance, and
looks as if it was right out of an episode of
an old comedy. These shutters have been around
since the Colonial Times, and are quite a bit
old. Most people never close them, yet the
hinges still need to be shined and oiled.

These days, it may be the time to get rid of
the traditional wood shutters on your home and
go with a more modern choice such as aluminum
window shutters, as they resist the elements
and never close. This will help cut down on
your replacement and maintenance costs for
keeping the exterior of your home looking the
way it should.

Below, you’ll find several different types of
shutters offered today.

Vinyl window shutters
Vinyl shutters are easy to clean, very affordable,
and last around forty years. They will give
your home a traditional look without the need
for replacing them on a regular basis. They
weigh a little of nothing and are available in
traditional, louvered, board, and even batten
panel styles. To make things better, they
will arrive primed and ready to paint any color
you wish.

Composite window shutters
These types of shutters resemble a thick particle
board that is made from a collaboration of
weather and rot resistant material. They are
made from molds that offer many different
styles that include the louvered, board, batten,
and even raised panel styles. You can also
find these shutter types in a cupboard style
which is hinged at the top so you can open
and close them like the old fashioned wood
shutters of the past.

Fiberglass shutters
Fiberglass is the most expensive type of
shutter although they will last around 20 years
or so. They are molded as well and offered
in a variety of designs that include Bahama,
louvered, board and battened, and even raised
panel styles.

Fiberglass shutters are also stronger and
more secure than other types and can also be
used to protect your windows during storms and
hurricanes.

Aluminum shutters
Aluminum style shutters are offered in a
variety of styles that include the faux colonial
louvered style and Bahama style. These shutters
are strong and offer great protection for your
windows, and come in thousands of different
colors and textures. The only bad thing about
aluminum shutters, is the fact that most
companies will only offer a warranty of around
three years.

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The first thing to do when measuring for your mini
blinds is to determine if you need inside mount or
outside mount. Inside mount will fit the blinds
within the window frame, while outside mount will
fit the overlap of the window opening.

Inside mount
To find the width, measure the exact distance between
the inside surfaces of the window frame at the top,
middle, and also the bottom then use the narrowest
width you receive with your measurements.

To find the length, measure the exact distance
from the inside surface at the top of the window
to the bottom sill at the left, middle, and the
right then use the longest length. If you prefer
for the blinds not to touch the windowsill, you
should deduct 1/4″. If there isn’t a sill, then
you should measure the length to the point where
the blinds are to reach.

Outside mount
To find the width, measure the exact distance
between the outermost points where the blinds are
to be placed. For the best of light control, the
measurement should extend 3/4″ beyond the window
opening on each side.

To find the length, measure the exact distance
from where the top of the blinds are to be placed
to the top of the windowsill. If there isn’t a
sill on your window, then measure the length to
the point where the blinds are to reach.

Measuring for your blinds is very important, as
you’ll need the measurements to order the blinds.
Most companies will deduct for the brackets at
the factory, then all you’ll need to do once
you receive your blinds is to install them -
which is easy to do as well.

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Installing your shutters isn’t a difficult process
at all. The key here is to work with shutters that
are specifically built for each individual window
opening in conjunction with detailed instructions.

Many companies that install shutters will tell
customers that the shutters need to be installed
by a certified installer. This isn’t the case,
as you can install your shutters like a pro with
no experience at all.

Measuring your shutters
To properly install shutters to a window opening,
you’ll need to measure. First, you’ll need to
determine if the shutters will be mounted to the
inside or the outside of the window opening.

Inside mount installation
The preferred means of installation is to mount
shutters directly to the window jamb inside of the
window opening. This method is generally cleaner
than mounting to the outside of the window and
it doesn’t require additional hang strips or frame
strips. Keep in mind, the window must be somewhat
square and have a solid jamb for you to attach
the screws to.

To determine the window depth, measure from the
front plane of the window back to the nearest
obstruction that’ll prevent the louvers from
rotating. If you prefer, the company you are
ordering from can also tell you the window depth
for the style of shutters you order.

On occasion, a supplier of shutters will offer
a second inside mounting method that uses rear
hanging strips concealed behind the shutter
panels that will allow adjustment up, down, left,
and right for easier alignment. This method
is ideal if the window is out of square or if
it has a drywall opening without a solid wood
jamb.

Outside mount installation
Outside mount installations use frames that attach
to the wall or existing trim just to the outside
of the opening of the window. Normally, the
frame will surround the shutter panels on three
or four sides, depending on if a lower still
exists.

If you go with a cafe type shutter style, the
hang strips are used on either side of the
shutter panels. The frame or hang strips will
screw directly to the wall or trim, and the
shutter hinge to the frame or the hanging strips.

Always play it safe and measure with a steel tape
measure, which will give you the most accurate
measurements. Don’t attempt to measure with a
fabric tape or yard stick - as this will lead
you to a poor installation.

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Measuring
The first thing to do, is to determine the position
of the mini blinds, deciding if they will be inside
or outside of the window. Inside mounting will look
more customized, although outside mounting will
provide better control of lighting.

For inside frame mounting, measure the width between
the points where the brackets will be placed; top,
middle, and bottom. Record the narrowest of the
measurements you receive. Now, measure the length
from the top inside casing of the windowsill. At
least 1 inch of flat surface will be needed on the
inside casing in order to attach the brackets.

For outside frame mounting, you’ll need to measure
the overall width of the area to be covered. Hang
your mini blinds outside of the frame if there is
less than 1″ of flat surface on the inside casing.
The measurement should overlap the window by at
least 1 1/2″ on each side.

Installation

1. Determine if you want inside or outside
mounting, and measure your window accordingly.
2. After you have purchased the correct
size of mini blinds, remove the window stop from
the top of the window on the window casing.
3. Screw the brackets that came with your
blinds to the side window casing at the top, using
either two or three screws per bracket.
4. With the wand on the left and the lift
cord on the right, slide the mini blinds into the
brackets you just installed.
5. Once you have the mini blinds in place,
secure the caps over the brackets.
6. If the blinds are too long, remove the
slats from the bottom of them, as this should help
to get them to the appropriate height.

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