Regular wooden shutters were the only shutters available for many centuries. Today, fortunately, vinyl and other types of shutters are often used instead of traditional wood house shutters. The reason why wooden shutters are quickly becoming anachronistic is that they are very high-maintenance. Homeowners today are looking for a way to create fewer jobs around the house. Wooden shutters call for repainting or re-staining about every other year, even if they are protected from the weather. There are other ways.
Exterior house shutters are now exclusively used for ornamental purposes and are never closed, unlike long ago when shutters were developed. Shutters used to keep out inclement weather years ago, before double paned glass. Nowadays, shutters are always open, but do add a finished look to any home.
As we slowly say goodbye to wooden shutters, we can purchase and enjoy the following types of shutters:
Vinyl Shutters
Just as tough as vinly exterior siding, vinyl house shutters are maintenance free and last a lifetime. The only drawback with vinyl shutters instead of wood is that they are easily dented if anything is tossed at the windows. In other words, they are less durable than wood when it comes to rocks, hail or other debris. Many people are willing to put up with this because vinyl shutters look good, are affordable and maintenance free.
Composite Shutters
These are more economical shutters which use composite woods as opposed to solid woods. The advantage of composite shutters is that they are unaffected by termites and rot and will last a lifetime. They are also pre-stained and are maintenance free, yet will look like real wood. Composite Shutters are a happy alternative for anyone thinking about maintenance free shutters.
Fiberglass shutters
Fiberglass is sturdy and durable. Fiberglass is an effective choice for exterior house shutters and is commonly used in areas where the shutters need to be closed, such as areas that are regularly hit by hurricanes. Fiberglass shutters do not come cheap, but they are stout, maintenance free and able to take a hit. They are an excellent choice for anyone living in an area affected by hurricanes for the reason that they can ride the storm out.
Aluminum shutters
As with vinyl shutters, aluminum shutters mirror aluminum siding and are a stylish alternative for homeowners. While vinyl came into fashion twenty years ago, knocking aluminum off the radar, aluminum shutters showed up again and are now very popular among people who want good looking and maintenance free shutters that are sturdy as well.
Whether you are in the market for shutters for the exterior or interior of your house, you will find many different maintenance free shutters available. The kind of house shutters that you choose will depend upon your budget as well as how you plan to use the shutters. Wood House Shutters are used for everything from staving off damage from a hurricane to improving your curb appeal. Find the ones that are right for circumstances.
