Shopping for window shutters can be a harder job than you think. It is essential to get the right window shutter at the first go as these are costly affairs. To help you get a complete idea about window shutters, we've included all the necessary information you need to know about window shutters in this article. Read on to know more.

A window shutter is a kind of window covering that is solid and stable in structure. It contains a frame of horizontal rails and vertical stiles. Employed for various purposes, a window shutter can be both interior and exterior. However, in this article, we'll talk about exterior window shutters.

Image Source

Looking back at the history of exterior shutters, they originated from ancient Greek. The window shutters in their beginning were designed for interiors and not for exteriors. Until the eighteenth century, exterior window shutters were not even a thing.

Image Source

When the houses in England during the Victorian era began to feature thinner walls made of timber, the exterior shutters came into existence. Though the first exterior shutters were made of marble, with time, wooden shutters came into force. Fixed louvers were used and the panels hinged for opening and closing. Early shutters were used to shield the home of the elements and control light. It wasn't until the 16th century that people started to use window shutters for decorative purposes as well as practical ones. At this time, it started to become increasingly common to see ornamental woodwork being used for decorative purposes in homes across the world. Nowadays, we see different types of exterior window shutters.

Now, let's look at the various benefits/uses of exterior shutters.

• You can control light according to your mode and ambiance with the use of exterior shutters.

• With an exterior window shutter, you can protect your home from unpleasant weather and elements.

• Get an exterior window shutter, and you've got extra privacy.

• An exterior shutter helps in adding thermal insulation.

• It helps in reducing noise.

• For extra ventilation, the exterior window shutter is the best alternative.

• An exterior window shutter helps to add value to your home.

• An exterior window shutter is a great way to add elegance.

Now that we're aware of its uses and benefits, let's jump into the other elements of an exterior window shutter.

Today there is a wide range of fun and functional exterior window shutter styles available in the market, making it a hard task to choose one style out of the many. Having said so, we've mentioned three of the most common exterior window shutter styles that you can opt for.

Image Source

Board and Batten (also sometimes known as B&B or B and B) shutters are available in various forms and styles, viz., spaced or joined, arch-top or square, etc. Because of their simple construction, they've got an old and rustic look. It's clear from their names that they're constructed by joining individual wooden boards with shorter crosspieces (known as battens).

Image Source

Having a variety of options within itself, you can cut these into various shapes according to the curves of your window. Because of their rustic and old look, they look best with:

• Cottages

• Cabins

• Farmhouse

• Alongside these, they also look good, with architecture houses having Tudor, European, and Mission styles.

Talking about exterior window shutters, the panel shutter is one of the most common and popular styles of exterior window shutters available out there. A paneled window shutter can be a flat panel, a raised panel, or a recessed panel. These exterior shutters come with insulative properties and hence are specially designed for colder climates.

As paneled window shutter comes with a low profile, they look good with almost every architecture houses, be it bungalow or cottage, flats or farmhouse, etc. They look best with home-style like:

• Georgian

• Cape Cod

• Ranch

Image Source

• Victorian

• Colonial

• Craftsman

• French Country

• Greek Revival

Louvered shutter, popular in American architecture, has angled slats that allow light and air to pass through the same, making the homes more breathable. The louvered shutter provides ventilation features, making it suitable for temperate and warmer climates. Though louvered shutters go with any architecture houses, they work best on ornate, classical, or casual looking houses:

• Georgian

• Cape Cod

• Ranch

• Greek Revival

• Victorian

• Italianate

• Colonial

Image Source

Getting the right size of exterior shutters for your window is very important. Generally, the shutter should resemble your window identically. All the architectural elements of the window should be mirrored, such as lock rails, muntin, transom, etc.

Alongside these, the main thing to keep in mind is that the shutter should be aligned with the length of the trim of your window and comprise about one-quarter to one-third of the width of the window. The best way to select the size of your exterior window shutter is to measure the width and height/length of the window. Let's see how you can measure them.

For an authentic look, we recommend you measure the width of the window opening, excluding any trim or frame around the same. Typically, the width of the shutter should be half the window's width. Vinyl shutters are available for purchase in 12" and 15" standard widths. However, you can customize these according to the size of your window. For your convenience, we've added a chart showing the required width of the shutter according to the width of the window.

We recommend measuring the window opening height, including any trim around it, for an authentic appearance. The shutter should look like it could close inside the window opening. Remember to go with the closest height of window shutter available in the market. Standard height of vinyl shutters available are: 35", 39", 43", 47", 51", 55", 59", 63", 67", 71". However, vinyl shutters also provide customization services.

The material of the exterior window shutter largely determines how well it is going to play its role. You need to choose the best material for your requirements, and it's in no way an easy task. For your convenience, we've included two of the best materials for exterior window shutters, along with their pros and cons.

Back in the early civilization, wooden shutters were the most popular shutters worldwide, and till now, it's the same. Due to its authentic appearance and timeless beauty, it has a natural appeal. Being one of the most versatile materials, many house owners prefer it.

Image Source

These wooden shutters are best matched for areas with drier climates. Each wooden species (like oak, maple, cedar, alder, basswood, poplar, and pine) comes with different characteristics.

• These have an authentic appearance.

• They protect against heat and UV rays in summer and cold air during winter.

• The wooden shutters have a variety of style options.

• These shutters are easy to customize.

• Wood is a costly material, and thus wooden shutters are usually expensive.

• Wood is a non-sustainable material, and using wooden window shutters may lead to deforestation.

• These shutters are not suitable for places with heavy rainfall.

Over the years, the use of vinyl in the construction of window shutters has spread rapidly. The material is hard and long-lasting and thus makes the window shutters more durable. If you're looking for an exterior window shutter, make sure to check out the vinyl shutters also.

Image Source

• Vinyl shutters are cheap and affordable.

• These are very easy and convenient to install.

• They're suitable for small opening windows.

• The vinyl shutters are easy to maintain.

• Compared to wooden shutters, these shutters are not attractive enough.

• Cracking or warping shutters are common with these shutters.

• The vinyl shutters are not suitable for large windows.

• They got stained easily.

• They've got a short lifespan.

• In case of any damage, they need replacement.

Exterior window shutter hardware is highly important to make the window shutter functional. This hardware includes hinges, shutter dogs, pintles, etc. We've briefly mentioned each of these in this article.

Image Source

Hinges are pivots that allow the panels to swing, open, and close. Most of the wooden window shutters need two hinges. However, extremely tall panels require more hinges for additional support. There are various hinges available, viz., strap hinges, mortise hinges, and surface hinges.

Strap hinges are generally long and narrow in design that helps them to connect two objects or surfaces. Although you can use any hinge to connect the panel with the window, strap hinges are a better option to opt for.

The manufacturers manufacture exterior shutter dogs in various designs that include traditional s-shaped, the sea shall, star, grapes, and flower patterns. People position the shutter dogs vertically to keep the shutter in an open position. To keep the shutter in a swinging position, rotate the shutter dog horizontally.

Image Source

The pintles are generally used with hinges for securing the shutter to the surface more strongly. These shutter pintles are available in different sizes and styles to meet the requirements. Thus, it is essential to choose pintles that meet your requirements.

These pintles include Square Pintle, Polyamide Pintle Shim, Lag Pintle, Rounded Pintle, Leaf Pintle, Surface Pintles, Jamb Pintle.

The color of the exterior window shutter plays a great role in the overall look of your home, and that is why it is so essential to get the right color of window shutter. This is also a great opportunity to have a pop of color and stand out from the rest. There is a range of color options available to choose from. The most popular among all colors is black, as it fits any home exterior. Alongside black, white is another popular color when we talk about exterior window shutters. The white shutters make the windows appear larger than usual and also have an airy and crispy appearance.

Additionally, some people also prefer gray and navy blue shutters. While for a natural-tone home, deep green exteriors are in trend.

An exterior window shutter is something that provides personality to your home along with some other key features. After going through the whole article, you must have a clear picture of the exterior window shutter. What type of window shutter to opt for, which material to choose, what hardware you'll need, and which color will suit your home the best. Remember to select the option that will truly meet your requirements.

Now that you know everything about window shutters, it's time to bring your imagination to reality at Dzinly.com. If you want to see a specific color shutter on your home or have no idea and need professional designers to execute your ideas Dzinly.com is the one-stop destination!