| Installing exterior shutters is a relatively quick way | | | | to being a deterrent to bugs.The tannin (oil) in |
| to add style and color to the outside of a house. | | | | incense cedar is what makes it such a good wood |
| Historical and modern houses alike benefit from | | | | for exterior shutters. It helps prevent moisture |
| the timeless style of shutters. As with any home | | | | penetration and bugs hate it. However, shutters |
| improvements, the quality and longevity of an | | | | should not be left unprotected. Rather, it is best |
| addition should be evaluated before | | | | to finish the shutters before installation so all |
| proceeding.Exterior shutters are available in many | | | | surfaces can be fully covered. While paint can be |
| shapes and materials. Vinyl shutters are easily | | | | brushed, it is recommended that it be sprayed. |
| available at most home improvement stores, and | | | | Most house painters will spray shutters with their |
| they can be a cost-effective option. However, | | | | airless spray systems for latex paint.The best |
| vinyl shutters often look like plastic, they are not | | | | base is a primer coat of an oil-based primer tinted |
| useful as operable shutters, and they cannot be | | | | as close to the final color as possible. The oil |
| stained.Shutters are also made out of many | | | | penetrates into the wood, offering better |
| types of wood. The best wood for exterior use | | | | protection. It can be applied in a much finer mist, |
| is cedar because of its outstanding durability and | | | | thereby reaching between and around louvers and |
| resistance to decay. Cedar gives long service with | | | | into seams, joints and corners. The top two coats |
| little maintenance in applications such as mud sills, | | | | should be a premium-grade exterior latex paint. A |
| window sashes, sheathing under stucco or brick | | | | topcoat of exterior latex paint will not chalk or |
| veneer construction, greenhouse benches, fencing, | | | | fade like an oil-based paint. If shutter caps will be |
| poles, trellises, and exterior shutters. Cedar is also | | | | used, paint them as well since the top edge of |
| used extensively for exterior siding because it is | | | | shutters is the most vulnerable to moisture |
| dimensionally stable and holds paint well, in addition | | | | penetration. |