| Shopping for window shutters can become | | | | ShuttersOak shutters are very heavy. Oak |
| confusing because of the huge variety of | | | | shutters add much weight to window jambs and |
| materials used and promoted as superior. The | | | | screws require pre-drilling. Oak shutters are |
| construction methods of a shutter unit, | | | | not suitable for painting. Oak shutter |
| including the materials used, contributes | | | | louvers tend to warp.Maple ShuttersMaple |
| greatly to the overall cost of shutters | | | | shutters are very heavy. Maple shutters add |
| purchased. However, a well-constructed unit | | | | much weight to window jambs and screws |
| made out of high-quality materials will also | | | | require pre-drilling. Maple louvers are hard |
| last longer and look better than something | | | | to tension uniformly.Poplar ShuttersPoplar |
| less than ideal. Following is an outline of | | | | shutters mill and paints well. Mineral |
| various woods and synthetic materials that | | | | streaks and a green color make poplar |
| are often used in building shutters.Basswood | | | | unsuitable for staining. Poplar is moderately |
| Shutters | | | | heavy for shutters. Poplar is widely |
| | | | available, but less costly. Poplar is best |
| (Tilia Americana Linnaeus, or the American | | | | used for millwork and trim that is nailed in |
| Linden)Basswood is absolutely the best wood | | | | place. Popular produces a lesser quality |
| for building window shutters. The Basswood | | | | shutter.Cedar ShuttersCedar shutters mill and |
| tree can be found from Quebec south to | | | | finish nicely. However, color varies greatly |
| Delaware and the Atlantic coast west to | | | | for staining. Cedar is soft and can dent and |
| Eastern Kentucky with an average height of 65 | | | | scratch easily. Tilt bar staples do not hold |
| feet. Basswood is a renewable resource and | | | | well.Cedar shutters work wonderfully for |
| careful forest management ensures tree | | | | exterior shutters. The outstanding durability |
| harvesting is done responsibly, balancing | | | | and resistance to decay of incense cedar |
| growth with removal. Each year the United | | | | makes it ideal for exterior use where |
| States grows about twice as much hardwood as | | | | moisture is present. This wood gives long |
| it harvests. | | | | service with little maintenance in such as |
| | | | mud sills, window sashes, sheathing under |
| Basswood shutters are very straight and has | | | | stucco or brick veneer construction, |
| a fine uniform texture with an indistinct | | | | greenhouse benches, fencing, poles, |
| grain. Basswood machines well and is easy to | | | | trellises, and shutters. Incense cedar is |
| work, and screws and glues well and can be | | | | also used extensively for exterior siding |
| sanded and stained to a smooth finish. It | | | | because it is dimensionally stable and holds |
| dries fairly rapidly with little distortion. | | | | paint well, in addition to being durable. Oh, |
| Basswood has fairly high shrinkage but good | | | | yes, and bugs hate it!Alder ShuttersAlder is |
| dimensional stability when dry.Popular uses | | | | our second choice for shutters. Alder is a |
| for basswood include drafting tables, broom | | | | smaller tree so only shorter lengths are |
| handles, carvings, turnings, furniture, | | | | available, thus tall shutters require finger |
| moldings, millwork, musical instruments, | | | | joints.Pine ShuttersPine is a softwood. Many |
| woodenware, food containers, and | | | | different species and grades of pine is |
| surfboards.General Basswood shutter | | | | available, so quality tends to be |
| characteristics:Does not warp | | | | inconsistent.Synthetics, Plastics, Vinyl, |
| | | | Fauxwood, and PolyMany synthetics incorporate |
| Lightweight yet very strong | | | | "wood" in their name, but most contain no |
| | | | wood - usually called faux wood or poly |
| Uniform grain for a beautiful stain finish | | | | shutters. Made from stock size components |
| | | | with few, if any, custom options. Come in |
| Low in resin and tannin which may bleed | | | | limited white colors, and cannot be stained. |
| through finish | | | | Look, feel, and sound like plastic. |
| | | | Relatively new product so limited customer |
| Renewable resource which is replenished as | | | | satisfaction experience. Synthetics are less |
| it is harvested | | | | costly to manufacture. Heavy and tend to sag. |
| | | | All synthetics are manufactured from |
| Superior gluing and finishing propertiesOak | | | | nonrenewable resources. |