Exterior Shutter Construction

Joinery:

Avoid screwed, doweled, or butt-glued joints -- these joints will fail. Look for shutters that use "pegged" mortise-and-tenon joints. The pegs lock the tenon tight in the mortise, aligning the rails and stiles to form continuous integrity.

Protecting Your Shutters:

Buy a shutter with capping. Copper is an attractive option, aluminum is functional and more economical. Use a good primer before painting your shutters -- many manufacturers will do this for you. Recoat any failing paint immediately to ensure the longevity of your shutters.

Hardware Specification:

To enhance the look of wooden or composite shutters, many homeowners add shutter hardware. Some of your primary considerations should include:

Functionality
Size and Weight of Shutters
Design Style
Budget

Hardware Material:

If your shutter hardware is properly painted and cared for, you should expect it to last a very long time. Choosing stainless steel hardware as an option provides additional durability and longevity for any installation. It is strongly recommend for coastal applications or in any humid climate where rusting may be an issue.

Hardware Styles:

Hardware is available in many styles and finishes:

Shutter Dogs - This type of hardware keeps the shutters open and attached to your house. Holdbacks can be customized by a blacksmith. There are many options to choose from such as s-curve, shell, flower, star, grapes.
Ring Pulls - Pulls allow you to close the shutters from inside your home.
Slide bolts - Bolts that lock your shutters when they are closed.