Exterior Shutter Materials

The traditional wood shutter with louvers or in raised panel designs are beautiful and still sought after by many a Historical Society member; however, the constant maintenance requirement and replacement costs have lowered their appeal.

The Exterior Shutter industry has risen to the demands and needs of the consumer with many new and functional products. Many older homes have operable, hinged-wood shutters that are still closed when needed for security and/or storm purposes. However, many of us have no desire to pay extra for operable shutters that you have no intention of ever closing.

Take a look at all the decorative exterior shutters from which you can choose:

Wood Shutters

The wood exterior shutter is the standard of the industry and has been produced in red cedar, pine or other exotic woods. It is available in every possible configuration imaginable: louvered, raised panel, board and batten, mixed louver and raised panel, arched, 1/4 arch lazy arch, Bahama, Bermuda, etc. Wooden shutters are initially economical to purchase but considering the paint requirements and the overall maintenance cost, it makes the wood shutters the most expensive to purchase and own. The versatility and design capability makes wood the only choice in many custom design situations.

Look for a manufacturer that uses a high-quality, decay-resistant wood such as Western Red Cedar or Mahogany. Vertical grained wood is preferred; it is more resistant to twisting and warping, producing a more stable shutter. Thicker is also better; look for a manufacturer that uses 1-5/16" thick rails and stiles.

MYTH: Synthetic shutter manufactures and marketers claim that their shutters will not warp, chip, crack, or peel – generally implying that these are properties of wood. That is a myth. Quality wood shutters will NOT warp, chip, crack, or peel and are built for harsh window conditions. Wooden shutters are built to withstand harsh climates from intense heat and sun of the tropics to intense cold of the North. Otherwise, wood shutter companies would have been out of business long ago.

Price: $180.00 Unfinished; $226.57 Painted. Wood shutters add real value to your home. You can even add the cost of shutters to your new home mortgage.

Vinyl Shutters

Vinyl shutters are inexpensive, long lasting and require very little maintenance. More importantly, they provide a traditional look. Up close they look like plastic; however, if you stand back 5 feet, they look great. They can be ordered in any of 17 colors and if you want to paint them, they are available primed and ready to paint. They are available in louvered, raised panel and board and batten styles.

Price: Stock Vinyl shutters can cost as little as $34.46. Custom vinyl shutters are still low in price at $68.96 per pair.

Composite Shutters

Composite window shutters are a solid-back product, have a 5-year warranty, architecturally accurate. They are available in over 20 colors or you can order them primed and ready to paint. The composite material won’t rot, warp or split. You can use optional hardware to make these operational for that “real” shutter look and function. They are available in colonial style louvered, raised panel, board and batten and can be ordered in a Bahama style hinged at the top to provide shade and rain protection for open windows. The composite product is very low maintenance and will remain beautiful for a long time.

Price: $229.14 Primed; $239.44 Painted

Fiberglass Shutters

The finest and most expensive choice is the true fiberglass/composite shutter which is architecturally designed and looks the most like “real wood”. Because of low-maintenance requirements, the cost for this product is actually inexpensive. They are available in over 20 colors and 12 styles such as arches, louvered, raised panel, board and batten and Bahama styles.

Price: $425.30 per pair

Aluminum Shutters

Aluminum shutters provide a reasonably priced alternate for wood shutters. As maintenance costs have increased for wood shutters, the aluminum colonial louvered and Bahama shutter styles have been given approval by many Historical districts. The aluminum shutter products are strong and can meet the most stringent hurricane engineering standards. They are relatively low maintenance and available in 100’s of colors. They have a 3-year warranty. The styles offered are arched, raised panels and Board and Batten.