You know those wooden shutters on your home; the ones that you never close that hang off the sides of your windows? Well, they are out. Traditional shutters are something that has been around since the birth of the United States and require a great deal of maintenance including the oiling of the unused hinges and the painting and staining of the wood. The truth is that it is time for them to go.
You don't have to get rid of the look completely, just get rid of the old wooden version. There are modern choices that make much more sense in terms of practicality as well as appearance. For instance, aluminum shutters do not close (no hinges to oil or clean) and are resistant to a variety of weather conditions. This means that you can use them no matter where you make your home and that you will not have to oil parts you aren't using. Any time exterior maintenance time can be cut, your life gets easier.
There are a number of other shutter types around that you may want to consider over wood as well.
For one, vinyl offers a number of attractive pros. It is inexpensive to buy shutters of vinyl and they can last as long as 40 years. In other words, through the life of your mortgage, you can go without replacing shutters. It is certainly something worth thinking about. They can be bought in most any style, and they can be painted easily.
Another alternative to your wooden shutters are composite shutters. Made of MDF or particle board, they are made to resist both weather and rot. If you want to be able to shut your shutters, then this may be the way to go as some are available that may be opened and closed. However, don't forget your hinge maintenance if you go this route.
As with just about anything nowadays, there is always fiberglass. Fiberglass is great if you live in an area with severe weather as shutters made of it can be used for window protection in hurricanes and storms. However, it is expensive and does not last as long as the vinyl shutters do.
Then there is, of course, the aforementioned choice of aluminum shutters. These alternatives to the traditional wood offer protection and strength while not being quite as expensive as their fiberglass cousins. They look great and are strong, but there is a drawback to the purchase of aluminum shutters; most companies offer little more than three or four years of warranty protection. This is because they are prone to denting and chipping.
The next time you decide to do a little home improvement, consider replacing those old shutters. The admiring looks you get from your neighbors will be your reward.
If you're thinking it's time to re-stain the exterior wood surfaces in your backyard, surface preparation is critical. The old finish has to be completely removed in order for the new stain to penetrate properly. Some people wonder why wood should be finished at all. After all, some wooden structures have lasted hundreds of years. This is true, but not all wooden structures will last hundreds of years. Weather and the wood itself can develop rot and deteriorate to the point of collapse. Another thing to consider is appearance. If you think natural wood will retain its color, you are wrong. Sunlight turns all woods yellowish or brownish, then gray. After the initial color change and graying, further changes develop slowly.
Dark woods eventually become lighter and light woods darker. Damage from sun and water, which gets into the wood and makes it alternately expand and contract as it goes through wetting and drying cycles can lead to surface checks, which can than develop into cracks. Another problem with bare wood is mildew. If left unprotected, mildew will cover a surface, making it look gray or black. The problem is that on the way to a uniform gray or black color ? if you like that look ? the wood takes on a blotchy look. Overall, mildew is not dangerous but it isn't visually appealing. Here are some wonderful tips to help ensure you get the job done correctly and without hassles: ?Choose a fairly cool day to strip the deck so the product doesn't dry too rapidly.
?Test product in a small area for effectiveness and wait 20-30 minutes for results.
?Cover any areas you do not wish to strip.
?Application Tips oApply wood stripper with a garden sprayer, roller or brush. oWork on small areas at a time; with vertical surfaces, always work from bottom to top to avoid streaking. oAllow wood stripper to remain wet on surface for 20-30 minutes. oScrub with a stiff bristle brush to lift finish off surface. oRinse area with plenty of water to ensure complete removal of the chemicals and loosened finish
?If un-stripped areas remain after rinsing, squeegee the area to dry it off, allow to slightly dry and then reapply the stripper.
?Allow wood to dry 48 hours before applying a finish.
Both Gregg Hall & Brett Lane are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as at. Gregg Hall's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.
Brett Lane has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Marketing. Flood products are designed to restore, protect and beautify natural woods and other challenging surfaces. The company's brands and products are sold in more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout the world and include CWF-UV/CWF-UV5, Penetrol, Floetrol, E. Brett Lane's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.