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