Better Exterior Shutters, Window Treatments, Home Improvement

Exterior Shutters

Welcome to Better Exterior Shutters! We started this site to help people decide on the best type of shutters for the outside of their home. We hope you find it helpful and informative.

Exterior shutters are easily one of the most common decorations that you’ll find on the exterior of homes. In fact, they’re so common that most people assume that they will be used for decoration on their home. Windows just look a bit bare without shutters around them. And while many shutters are there just for decoration, did you know that there are some exterior shutters that are actually functional? That is to say, these functional exterior shutters actually swing shut to protect the window from wind, rain, hail or other inclement weather.

The main problem that people run into when trying to decide on some shutters for their home is trying to sort through all of the various types, styles and options out there. If you’ve ever been shopping for some shutters, you know exactly how many types there are to choose between. Better Exterior Shutters is here to help you sort through all of your options and find the right type of shutters for your home.

Buying Exterior Shutters

The first thing to decide when you decide to look for some exterior shutters is whether you want decorative or functional shutters. Decorative shutters are going to be less expensive, but functional shutters will also serve to protect your home. If you live in an area that gets a lot of wind, rain and storms, then you might want to consider functional shutters. They often look just as attractive as decorative shutters, but they are built to be far more durable and sturdy. If you are not concerned with damage from storms, then decorative shutters will be the best fit for you.

Wooden Shutters vs Vinyl Shutters

The next thing to consider is what material you want your shutters to be made from. The most popular choices are wood, plastic, vinyl, and synthetic composites. If you are choosing to go with functional exterior shutters, then wood is most likely going to be the best option for you here. Wood shutters are heavier and better able to withstand wind and rain than the other options. Make sure to get a good type of wood with your wooden shutters. Some types of wood are more susceptible to rot and insect damage than other types.

If you’re going with decorative exterior shutters, then vinyl is most likely your best option. Vinyl is durable, virtually maintenance-free, and comes with the added bonus of not needing to be painted. The color of the vinyl material is permanently infused in the manufacturing process, so you don’t have to pain vinyl shutters the way you would wooden shutters.

Hurricane Shutters

Another option that is not necessary in most areas, but that can come in handy in certain locations, is hurricane shutters. Hurricane shutters are used most frequently in coastal areas that are at risk of hurricane damage, and they often take the place of regular exterior shutters in these areas. Hurricane shutters are usually made of metal and completely cover the window or door they protect.

There are several different types of hurricane shutters – roller shutters, accordion shutters, Bahama shutters, and Colonial shutters, to name a few. The trade-off with using hurricane shutters is that they generally detract from the look of your home when they are no in use. There are some styles of these shutters that can actually add to the decor of your home – most notably Colonial and Bahamas shutters – but generally hurricane shutters are very utilitarian and not meant to be decorative. For this reason, most people will not choose to use hurricane shutters unless they absolutely need them for protection from storms.

Accordion Shutters

Accordion shutters are a type of shutter used for hurricane protection that are made of aluminum and come in a variety of different styles and colors to match the decor of your home. Designed for residential use, these shutters address the growing need for hurricane protection in areas that are susceptible to tropical storms. Because [...]

Traditional Shutters

Not everyone is comfortable with interior design. It takes a good eye, a great deal of effort, and usually a large budget. For those that want to change up their home without breaking the bank, making a small change can be quite beneficial. One way to do this is to use traditional shutters in the [...]

Sunburst Shutters

Are you ready to transfer your house into a place of beauty, style and functionality that your neighbors, friends and family will be talking about for quite some time. You can accomplish this by purchasing some of the best window treatments available today in the form of shutters produced and manufactured by Sunburst shutters. When [...]

Security Shutters

It is a natural tendency of anyone who owns a home to want to keep it safe from would be intruders or thieves whether you are at home or away on vacation. Windows are looked at as a main entry point for individuals looking to burglarize your home. In addition, those looking at homes for [...]

Outside Shutters

Though outside shutters were once a fixture of homes for their functionality, most modern homeowners now consider adding shutters to their home’s exterior for aesthetic purposes only. Adding window framing outdoor shutters to your home can add a quaint character and allow you to inject a jolt of color into your house’s facade. While [...]

Indoor Shutters

A lot of different indoor shutters are available today. Obviously when most people think of shutters, they think of the outdoor variety, which are used to protect the windows from the elements. So what is the reason to get indoor ones? There are actually a few reasons you would buy them. Here are three of [...]

House Shutters

Buying the right house shutters can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. These can definitely add or detract from your home, depending on the style. They are not absolutely crucial, but many people opt to buy them. It is quite rare to see windows without shutters.

What are the different materials [...]

Decorative Shutters

Many homeowners are beginning to regard the look of typical fabric window treatments, like curtains and drapes, as passé and old fashioned. To give their home a more contemporary feel, they are replacing these heavy treatments with light and airy decorative shutters. Shutters can be easier to clean and allow more light to pass through, [...]

Custom Shutters

Many companies advertise custom shutters for sale but this label can be confusing. Some companies refer to standard stock shutters that are painted to your color specifications and hung with hardware you have chosen as being custom shutters. They have customized them for your home. Other companies refer to shutters they have modified to fit [...]

Roller Shutter Garage Doors

Garage doors have come a long way over the past 50 years. Gone are the heavy, one-piece wooden doors that required strong arms and back to lift open, as well as considerable trust to expect the door to stay open. Over the course of time, various changes significantly improved the look and function of doors; [...]

Window Shutters For The Exterior Of Your Home

Window shutters for the exterior of your home can add an elegant decorative touch to your home. Most of these shutters are strictly decorative in nature and do not open or close. Rather they are meant to give a little extra accent to your doors and/or windows. However, you may be able to find shutters [...]

Wooden Window Shutters

Wooden window shutters will provide a stylish nostalgia to the exterior of a home while keeping out the sun, wind, and rain better than bare windows. They provide an accent to the exterior that will raise the appraisal value considerably. The amount that the appraisal value increases is usually much more than the price of [...]

Window Shutters For The Interior Of Your Home

Window shutters for the interior of your home provide various functional and aesthetic benefits. Indoor window shutters are essentially meant to enhance the ambience and privacy of a room as well as manage the natural flow of light into the room as required. Independent panels of shutters are usually translucent to reduce the sharpness of [...]

Vinyl Shutters For The Exterior Of Your Home

Several homeowners are choosing to install vinyl shutters for the exterior of their home. While there are many materials to choose from including wood and aluminum, consumers are recognizing the benefits of vinyl when investing in exterior shutters. If you are researching whether you should purchase vinyl shutters, or shutters made of other popular materials, [...]

Wood Plantation Shutters

Many people are interested in buying and installing wood plantation shutters for their home. However, due to the fact that they are usually quite an expensive investment it can cause some hesitations; especially if several windows are being considered. Basing a decision on cost alone is not necessarily the best as there are many other [...]

Better Exterior Shutters