subject: Home Remodeling Projects: The New Age Of Window Shutters [print this page] Wooden window shutters are virtually a thing of the past. They need a lot of attention to keep them looking nice and working properly. Upgrading to those new design shutters will not only give your house a modern look but may also provide you with virtually maintenance-free shutters. The modern shutter options will stand up against the elements and remain looking good for years.
Vinyl shutters are the new craze for window treatments:
The reason is that they are convenient for cleaning and lasts very long. Unlike wooden shutters for your windows, these vinyl shutters will not need to be replaced, repaired or painted. They are very light and yet they give the illusion of being massive just like the wooden shutters. You can readily paint them and customize to match your house.
What are the available choices?
The composite shutter has the lowest cost among all the options. They are called composite because they are made from a combination of different materials designed to go together in order to come up with a better material which would be resilient against the elements. They are made of particleboard that is pressed into molds so that you can choose from raised panel, louvered, batten and board styles. They come with a hinge and opens or closes much like the traditional wooden shutters.
A slightly more expensive albeit very popular choice are the window shutters made from fiberglass. These also come molded into the same design styles as the vinyl shutters. It's a good investment because they are expected to last for about twenty years since fiberglass is a much stronger material than particleboard. If you are in a typhoon or hurricane-prone area, the fiberglass shutters would be the best choice as they are proven to be very resilient even against the harshest of weather. Much like the vinyl, you may also customize them to match your house because they can be readily painted.
But the most versatile option is probably the aluminum shutters. They are offered in a dizzying array of colors, textures and styles, including the faux colonial louvered variety. They only come with a rather short three-year warranty however, despite being a popular choice of many. This is because they are just not expected to hold up much against extreme weather conditions. They are made to look like wood but they just do not quite cut it when subjected to closer inspection.
If you are still considering the old fashioned wood shutters for your windows they are available. Just keep in mind that they need meticulous maintenance, they don't fare well against harsh weather, and weather-proofing them is just out of the question because of the cost involved. Now that all the options have already been presented, the final choice now rests with you.
