Cleaning and Maintaining Raised Panel Exterior Shutters

Quality shutters are an incredible investment for your home. They add incredible value when you are living there and when you need to sell the home. Raised Panel Exterior Shutters will offer protection against burglary, prevent interior spaces from being damaged by strong sun rays and ensure that your privacy is maintained, among other functions.

While buying quality shutters is important, the quality of installation will determine how much value you get from the shutters. This is why experts insist on involving an experienced professional in design and building of shutters for your house. The technician will also help you choose the best material for the purpose you purchase shutters for as well as a material that compliments your house. The shutters are usually customized for your taste and budget.

The long term value from Raised Panel Exterior Shutters depends on how well you maintain them. Even the highest quality shutters will be damaged and rendered useless when not properly maintained. To keep the shutters in great working condition, here are maintenance measures to take.

• Keep the shutters clean- dirt is one of the reasons why shutters jam and refuse to close. This is one of the concerns when home owners call technicians. The problem arises when dirt accumulates on the surface causing the moving parts to jam or other areas to get out of order. The frequency of cleaning your shutters depends on how exposed you are to dirt and especially dust. In a normal situation, you should clean the shutters once in four months. The procedure used is similar to what you would use on your car. Place the shutter in a vented position and spray with water using a hose. Use a sponge to wipe all the areas using soapy water. Rises and allow it to dry.

Wooden shutters require special attention when cleaning. Do not use a substance or material that is abrasive on the surface. Removing the paint coating exposes the under surface to damage by either heat or water. During cleaning, the surface must be completely dried. Failure to dry the surface leaves it at the risk of warping. This will damage the entire shutter and reduce its lifespan. It will increase your repair and maintenance bill.

• Do not use sticky lubricants- avoid using silicon based or sticky substances on the track of your shutter because it attracts and captures dust. Use ordinary lubricants especially those with anti-static substances and qualities. They will deliver excellent results. Spraying small amounts at least once a year will keep the surface running smoothly and freely. However, most shutters will function without lubricants up to ten years.
• Do not hang or leave items on shutters- this causes shutters to sag under the weight and either twist or break. The items may will also limit movement and hinder either the window or shutters from making ordinary movement. Check before closing the shutter since some materials may have been blown by strong wind. Closing them with a lot of force will cause damage even when the debris is the size of a pebble.
• Use your shutters- shutters are like engines, they will get stuck if not used. Open them on regular bases to check their functionality. Failure to use them on regular bases causes the hinges to get stuck as other areas become grumpy. In case something falls on the joints, it will be difficult to remove it if it lies there for too long.
• Regular maintenance- in case any part of your shutter breaks down, it must be repaired or replaced immediately. Allowing it to hang while still damaged exposes it to deterioration. If a section of the shutter can be repaired, it will be cost friendly compared to installing a new one. However, if a shutter is too old, a total replacement will save you money and give you an opportunity to improve the aesthetic value of your property.
• Follow instructions on care and maintenance as indicated on the user manual. Shutters bought from reputable manufacturers and distributors will serve you for decades without the need for repair or replacement. Engage a professional cleaner to avoid compromising on the integrity of shutters.

In case you detect something wrong with your Raised Panel Exterior Shutters it is advisable that you contact a professional technician immediately. This will prevent the situation from worsening by extending the damage. Use only the materials and substances recommended for cleaning, based on the material used to construct your shutters. 

Source:https://decorativeshutters.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/cleaning-and-maintaining-raised-panel-exterior-shutters/ 

5 Blunders to Avoid When Choosing Exterior Shutters

Exterior shutters came into existence long before windows. Shutters are used for a lot of purposes.

• Shutters, when closed, can protect us from the harmful radiation of the scorching sun by blocking it, shield us from violent winds, hailstorm and heavy rains and keep us warm in the winter.
• It can further control the amount of sunlight that enters a room,
• Shutters can be used for privacy and security reason
• They can protect against rough weather or unwanted invasion or damage.
• They can lend brilliant accents to you home

Exterior shutters have lost its significance over the years but their replicate is still prevalent. In addition, shutters can be functional and add to the beauty of the house by providing a unique architectural detail to the house or simply enhance the aesthetics of a building.

To accentuate the home with shutters, you need to ensure that yours perfectly match the exterior of your home, but at the same time not necessarily draw the eye away from the other features. They ought to be consistent, and seem like they are meant to be there.

To find the perfect exterior shutter for a house, these 5 major blunders must be avoided:

1. Not taking professional help:

First of all, for picking up the right shutter, it is always advisable to consult a professional in order to make the best decision unless you have a flair for decoration. Professionals can recommend the best possible exterior shutters based on your need.

2. Not taking proper measurement:

Avoid installing shutters that don't fit the window openings. Shutters should be properly sized and shaped to cover the window opening totally when they're shut. Properly sized shutters overlap firmly between the exterior window casings, leaving only a limited spacing at the border.

3. Not installing and designing shutters properly:

Shutters if not properly installed, can ruin the entire appearance of your house. Try not to introduce louvered screens backward. Louvers should be constructed in a fixed and open position so that it allows a certain amount of air and light to circulate. Shutters should be able to shed water far from the window when they're shut in order to obstruct the water from entering the house. That’s the reason louvers must be slanted to the outside of the house when they're closed to let the water flow outwards. In the vacant position, shutters should have louvers with their driving edges pointing up for shedding water far from the window.

In an earnest effort of keeping water off houses, some molded vinyl shutters violate this obvious rule, and builders often make a huge blunder by installing shutters in the wrong orientation i.e. shutters mounted flat to the house, simply against the siding. Shutters joined simply to a house can gather water, prompting untimely decay of the siding. This should be kept in mind while fitting shutters. Authentic hardware should be used with proper spacing while fitting shutters. Proper shutter height and width should be maintained and at the same time, it also must match the shape of the window.

4. Avoiding cheap material:

If you use cheap shutters, there is always a chance that it might hamper the durability and the effectiveness of the shutter. You’ll want a shutter that will function and accent your home for the long run. Therefore it is sensible to spend more money to buy shutters made from durable, all-weather material despite the higher cost as your quality shutters will last longer. So it is always wise to spend money on quality and buy shutters from renowned companies.

5. Avoid preferring aesthetics over function:

Style is of course necessary, and in many cases it’s all that’s desired from an exterior shutter, but functionality may also be a consideration so choosing a stylish shutter which has no use might not be a good idea. Instead, you may prefer a shutter which retains its functionalities. Keep in mind that style is not the only factor to take into account, installation, size, and durability along with its functionalities are all equally important.

There are many online websites that offer a wide variety of exterior shutters and you might want to take a look at them so that you can choose them according to your personal preferences.

Source: http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/home-repair/5-blunders-to-avoid-when-choosing-exterior-shutters.html