Olive Wood

Benefits of Different House Shutters

Basswood is the ideal material for many wood house shutters.  Not only is it hard-wearing and able to withstand temperatures from the freezing cold to the tropical heat, but it is also economical and attractive both inside and outside any house.  Although there are many different hardwoods used to make shutters, basswood is the most popular choice when purchasing wooden shutters. Another alternative is vinyl house shutters.

Interior shutters are usually very straight and have a smooth texture. Unlike different kinds of wood that have heavy graining, basswood is much smoother, making it the best option for outside and inside shutters, specifically for homeowners who are not fond of grainy wood but like to see the wood itself instead of paint. 

Basswood is lightweight enough to move and hang easily, yet strong enough to endure the elements. If you choose to install interior window shutters, they are most likely made of basswood.  There are some alternative woods used in shutters, and they are described below: 

Oak

Oak is a most traditional wood and is particularly heavy.  Oak also happens to be very grainy. Since oak is so heavy, it is not the best option for interior wooden shutters since it can add pressure to the window jambs.  Many people also are not fond of the grainy look of oak, yet oak is not easily painted.  Oak remains a popular choice of wood for shutters, just not the most sensible choice. 

Maple

Maple is also a golden colored, heavy wood that makes great furnishings but can be fairly high maintenance when it is used for shutters.  Because maple is particularly hard, the jambs must be drilled prior to hanging the shutters, a job which requires careful measuring.  Maple interior shutters are heavy, like oak, and can rip up the window jambs. Another good choice is vinyl house shutters.

Cedar

Cedar is a solid, strong hardwood that is easy to stain.  Cedar wood is fairly light which results in it being an agreeable material when used for interior wooden shutters. Because it is lighter than oak or maple, cedar shutters will not wear down the window jamb.  Then again, cedar is more easily dented than heavier woods and can need replacement. 

Poplar

Because poplar is mineral-laden and has  a greenish color, it looks more pleasant when painted than it does when stained.  For a lot of people, the attraction of wooden shutters is the look of real wood. Most people reject poplar because they prefer not to have to paint the wood.  Painting normally needs re-doing much more often than staining. Because of this, poplar, even though more economical than the other woods, is not very popular for use as vinyl house shutters.

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