Shutters can make or break the curb appeal of a house and it is important to consider the different materials that shutters are made of.  Prices will vary considerably between the different materials and each will have its own positives and negatives.  Let’s take a look at the 4 main ones.

Wood:  

Very traditional and good looking.  Could be pricey depending in the wood species that is used.  Stay away from cheaper woods like Pine or Poplar that will rot, twist and split within a short period of time.  Good species are Western Red Cedar and Cypress.  Make sure you add some sort of a cap to the top of the shutter to prevent splitting and make sure your provider seals the wood effectively to prevent rot.  Easy to customize size and styles.  Will need repainting in a few years, but generally easy to do.

Vinyl:

Cheapest option you can get, but then it will also look like that.  The summer heat can play a trick on these where the shutters became brittle with color fading over time.  These shutters are typically hollow and not very strong.  Its recommended that they are mounted flush against the wall, although some service providers sell hardware kits to mount them on hinges.  Vinyl shutters are typically 3 times cheaper than wood or composites, but remember you’ll have to pay for installation 3 times.  Limited options available for size, style and color.  Difficult to repaint effectively.

Composite Wood:

Pricing is comparable to wood, and although you get the look and feel of wood, you don’t have the issues that comes using wood.   No rotting, swelling, twisting and if it is the right material, no insect damage.  There are different composite materials available and not all are rated for extended exterior use, so make sure your provider uses the right stuff (and can prove it).  Very long lasting and in some cases you even have environmentally friendly/safe options available.  Easy to customize and a good provider should be able to create unique designs and styles perfect for your home.  Similar to wood it will need repainting in a few years, but generally easy to do.  Can be mounted on hinges or direct to the wall.

PVC:

Pricey, so shop around.  This stuff will last almost forever and moisture have no effect on it.  Heat does play a role and it’s prone to cupping, bending and warping, so make sure your provider adds some form of additional strengthening.  Seems that the industry standard is to add metal bracing on the back to prevent some of the issues.  Difficult to paint and typically comes in standard colors.  Make sure from you provider what steps you’ll have to take when it comes to repainting.  Can be mounted flush or on hinges.

Dupbel Millworks Inc. manufactures exteriors shutters using only weather resistant materials.  Our core business is shutters made from a composite wood material that is rot, insect and weather resistant.  This is especially important in Georgia’s hot, humid conditions.  Although we carry a series of shutters styles, we are fully equipped to help you design the specific look you desire, and every shutter is custom made based on your house, windows and design.

One of the easiest but often overlooked enhancement to a house to improve the curb appeal is to add or update your exterior shutters.  Historically exterior shutters served a purpose by offering light control, ventilation and protection from the elements.   Today exterior shutters are mostly decorative.

Styles

Dupbel Millworks Inc. is set up to create unique custom styles while offering a variety of standard styles to choose from.

Board and Batten Shutters

A shutter composed of three to five vertical boards that are connected using two or three horizontal battens.  These shutters inspire a country or cottage look and have grown in popularity in the last few years.  The latest trend is to have multiple narrow boards to create a cleaner, more sophisticated look.

Raised Panel

A Raised Panel shutter is made of panels that fit into a frame.  The panels have raised sides to create depth and interest.  Raised Panel styled shutters are the new “traditional” over louvered. Found on many Colonial, Georgian, Federal, or Manor style homes with brick or siding being the primary face material. Raised Panel shutters on homes of this type create a classic appearance. The shutter style’s popularity during the last number of decades has firmly entrenched the raised panel style as the “traditional look.”  The solid three dimensional characteristics of the raised panel shutters provide a substantial presence on homes.

Shaker Raised

Shaker Raised shutters generate a sharp, crisp appearance versus the classical raised panel style. This shutter style acquired its name from the no frills, yet functional design standards of the Shaker religious community.  The shutters rails, stiles and panels are fabricated square with no ornate profiles added. This shutter type is an excellent choice for brick or stucco faced homes where you want to ensure the lines and features of the shutters are clearly visible from a distance.

Louvered

Louvered styled shutters are the original “classic standard,” found on period buildings such as Antebellum, Colonial, Williamsburg, Georgian and Federal styled houses.  Louvered shutters create an additional architectural element to enhance the house’s façade.  Louvered shutters can also be the right choice for Contemporary styled buildings wishing to create a more traditional appearance.

Mission

A combination of a Board and Batten shutter and a paneled design, providing a fresh approach to exterior shutters.  The clean, well defined vertical lines will compliment your house and windows, while breaking the monotonous horizontal lines that you get on a traditional brick or siding house.  Definitely something to consider if you don’t like the robust look of a Board and Batten shutter, but were put off by the sometimes “flat” look   of a Raised Panel.  The Mission Panel style provides a very elegant look, breaking away from traditional shutter designs.

Other factors to consider

Size:  One of the biggest mistakes people make with shutters is the size.  It is important that the shutters are sized correctly for your windows, while taking into account the features of the house, obstacles that could be present, and the look you are trying to achieve.   Your shutters are going to be mostly decorative, but make sure they are sized as if they would be functional and as if they belong there.

Hardware:  Traditionally shutters were attached to the window frames with hinges.  Today hardware plays an important role in the appearance of your shutters.  Options will vary depending on the type of siding and the windows.  Adding hardware adds to the curb appeal and the authentic look.  It also put the shutter at a slight angle, adding visual interest and creating better shadow lines that brings out the design features of the shutter style.

Installation:  Whether you or a pro handles the installation, make sure there is a suitable mounting surface and that the window frames are in good shape.   Installation prices are in addition to the price of shutters and hardware.

Dupbel Millworks Inc. manufactures exteriors shutters using only weather resistant materials.  Our core business is shutters made from a composite wood material that is rot, insect and weather resistant.  This is especially important in Georgia’s hot, humid conditions.  Although we carry a series of shutters styles, we are fully equipped to help you design the specific look you desire, and every shutters is custom made based on your house, windows and design.

We use your house as our showroom, knowing very well how difficult it can be to see what a specific style of shutter will do the look of your home.  We come to your house with samples and will help you to choose the perfect style of shutter for your house.

Our business is located in Alpharetta, GA and we are proud to serve the residential and commercial market of North Georgia.  We are small enough to provide you with personal attention, yet strong enough to handle complex designs