The Humble Board And Batten Shutter
Board and Batten shutters have been around for hundreds of years. Shutters actually were a necessity in many areas of the country, not just decorative. Working shutters were closed during storms to protect the home.
Today most homeowners choose shutters for decorative purposes. There are many different types of shutters both stock and custom made. You can find styles like Board and Batten, Louver and Bermuda styles. You can also find some shutters that are actually two styles combined.
Board and Batten shutters have gained much popularity since first being used on classic New England homes. These shutters come in several different configurations. The classic style which is 4 boards vertical and 2 boards vertical is called the Rockport style. Austin style Board and Batten shutters have a Z bar, Norfolk style have three cross bars vertically, the Nagshead style has vertical boards, no cross bar. You can also find arched top Board and Batten shutters.
Like any shutter style for your home y can find a wide range of stock shutters or have them custom made. Needless to say custom made shutters will cost you more. Stock shutters come in a wide range of sizes, styles, colors and materials.
You'll easily find Board and Batten shutters made out of real wood. Much less expensive, and actually very durable are shutters made from composite materials, such as MDF or poly vinyl. Composite shutters are actually perfect for exterior use as they won't warp, yellow, dent or fade and hold up to moisture. The shutters come with space between the boards, or with the vertical wood joined.
It's very easy to measure for stock shutters, and for custom shutters. You'll find most stock shutters come in 14 inch and 15 inch widths. Working shutters have to be closed in the center of the window so must be measured to make sure they'll meet. However, most homeowners are using exterior vinyl shutters for decoration only. This is when the standard shutter widths of 14 in or 15 inch is perfect. It's best if you can use the same size shutters all over your home, even at varying width windows in order to keep a uniform look.
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