Exterior Shutters - Which Wood is Best?

All exterior shutters designs are available in a variety of materials, responding to concerns of cost and durability, and the relevance of architecture.

PLASTIC
Walk through the aisles of the area of “big box" retailers like Home Depot and Lowes and this may be the only choice you see. Why? Vinyl shutters are light, easy to install, pre-finished, and suffer almost no ill effects from the weather. They also give housing opportunities for fine wasps, bees and spiders, because they hide large cavities behind pretty facades. If the budget and "zero maintenance" are your primary considerations, then by all means buy plastic components - and a couple of cans of wasp spray, too.

COMPOSITE or FIBERGLASS
These modern materials more accurately mimic the beauty and left traditional wooden shutters, while offering some of the advantages of plastic. Most offers to eliminate the large cavities hidden while retaining the benefits of pre-colored finish and easy maintenance. The installation is more difficult and prices are higher, however.

Wood
Would you build a piano with vinyl or fiberglass? Shutters have a long and proud history. They were by necessity made by craftsmen who used wood because it was all they had, and because it does the job perfectly. Their components had to stop invasion of arrows or storms roaring, wood was the answer. Traditionalists and the preservation of the district councils will accept nothing less. Of course wood shutters are more expensive, and require maintenance, but they imitate anything. Who cares if you do not close them to keep out marauders?

Which Wood is Best?

PINE: - Easily accessible and affordable, the pine is a fine choice budget. Stability and weather resistance than other wood, however.

WESTERN RED CEDAR: - Light, lovely, and affordable red cedar makes a fine choice when you want to blend budget, beauty and durability.

CYPRESS: - Strong, durable and more stable than the lighter woods, cypress can be harder to find. Prices reflect market conditions and vary by region. You'll only need to buy cypress shutters time and paint on occasion.

CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: - This premier wood will at the test of time and climate and look fantastic for decades. Redwood resists mildew, insects, water and wind. It is the rock and the high prices in the market, sometimes very rare.