Add Curb Appeal with Shutter Hinges

When it comes to curb appeal, you only have one chance to make a good first impression. Exterior shutters are an important part of that first impression and to give those shutters, as well as the entire look of your home some extra pizazz, decorative shutter hinges will add that perfect finishing touch that most homeowners would overlook. More importantly, if you live in a coastal area where there is always a chance of hurricanes, functional exterior shutters can protect your home from broken windows and water damage. In other locations, shutters play more of a decorative role and shutter hinges can add greatly to that decorative role.

Like most any other home decor item, shutter hinges are available in a variety of materials including wrought iron, cast iron and stainless steel. There are basically two types of shutter hinges. A Mortise hinge, which is a very fancy hinge that resembles the shape of an “N” where it connects with the wall of the house, and also the strap style hinge, which looks just as you would expect, like a strap, however some are wider at one end and taper down to the other. When selecting shutter hinges, you must also consider the building material used on the exterior of your home. Wood exteriors require post mount hardware while masonry exteriors require Lag mount hardware. Other exterior materials may require window sill mount hardware. The supplier of your hardware should be able to provide a recommendation on the type of hinge to use.

If you're at all concerned about rusting, I strongly encourage you to consider purchasing stainless steel shutter hinges for your home. Stainless steel hardware will not rust, a plus in salty, ocean side applications. Carbon steel hardware is less expensive, however it will rust outdoors.

You will need at least two hinge sets for each shutter. Two hinges should be sufficient for standard 15" wide shutters. However, for extra wide or extra long shutters, you will need to add one or more extra hinges for additional support. You should also attach a latch to the shutters to keep them closed in bad weather. An S-Shaped piece of hardware called a shutter dog is the component which latches your shutter open so that they don't swing around in the breeze. The shutter dog can be rotated to allow the shutter to open and close.

If you already have shutter hinges that are old, rusty and beyond repair, or if it is just time for a new look, consider replacing them with a new set of hinges in order to give your home a much needed face lift. Whether you are replacing an existing set or installing new shutters with new hardware, make the effort to find the shutter hinges that are most in keeping with the design of your shutters and they will provide that extra special look that will keep you smiling for years to come.