Add Curb Appeal with Exterior Shutters

In today's tight real estate market, selling your property means taking every advantage you can get. To make sure you attract potential buyers, curb appeal is essential. One way to add style and elegance to the front of your home is with exterior shutters. Shutters have once again become a popular essential for modern homes. However, with modern conveniences, functional exterior shutters have become unnecessary in most areas due to heating and air units that maintain consistent indoor temperatures. Assuming functional shutters are not necessary and aesthetics is your goal, consider the tips below when you choose shutters for the exterior windows of your home.

Check with your local building authority and/or homeowners association prior to installing new exterior shutters. Some of these entities may require some level of historical accuracy or have some requirements concerning the materials used on the exterior of the structures in your neighborhood.

Drive around and view different houses in your area with exterior shutters. This can help you see what style of shutter will best compliment the architecture of your home. Raised panels, louvers, or a combination of the two are the most widely used on most homes. However, there are others. A visit to your local home improvement store will provide you with all the styles that are available.

14 1/2" x 71" Closed Louvered Vinyl Shutters


Measure the height of your windows and purchase exterior shutters that are the same height as your windows in order to maintain the symmetrical look of your home. Check to see if standard sized shutters are available in sizes that will match your windows. Standard sized shutters are usually around 12" and 15" in width and come in various heights. If standard sizes are not available for your windows, then you will have to have custom shutters made. Your local home improvement center should be able to provide this service.

Decide whether you will install vinyl or wood shutters. Most exterior shutters installed today are made of vinyl and come in a variety of colors. They are practically maintenance free and last for many years. However, some homes will just not lend themselves architecturally to a vinyl shutter and wood will be a better choice. If you decide to install wood shutters, choose shutters made of cedar since they hold up better in the elements than other wood and require little maintenance.

The final step is installation. Non-functional exterior shutters are relatively easy to install and is a basic DIY project. Attachment involves screwing or nailing the shutter through its face into the side of the house. If the exterior of your home is wood, nailing will suffice. However, if the exterior of your home is brick, you will need to drill holes in the mortar between the bricks and insert an anchor for the screws.

Your choice of exterior shutters should add significant curb appeal to your home by making your windows seem larger and more prominent. Adding faux hinges and shutter dogs can give your shutters the appearance of being functional as well as adding that final decorative touch.

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.