Board and Batten Shutters For a Rustic or Refined Look
When looking to add a simple and simultaneously elegant feel to the exterior of your home, choosing the right type of shutters can go a long way. Some of the most commonly used and beautifully crafted types of shutters are board and batten shutters. Although these shutters have historically been used on properties such as cottages, farms, and ranches, the look couldn’t help but catch on and spread to all sorts of homes and properties. It’s no wonder why these gorgeous shutters have grown so much in popularity through time. Depending on their construction, they can give your home a rustic or a refined look. Learn more in this ArchitecturalDepot.com video:
One of the features that makes this type of shutter so distinct is the basic structure in the design. Typical board and batten shutters are hinged to the sides of the window, giving them the ability to both swing open and swing shut easily. The main feature that makes them unique is the fact they are simply closed and vertically connected boards. The amount of boards that are used and connected to make each shutter can be as little as two and generally be as high as five. They also have separated cross beams that are placed horizontally in order to provide a strong support. The standard amount of cross beams used is two and they are placed at the top and bottom of each shutter.
The most common design used by homeowners is the standard vertically shaped rectangle. The boards are simply placed sided by side vertically and made into a precisely cut symmetrical shape. Although this sounds a little too plain and simple to some, most homeowners who have installed this style of board and batten shutters will find themselves raving about how much they love them. The other popular shape is slightly different and is designed for arch windows. Rather than an exact rectangle, the two shutters are cut using a method that creates one single arch when combined, providing an elegantly tasteful look.
Building board and batten shutters is a good DIY project if you are handy with tools and enjoy home improvement projects. You can find instructions on how to make board and batten shutters at eHow.com, LittleHouseInTheSuburbs.com and CozyCottageCute.com.
If you prefer to buy, Hooks & Latttice sells vinyl, cedar and azek and painted composite board and batten shutters. Vinyl prices range from $45 to $230 while cedar and composite prices range from $100 to $450. Wood shutters are available at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, ArchitecturalDepot.com, Sunbelt Shutters, Larson Shutter Company, Estate Millwork and Timberlane. Generally speaking, vinyl is less expensive than wood. You can expect to pay more for custom-made shutters. To get ideas for your home, you can view shutter images and pictures at Timberlane, Pacific Columns, Sunbelt Shutters and Headhouse Square online galleries.
