The Different Types of Exterior Shutter Hardware
Adding accessories to your home can be the icing on the cake. You’ve already spent the necessary time to determine what is the best design for your home. You then picked out colors for your siding and determined what to choose as far as doors and windows. You’ve even added shutters to compliment your home’s ambiance. Now you need to take a bit of time and pick out some exterior shutter hardware. This final component is fairly simple but still crucial to the success of your home project.
The very first thing you need to make sure you have is shutter caps. Whether your shutters are functional or decorative, you will need this piece of exterior shutter hardware. The shutter caps sit atop your shutters and provide protection from moisture and weather. They are usually made of metal and protect your shutters from damage. They are painted to match your shutters so that they blend in seamlessly. In the event that snow or water sits on the shutter lip, it won’t be able to seep down and cause warping or damage to your shutters. If you install nothing else, you will need a good shutter cap.
After taking care of the basics, you will move on the hinges, shutter dogs and slide bolts. As exterior shutter hardware, these three accomplish several tasks. The hinges actually allow your shutters to be functional. When installed, your shutter will be able to swing closed as necessary. The shutter dogs are a decorative but functional piece that holds your shutters in an open position. These are sometimes called tie backs. Slide bolts accomplish the task of locking your shutters in an open position, making them stable in wind or weather. Of course, any of these pieces of hardware can be installed merely for the decorative effect and appeal.
This Classic Accents Hardware video shows how decorative shutter hardware is installed:
If you have shutters that are functional, you will likely need most or all of these pieces of exterior shutter hardware. However, even if you only install shutters that are decorative and do not actually open and close, you may want to include some of these pieces just for the look and architectural effect. These can be an inexpensive way to achieve a classic and beautiful effect without breaking the bank.
