| "> | | | | rooms where there can be high levels of moisture or |
| | | | steam. They are good for pool rooms, bathrooms |
| Choosing plantation shutters for form or function? | | | | and utility rooms. |
| Plantation shutters offer both to today’s | | | | Shutters with moveable panels have the added |
| homeowner. These unique window treatments trace | | | | advantage of providing privacy at the same time |
| their roots to ancient Greece. The Greeks used them | | | | they admit light and air. You can adjust the louvers in |
| for both privacy and security. Interior shutters were | | | | such a manner that light and air is allowed into the |
| used to close windows. Along with imposing columns, | | | | room while at the same time preventing outside |
| shutters are hallmarks of Classical Greek Architecture. | | | | passersby from seeing inside. |
| This ancient order and form in building design later | | | | Some tips for selecting shutters for your home |
| influenced buildings and architecture throughout the | | | | 1. Consult your carpenter or contractor. Determine if |
| Western world.Before the widespread use of glass, | | | | the present window casings will support the weight |
| shutters were used to close windows. They were | | | | of the hinged shutters when opened and closed, or |
| used to protect the interior of the house from the | | | | whether additional framing will be required. |
| weather and from intruders as well as provide | | | | 2. Consider the width of the louver. The louver width |
| privacy. They could be opened to allow sunlight and | | | | affects the appearance as well as the function of the |
| fresh air into the building or home. | | | | shutters. The wider the louver, the more light and air |
| Elements of Greek architecture are seen in many | | | | will be permitted to flow into the room. |
| buildings and homes from the late 18th century, the | | | | 3. Choose between wood and vinyl. Wooden, |
| 19th century and the early 20th century in the United | | | | especially faux wood shutters can give the room a |
| States. It was especially prevalent in banks, office | | | | warmer feeling. Vinyl shutters work well in rooms |
| buildings and many public and government buildings. | | | | that have high moisture or steam content. Vinyl |
| The plantation mansions of the old South borrowed | | | | shutters are easy to clean and will not warp. |
| heavily on the architecture of the Greeks. The | | | | 4. Choose between moveable and fixed louvers. If |
| antebellum mansions of the great plantations from | | | | you want to use the shutters primarily for privacy |
| South Carolina to the western edge of Mississippi | | | | and security, you may wish to use fixed position |
| borrowed heavily from the building concepts of the | | | | louvers. If you want to be able to open the shutters |
| Greeks. A number of these grand old mansions have | | | | to admit light, ventilation or see through the window, |
| been restored and preserved at Natchez, Mississippi. | | | | you will want to select adjustable louver shutters. |
| Just as did the ancient Greeks, plantation owners | | | | 5. Read the reviews written by home improvement |
| used shutters for both their beauty and their | | | | consultants and also by consumers. These reviews |
| function. By closing the windows in this manner, these | | | | are posted on websites and are published on home |
| homeowners were able to add a level of security to | | | | improvement websites and in home decorating |
| their homes. This was important because in the era | | | | magazines. |
| before the Civil War, the agricultural areas of the | | | | 6. Choose a reputable company with a reliable |
| South were only sparsely populated. Plantations were | | | | warranty against defects in materials and |
| largely isolated. Plantations were also symbols of | | | | workmanship. |
| wealth, making them targets for bands of robbers. | | | | Tips for installing shutters |
| There was also the potential of attack from revolting | | | | 1. Measure the window and make sure that the |
| slaves. | | | | window opening is square. If the window is not |
| Times have changed and today’s | | | | square, you will be required to taper the shutter to |
| homeowners use shutters primarily for their beauty | | | | fit the opening. |
| or form rather than for security. | | | | 2. Cut the shutters to fit the opening. If you cannot |
| What are plantation shutters? | | | | find a shutter that will fit your window exactly, |
| Plantation shutters are louvered interior shutters. | | | | choose a shutter that is slightly larger than the |
| They cover the entire window. They are most often | | | | opening. If you need to trip more than ¾ |
| made from wood, although modern materials including | | | | from the shutter, cut all of it from the left or bottom |
| PVC and vinyl are also being used with growing | | | | sides. If you need to trim more than ¾ inch |
| acceptance. The shutters are hinged and can be | | | | from the side, cut half from each side. Use the same |
| opened or closed and latched. In addition to swinging | | | | procedure in trimming the height of the shutter. |
| open, some models have moveable louvers that can | | | | 3. Hinge the shutter with non-mortising hinges. Use |
| be opened and closed. Other models have stationary | | | | two shutter hinges for shutters 30 inches or less in |
| louvers. There is great flexibility in being able to | | | | height. Use three hinges for shutters from 30 |
| partially or completely open the shutters and/or | | | | — 48 inches high. Be sure and place the hinges |
| partially or completely open the louvers. This allows | | | | on the opposite side of the desired shutter opening. |
| tremendous control in directing the inflow of outside | | | | 4. Install the latch on the opposite side of the hinges. |
| air as well as sunlight. | | | | The latch is often installed in the centre of the |
| Typically the panels of plantation shutters range from | | | | shutter. In some applications it may be desirable to |
| 15 inches to 36 inches wide. Louvers are available in | | | | install the latch near the top or the bottom of the |
| several widths, ranging from 1-3/4 inches wide to 4-1 | | | | shutter. For example, in a room used by small children |
| 2 inches wide, appealing to different tastes and fitting | | | | you may wish to install the latch near the top of the |
| with a variety of decors. The width of the louver has | | | | shutter. |
| a practical application as well as aesthetic. The wider | | | | 5. The installation tools needed include a mitre, radial |
| the louver, the more air or sunlight will be allowed to | | | | arm or table saw; a jointer, planer or a hand plane; |
| filter through. | | | | screwdriver; square, paint brush; tape measure; |
| These shutters are often used in series. Rooms with | | | | pencil; the shutters, non-mortising hinges, screws, fine |
| a number of windows, several adjacent windows or | | | | sandpaper and touch-up paint or varnish. |
| large picture windows look especially good with | | | | Today’s homeowner is going to use plantation |
| plantation shutter window treatment. | | | | shutters more for beauty, but they are also |
| Pine is frequently used in construction of hurricane | | | | important for privacy and security. Shutters are often |
| shutters as well. Contractors and do-it-yourselfers | | | | an excellent choice for living rooms, sitting rooms, |
| can find them both pre-finished and unfinished. | | | | dens, home libraries and home offices. There is a |
| Unfinished allows the contractor or diy to finish with | | | | special feeling that comes from sitting or working in a |
| any paint or stain color desired. | | | | room dominated by the rich warmth of wood. |
| PVC and vinyl panels come in colors, including white. | | | | Sunlight, ventilation and artificial lighting can all be |
| These panels may be plain or have embossed wood | | | | adjusted to provide just the right atmosphere. |
| graining. PVC and vinyl are excellent choices for | | | | |