Be the Envy of your Neighbors by Installing Vinyl Exterior Shutters

So you've done it - you have purchased your own home. You have achieved the American dream. But you really can't call your home "yours" until you put your own personal touches on it. Whether you bought a brand new home, a fixer-upper, or you have landed somewhere in the middle, an inexpensive way to give your home a personal style is to add exterior vinyl shutters.

Vinyl exterior shutters will give your home a more inviting feeling and will make you stand out among your neighbors. Your home will have "curb appeal" and it will give you the feeling of pride you are looking for. And the best part is you don't even need to call a contractor to install decorative shutters - you can install them yourself in a matter of minutes.

To get started, you first need to decide which style of exterior shutter will look good on your home. There are generally 3 basic styles of shutters to choose from:

1. Louvered shutters
2. Raised panel shutters
3. Board and batten shutters

Louvered shutters are by far the most popular and are indeed what comes to mind when most people think about the term "exterior shutters". However, it is important to realize that this isn't the only option.

Louver shutters were originally meant specifically for solar control, as other types of shutters do not allow varying amounts of sunlight to pass through when they are closed. The modern decorative shutters are only meant for aesthetic purposes and do not open or close. Operable shutters are also available, but most people who put shutters on their home now do it for decorative purposes so they opt for the inexpensive exterior vinyl louver shutters.

Raised panel shutters are another option. Raised panel shutters tend to stand the test of time a little better than louvered shutters because they do not have as many parts when they are put together. These shutters look better than louvered shutters when placed on a really "busy" surface such as brick, but they also look good on smooth surfaces.

Board and batten shutters give your home more of a rustic look. These shutters are constructed using vertical "boards" that are held together with horizontal "cross battens". The vertical boards can either be butted (or joined) together or spaced apart. Modern styles also have a diagonal batten joining the other two to form a "Z" shape, similar to the way a barn door looks.

After you have decided on a style, you need to decide on a color. Color samples can be ordered to determine the appropriate color for your home, or alternatively you may wish to choose a neutral color such as black or white or even order shutters made from a paintable plastic so you can paint them to match.

Next, you need to measure your windows so you can determine the proper size of shutters for your home. Vinyl exterior shutters can be custom made, or ordered in stock sizes. Stock sizes are usually cheaper, but for a perfect fit you should consider getting the custom made shutters. Of course, another thing to keep in mind is that you may mix-and-match the standard and custom shutters, provided the standard sized shutters are available in the same style you desire. You should measure every window on your home carefully and write down the measurements. This is important because many homes have shorter windows on the second floor than on the first floor. Sizes of windows can vary drastically even on the same house.

Now it is time to order your shutters. Choose your vendor carefully, as not all of them make shutters in-house. Also, pay careful attention to how long the lead time is for the shutters. Some vendors also offer next-day shipping, but most do not. Try http://www.shuttercontractor.com/.

After you receive your vinyl exterior shutters, you can install them quickly and reletively easy. There are typically 2 mounting options, either using shutter-loks or color coordinated painted screws. Shutter-loks look like a button that protrudes from the shutter surface, and come in the same colors as the shutters. Painted screws are the option that most shutter contractors use because the installation is quicker.

Pay careful attention to the mounting instructions that came with the shutters or you have downloaded from the vendor's web site. It is important to use the correct mounting pattern or you may void the warranty of the product.

After you have finished installing your exterior vinyl shutters, take a few steps back and look at what you have accomplished! You now have a home you can be proud to call "yours". Cheers!