Old-World Sophistication, Quaint Country Charm: Board And Batten Shutters
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One of the most popular designs or types of external shutters for homes are board and batten shutters. These types of shutters come to us from old-world Europe, and have also been extensively used on country barns and rural homes. The design is very straightforward and simple -- a number of boards are placed vertically and are held in place by two or more horizontal cross pieces (the batten).
When board and batten shutters are functional, they swing out on hinges and are held in place by the shutter "dogs." These types of shutters provide a great deal of protection from the harshest weather, as very thick and sturdy boards are used in their construction.
However, board and batten shutters are increasingly used today as a purely decorative item -- they are installed on either side of a window and are mounted in such a way that they cannot be moved. Installed in this fashion, board and batten shutters provide no actual protection to the window, which is no longer necessary with modern windows.
Of course, when ordering board and batten shutters you should carefully consider the type of material that is used in their construction, as well as the number of boards which are used. Some types of board and batten shutters are made with 3 inch boards, or 3 1/2 inch boards -- I have even seen some board and batten shutters made with 5 inch boards. You can also purchase board and batten shutters that have a uniform gap, or space, between each slat (the more traditional type of board and batten shutter has each board mounted next to each other with no gap in between).
In addition to the shutters themselves, you will also need to order a set of board and batten shutter hardware -- items like strap hinges or shutter dogs (which will hold your shutter in place against the wall of your house). It will be necessary to install some type of working hinges if you want your board and batten shutters to be functional -- to actually open and close across the face of your windows. You can also purchase side bolts for functional shutters -- side bolts are used to keep your board and batten shutters in place when they are covering your window (so that the wind and rain will not blow them open).
An important tip: board and batten shutters that are nonfunctional are oftentimes not finished on the side which is mounted next to the wall of your home. Not being exposed to view, there is no need for a nonfunctional board and batten shutter to have a finished back. However, if you need your shutters to be functional, you should make sure that all the surfaces are finished, including the back, as that surface will be visible from the outside when your shutters are in the closed position.
Also keep in mind that it is possible to order board and batten shutters using synthetic materials such as vinyl, in addition to the more traditional wood style. Some people prefer these, as they feel that they will require less maintenance. If you do purchase board and batten shutters made from vinyl, make sure that it can be painted if necessary -- so that if you change the color of your house trim in the future, you will be able to repaint your shutters with a different color.
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