You’ve picked your shutters. You’ve picked the color and the style that match your home design. But there is one last choice to make: what size shutters are you going for and how to do you go about measuring them? It’s more nuanced than pulling out a tape measure and getting to work. The style of shutter, the level of functionality, and installation process all are factors in how you should be measuring and what you’re measuring for.
How do you measure for your exterior shutters?
From deciding the level of functionality for your shutters to determining location, you need to gather a fair bit of information before you start drilling away for the installation process. Doing your due diligence and research on your home and wants will save you time, money, and hassle in the long run.
As you move into the next steps of reworking the design of your home, here is a guide for measuring shutters to ensure you get the right information.
Decorative or Functional?
Currently, the majority of vinyl shutters are not functional and exist on a home’s facade solely for decorative purposes. Decorative shutters are easier to measure for than functional ones. Operational shutters are required to be measured for width and height at three different points to ensure they’re actually functional in their capacity to open and close. Decorative shutters, which are fixed to the wall, only need one width and height measurement. So, know your intention before your start.
Height
In most cases for decorative shutters, you want to match the window height closely, leaving about 1/4th of an inch more space on the shutter height over the window. Because not all windows are perfectly square, you need to measure carefully for operable shutters: three points all the way across the window to ensure you’re covering the highest measurement of space for when the shutters close.
Width
There is a fairly simple trick for ensure your decorative shutters have the right width. Measure your window and then ensure that the shutter width is safely between 25%-30% of the overall width of the window. For operable shutters, the same concept applies as for height: measure across three points going down the width of the window to ensure the shutters will cover the window at its widest point.
Questions
What Kind of Material is Best for Exterior Shutters?
If wood is what you’re going for, you want something weather resistant. Cedar is the most common wood option for exterior shutters, due to its durability. Cypress and redwood are also common options. If you want something even more durable and are willing to move away from wood: vinyl is a great option for weather. Vinyl shutters keep their appearance, color and structure for a virtual lifetime. Most manufacturers offer a limited lifetime warranty. You will get your money’s worth, that’s for sure!
Cost of Exterior Shutters?
It varies incredibly. A standard vinyl shutter starts at $70 but your cost could up as high as $500 for more complex, custom orders and more pricey material. Factor into this as well labor and installation costs which are not always included in the price of the material itself.
Getting your shutters right is worth the extra steps and work to make sure you’re doing the most for the design of your house. Ask yourself the above questions and get started on designing and installing your dream shutters.
EAP Shutters has everything you need when it comes to exterior vinyl shutters. We have been adorning homes for years, offering a wide selection of design shutter styles, designer colors and can customize your shutters to meet your needs. No order is too large or too small for personalized service and we offer convenient and secure on-line ordering 7 days a week. Call EAP Shutters today for a Free Consult. We are YOUR Shutter Store!