How to Select Exterior Shutters

Written by Sarah Vande Krol


Installing exterior shutters is a relatively quick way to add style and color torepparttar outside of a house. Historical and modern houses alike benefit fromrepparttar 100048 timeless style of shutters. As with any home improvements,repparttar 100049 quality and longevity of an addition should be evaluated before proceeding.

Exterior shutters are available in many shapes and materials. Vinyl shutters are easily available at most home improvement stores, and they can be a cost-effective option. However, vinyl shutters often look like plastic, they are not useful as operable shutters, and they cannot be stained.

Shutters are also made out of many types of wood. The best wood for exterior use is cedar because of its outstanding durability and resistance to decay. Cedar gives long service with little maintenance in applications such as mud sills, window sashes, sheathing under stucco or brick veneer construction, greenhouse benches, fencing, poles, trellises, and exterior shutters. Cedar is also used extensively for exterior siding because it is dimensionally stable and holds paint well, in addition to being a deterrent to bugs.

The tannin (oil) in incense cedar is what makes it such a good wood for exterior shutters. It helps prevent moisture penetration and bugs hate it. However, shutters should not be left unprotected. Rather, it is best to finishrepparttar 100050 shutters before installation so all surfaces can be fully covered. While paint can be brushed, it is recommended that it be sprayed. Most house painters will spray shutters with their airless spray systems for latex paint.

The best base is a primer coat of an oil-based primer tinted as close torepparttar 100051 final color as possible. The oil penetrates intorepparttar 100052 wood, offering better protection. It can be applied in a much finer mist, thereby reaching between and around louvers and into seams, joints and corners. The top two coats should be a premium-grade exterior latex paint. A topcoat of exterior latex paint will not chalk or fade like an oil-based paint. If shutter caps will be used, paint them as well sincerepparttar 100053 top edge of shutters isrepparttar 100054 most vulnerable to moisture penetration.

Introduction to Conservatories

Written by Garry John


Introduction to Conservatories

Conservatories remain a popular accoutrement and attachment to homes throughoutrepparttar United Kingdom andrepparttar 100047 world inrepparttar 100048 21st century. Around for over three hundred years, conservatories work to provide a lovely transition betweenrepparttar 100049 main residence andrepparttar 100050 natural surroundings abuttingrepparttar 100051 home. In this article we look atrepparttar 100052 thee main types of materials used for conservatories – pvcu, aluminum and hardwood.

PVCu

Throughrepparttar 100053 years, many different types of materials have been utilized inrepparttar 100054 construction of conservatories. Stone, brick and wood have all been popular materials and widely used inrepparttar 100055 construction of elegant and functional conservatories down throughrepparttar 100056 past three centuries. In recent years, aluminum has become widely used inrepparttar 100057 construction of conservatories. Most recently, a substance which has become known as PVCu has been widely used inrepparttar 100058 construction of conservatories throughoutrepparttar 100059 United Kingdom andrepparttar 100060 rest ofrepparttar 100061 world.

In considering this article, one might wonder aboutrepparttar 100062 composition of PVCu. “PVC” stands for “Poly Vinyl Chloride.” Poly Vinyl Chloride is a chemical compound consisting of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. The “u” appended atrepparttar 100063 end ofrepparttar 100064 moniker stands for “unplasticised” or “unmodified.” In layman’s terms, this means thatrepparttar 100065 material or product has not been injected with additional chemicals called plasticizers. Plasticizers are designed to soften materials. PVCu is derived essentially from petroleum or natural gas and common salt. Most PVCu systems are reinforced with aluminum.

As mentioned in this article, PVCu has becomerepparttar 100066 most popular choice of construction material for conservatories inrepparttar 100067 U.K. and elsewhere today. One of primary reasons that PVCu conservatories have become so popular is because of its relatively inexpensive cost. The use of PVCu inrepparttar 100068 construction of conservatories have made these home additions more affordable and more available to families acrossrepparttar 100069 U.K. andrepparttar 100070 world over.

Additionally, PVCu has proven to be a very good insulator. Throughrepparttar 100071 use of PVCu, a home owner is able to lowerrepparttar 100072 energy costs associated with a conservatory.

PVCu is crafted to look like authentic wood such as mahogany or oak. Additionally, a flat white coloration is popular with conservatory owners.

PVCu conservatories are easy to maintain. Additionally, PVCu is very durable and a long lasting material that will bringrepparttar 100073 pleasures ofrepparttar 100074 conservatory to future generations.

Aluminum

Practicality has followedrepparttar 100075 advancement and utilization of conservatories throughrepparttar 100076 years. In recent times, more and more men and women who are considering including conservatories in their overall home design have become most concerned with quality construction at a reasonable price. As a consequence, aluminum conservatories have come into vogue.

Aluminum conservatories can be constructed at a reasonable -- really, at a low -- cost. The costs associated with creatingrepparttar 100077 aluminum components are not particularly high inrepparttar 100078 first instance. Indeed, most people who are interested in including a conservatory as a part of their primary residence have foundrepparttar 100079 expenses associated with crafting and creating an aluminum conservatory to be most reasonable.

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