Wood is a classic material when used in the manufacture of shutters. You don’t just walk into the store and pick out the first wood blinds you find. Wood offers numerous options that will define your choice of shutters and your experience of use.
Each variety of wood provides different properties that will define your experience. There are strengths and weaknesses of each species that you should consider when making a choice. Here’s a look at some of the properties of woods to consider when choosing a wood for your shutters.
- variety of wood
Wood is commonly classified as hard or soft. Each variety will provide a variety of benefits when used in the manufacture of shutters. Shutters can be made of hardwood or softwood and still serve their intended purpose.
Some of the hardwood varieties available for shutter making include Balsa, Blackbutt, Mahogany, Spotted Gum, Eucalyptus, Oak, Walnut, Elm, and Teak, among others. The advantages of using hardwood include durability, ease of maintenance, strength, resiliency, and a pleasing appearance.
The softwood is also used in the manufacture of shutters. Some of the softwood varieties include pine, cedar, and fir among others. Some of the advantages you can enjoy when using softwood include ease of handling, lower prices, and the ability to change color. The texture of the softwood is also impressive.
The variety of wood to be used will depend on availability. Your budget is also a factor when choosing the variety of wood. It will affect the appearance of your blinds.
- Wood Color
Wood comes in different colors depending on the species, age, and whether it is hard or soft wood. Color is a factor when choosing your blinds. You want the shutters to match the overall color of your home, as well as its architectural design.
Some varieties of wood are light while others are dark. If you need light-colored wooden shutters, you should settle for that variety. If the blinds must be dark, there are wooden varieties that offer this option.
You may want to change the color of the wood with paint or varnish. Some varieties will require a lot of paint or will require multiple coats without giving you the results you want. The color will depend on the treatment given to it. Professional treatment is needed to have color that lasts.
- Sustainability
Every homeowner wants to make an investment that will last. The wood you choose must withstand storms and remain intact for years. If the blinds can survive with little to no maintenance, they will have served their purpose.
The ability to survive a storm is one of the desired characteristics of wood. Hardwood is a good choice if your area regularly experiences nasty storms. However, the thickness of the wood used will also determine if these shutters will survive.
While wood can naturally survive with little maintenance, it will reduce the life of your shutters. The minimum type of treatment that can be given to wood is the application of furniture. This prevents the surface from cracking and damaging the entire blind.
- Treatment
The wood requires attention in the treatment to keep it in perfect condition. This treatment is done by finishing or painting. The treatment must be carried out by professionals so that it is long-lasting and improves the value for money.
Ongoing treatment is a task that every owner must be prepared to undertake. If wood is not treated regularly, it will crack and allow water and heat from the sun to damage your shutters. This will weaken them to the point that they will not be able to withstand the pressure of a storm.
There are expenses involved in treatment. Hardwood, for example, does not require much treatment because it is resistant. This means you’ll make a large down payment and then spend less on maintenance. Softwood, on the other hand, is less expensive to purchase but will require a lot of care in treatment.
The type of treatment will also depend on where the blinds are installed. Exterior wood shutters require detailed treatment because the shutters are exposed to the elements. Interior blinds may not require a similar type of treatment.
- cost
All varieties of wood have a cost. The cost will depend on the species, the size required and whether it is hard or soft wood. You may want to have hardwood of a particular color or texture and have to pay a high price because you need to import. This means that locally available hardwood may be cheaper than softwood that must be imported.
The cost also depends on the design and details that will go into the blinds. Check out the wood options available on the market and choose based on your personal preferences. The most expensive wood is not necessarily the best. There are many other factors that would affect the cost of lumber.
- Strength
The strength of the wood used in the manufacture of shutters is especially important when they are used for protection against a storm. Flying debris and high winds will damage blinds made of weak wood. This weakness may be due to rough handling, unprofessional joints, or poor shaping of the wood as it grows. It takes a professional to make sure your shutters and the wood you use are strong enough to serve their intended purpose.
- Availability
There are hundreds of varieties of wood that can be used to make blinds. Each tree offers unique properties in terms of color, texture, resistance and price, among others. However, the desired variety of wood may not be available.
Check with your local store or distributor to see if the desired variety is available. If it’s not available, there are alternatives you can consider. You must be willing to pay for the properties you need.
It is also important to have a professional who can work on the wood and get the desired results. This requires specialized tools and skills. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a wood shutter, but you will be disappointed in the results.
