Exterior window shutters are taken for granted as an easy to install, quick fix to improve curb appeal.
Unfortunately, few people understand the complexity of window shutters or the correct way of hanging shutters.
What one thinks is a simple mistake will destroy a home’s curb appeal. Don’t let this happen to you!
With historic wood shutters or plastic shutters, there is a LOT you need to know.
Read on and we will insure your success with shutters and curb appeal.
With a photo of your house we can also replace your plastic shutters with real wood shutters to show you the difference and how we can improve the curb appeal of your home.
House without exterior window shutters
Historic shutters. Operable shutters are now added.
How Exterior Window Shutters Can Ruin the Appearance Of your Home
And What You Can Do to Fix Them
Topics covered:
- The History of Exterior Window Shutters and How They Were Used.
- Window Shutter Mistakes – Exterior Shutters Today vs Historic Shutters.
- Exterior Shutter Hardware – Choosing the right Shutter Hinges.
- Examples of Good versus Bad Window Shutters.
- What Shutter Styles are Right for My House?
- Painting Shutter Colors.
- Purchasing Exterior Window Shutters.
There is a Lot More to Window Shutters Than You Think.
Shutters:
- Make one of the greatest impacts on the appearance of a house.
- Are a feature that is easy to add to your home.
- Provide the most bang for your buck in beautifying your home.
- Can ruin the entire appearance of your house if not done correctly.
Yes, exterior window shutters, just as windows, can be your best friend or worst enemy. Exterior shutters can make or break the appearance of your house. Window shutters are the most abused in about 99% of homes. Yes, exterior window shutters can grossly subtract from a potentially beautiful house and make it look bland and out-right ugly! The good news is that the bad can easily be fixed and allow your house to come alive with beauty. Here we will explain what most homeowners and builders are doing wrong and how easily exterior window shutters can make your house pop with beauty.
The History of Exterior Window Shutters and How They Were Used.
Before there were windows, there were shutters.
Exterior wood window shutters over the course of history were not only aesthetically pleasing but provided a necessary function with their many uses.
They were used for security, provided privacy from outsiders passing by, added an extra layer of insulation during winter weather (with wood having a high R value) and blocked out the sun, preventing damage to furniture.
Louvered shutters allowed a breeze to enter a home, keeping the room cool on a hot summer day.
Earlier historic shutters were used for security in place of glass windows.
Shutters were either single board, or board-and-batten shutters (vertical wood slats) which were used on cottages and primitive buildings.
Solid raised paneled shutters then appeared and provided a lighter, more elegant look.
Fixed louvered shutters then came into use during the second half of the 18th century.
Historically, solid raised panel shutters were referred to as “shutters” while those with louvered shutters were called “blinds”.
To the right you see a photo of shutters from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (1772). Stiles and rails (the edges) on early louvered shutters were quite narrow.
Notice that the shutter is mounted off to the side of the window casing. This mounting style was used only for early shutters such as these.
Many early louvered shutters when closed would not fit snuggly into the window but instead rest against the window sash and stick out from the window.
This window has a separate set of window shutters for both the upper and lower sash.
Through the middle 19th century, most homes would have solid raised panel shutters on the first floor for privacy and security.
On the second floor they would have louvered shutters to allow the breeze to enter during the warm months.
Sometimes the first floor had white shutters. At night when closed a candle lit interior would appear brighter.
Dark colored louvered shutters on the second floor would provide darkness for daytime napping.
An individual window shutter could also combined both features – a raised solid panel on the lower portion and louvers on the top part.
The example to the right shows an 1840’s window.
The shutter on the left is installed graphically from an old sepia-tone photo.
The shutter on the right is planned to be constructed by Shuttercraft to match.
Historic Board and Batten shutters are used for privacy and security.
Raised panel shutters were typical for Early American or the later Colonial Revival homes. Paneled shutters mimic interior wall panels with raised or flat panels.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello 1772
1861 Green louver shutters on top floor, white raised panel shutters on first floor. Click to enlarge.
Original c. 1840 shutter from an old photo is pasted on left side of window. Reproduction shutter mockup by Shuttercraft on right.
“Operable Louvered Shutters”, louvers that are regulated by a tilt rod began to be manufactured around 1830-1840. Before this the louvers were fixed in an open position. Now the slats/louvers can be moved up and down to regulate ventilation and light entering the room, or for privacy.
These shutter slats/louvers were fixed at a 60 degree angle that faces upward. About half-way between completely flat and fully horizontal. This is when the shutter is open. When closed this angle will allow good ventilation and prevent rain from entering.
With the advent of the exterior Storm Window in the later 1800’s, shutters were sometimes removed and stored away before the cold months and wooden storm windows would be installed. Removal was easy – all you needed to do was lift the shutter off the pin on the hinge.
Exterior window shutters could also remain on the building, left in an open position. If using storm windows, please note that this was all dependent on the type and mounting of the shutter hinge. It is possible that the storm window would not be able to be inserted into the window jamb if a shutter hinge was in the way.
During the warm months, the storm windows would be removed and window shutters would be closed to protect furniture from the sun and allow outside air to cool the house.
At the end of the Civil War, awnings (Preservation Brief #44 – Awnings ) became popular and window screens began to come into use. Screen windows were just like storm windows except they had screens in the wood frame. In addition to these screen windows, adjustable screens (The Adjustable Window Screen Company patent, 1866 ) still sold in hardware stores today, or lace curtains also served the purpose. Visit our page on storm windows and window screens .
In some styles of architecture, exterior shutters also began to fall out of fashion. By the 1920’s, although some exterior window shutters were still used for practical reasons, most were strictly decorative.
Those shutters that were purely decorative however, were still functional or had the appearance of being functional. Homeowners could operate the shutter to cool or insulate the home if they wished. There was no difference to the appearance of the house.
Unfortunately, this changed during the 1950’s with the advent of Aluminum Siding and Aluminum Shutters. This is when the dreadful problem we have today began.
Where Exterior Window Shutters Went Wrong
The public has always been in love with the warm cozy feel of a traditional styled home. Exterior wood window shutters provide that look and feel. Aluminum siding and fake aluminum shutters started to be heavily marketed in the 1950s.
To simplify installation of aluminum shutters on aluminum siding, the method of installing exterior window shutters – hanging shutters changed. Window shutters began to be installed by screwing the shutter onto the siding NEXT TO, instead of directly on top of window casing, and without the use of hinges. This was easy and required minimal intelligence.
Eventually, people became more lazy, less knowledgeable, and more insensitive to the appearance of their windows and began using the wrong size shutters. Before you knew it, they were putting rectangular shutters on arched windows and whatever else you could imagine!
This is where we are today. As you may or may not know, the window shutter has evolved in a grossly unfortunate way. Sadly, we too have evolved to accept this new bland look. It is now normal and what we expect to see when we look at a house with shutters. This is also what architects and builders do and what we see with many exterior window shutter companies.
If you are not aware of the “bad window shutters” problem you soon will be.
Read on and we will re-train your eyes to understand, see, and feel the impact of a architecturally correct and incorrect window shutter.
You will be the expert. We use the term Historic Shutter to represent a visually correct, properly mounted and designed shutter, as all shutters should be, including those used with contemporary architecture.
Hi! I live in Baltimore and have noticed that in certain historic homes in the area the shutters have candlestick, moon and/ or star cut outs on the shutters. I’m assuming this was a decorative touch . Do these cut outs have a particular symbolism? Or is it purely for decoration?
That’s a 1920’s style. They could mean something to the owner at the time but no particular reason.
Ken
What type of wood was most commonly used on these in midwest America ca. 1950?
I really am not sure. Probably Western Red Cedar.
Hi, I have a 1920s colonial revival that is essentially a square box with four single windows on the front. Unfortunately previous homeowners have replaced the old windows but there are hooks for (I’m assuming) storm windows on the top window pane of each window. Would they have used storm windows and shutters? Also would stationary louvered shutters make sense for this style CR?
Thank you for the article!
From what I understand sometimes people may have used both storm window and shutters. You can find info on shutters and old storm windows but seldom both. Storm windows have been around for a long time. To hang storm windows you need to be sure the shutter hinges will not be in the way. With edge mounted shutters, which were very popular, the storm window would probably not get past the hinge. Face mounted would not present a problem.
Louvered shutters are ok for a 1920’s Colonial Revival but shutters with cut-outs (louvered, board n batten etc.) are what you need. They were the most popular.
Sixty percent of our wood lovered shutters remain in storage in our garage of our 1861 brick gothic revival house. Am using a heat gun to soften and remove layers of paint after disassembling shutters as glue joints have failed. New parts, I make as needed. Hinges pattented 1843, had missing parts cast by an iron foundry near here. Parts had to be annealed in a kiln to soften the metal to be able do do the machine work. Missing bifold shutters on some french doors appear in a 1937 photo and horizontals parts will be duplicated from measurements from morter lines in the brick walls behind the shutters. It may be suttle,but is important to overall look..
We just bought a lovely brick home built in 1934. There are solid wood shutters on the second story windows, and none on the first story. The first story windows have extra glass panels to the side, almost like a visual glass “shutter”. Would it be appropriate to add first story shutters? Should we replace the upper level with louvered shutters?
Since the shutters are wood – keep them. Look for ghost marks of hinges on the other windows to see if the house had shutters there.
Hi, Thanks so much for all the background information on your site. I live in a tudor/cape cod home built in 1936 that had shutters attached to the brick in a way I can’t find referenced anywhere. In the space where the shutters were hung, the builder left two clean horizontal gaps in the mortar and inserted pieces of wood into those gaps. The shutters were then nailed into those pieces of wood. I just ordered board & batten, cedar shutters similar to what was there originally and would like to affix them to those wood pieces. Are you familiar with this method of hanging shutters on brick? The wood still in the gaps is weathered, but not rotted and appears strong. I’d like to just reuse that wood, but don’t know if I should try to replace it. Any thoughts about that? Thanks for your input.
While wood framed houses have a wide casing to attach the shutters, a brick home has a narrow brick mold surrounding the casing. This should provide ample space to attach a hinge. These shutters when closed should fit inside the brick mold resting against the blind stop. I would not think that hinges should be attached to the brick but in this case the shutter instead of fitting inside the brick mold would fill the entire opening in the brick. I believe this is a very old European way to mount shutters. I recommend taking a photo and sending it to a good shutter company like Shuttercraft to answer your questions.
My wife and I have purchased a 1848 colonial in Massachusetts. I’m wondering what style of shutters we should purchase?
To complicate matters a bit, we are adding an addition to the home so it will have a Victorian tower. Any recommendations for shutters?
Thanks!
Not everyone should own a historic house and this is a great example to how good homes get ruined. I would NOT add a tower to a Colonial house for it will look like a Frankenstein house. You are combining two entirely different styles that will clash. A good architect would never put his/her name on such a design. Find a historic preservation architect through your State Historic Preservation Office that is qualified for state projects and have them design a sensitive addition. Please do NOT make your beautiful 1848 house look like a joke. You are a steward of a historic house so please do not ruin it. Your house should have louvered shutters on the top floor and panel shutters on the first floor.
I have a hinge question. We have raised panel interior shutters, solid basswood, that we are installing soon. 2 windows, 4 shutters on each. We want to buy finial hinges for use on the window casing side installation, but my question is – what type of hinge do we buy that will join the 2 shutters together, that will be seen from the outside? Do we use plain or the finial hinge? Thank you.
Hi – sorry but I don’t know the answer to that question. I recommend touring a historic house that is pre Civil War that would most likely have interior shutters and see what is used. You can also call some good shutter manufacturers.
We are renovating a 1910 southern farmhouse and trying to decide if we should remove the fake vinyl shutters that were put on the house in the 90s. Did 1910 farmhouses have shutters or would it look better if we removed them?
definitely. No shutters will make your house look classier than having vinyl shutters.
Our raised panel shutters on the first floor and movable louvers on the second floor were stripped and repainted. The hardware was removed, sand blasted, repainted and reattached. The dates on the locks show April 18, 1861. We had copper caps added to the tops. Now some of the pegs in the panel shutters are popping out. The paint and wood have been weathered by hail. Would it be worthwhile doing another restoration or should we consider replacing with reproductions?
Wow – you did a real lot of work! After all that and also being fortunate enough to still have the originals, I would keep them. You should not need a full restoration but some glue for the pegs and minor repairs along with paint.
Am researching how to select shutters for our 1830 antebellum frame home located near Tallahassee, FL.
Hi Ken. I have a Bayman’s Cottage on Long Island built circa 1824. A door on either side and 3 windows on the first floor, and 3 windows on the second floor (expanded before our purchase from peekaboo windows). We removed the pathetic and broken down plastic shutters and have had no shutters for a couple of years now. Not sure if these cottages would have had shutters or not… should we leave it shutterless or install simple board and batten shutters?
Thanks for your input.
Such an old house would definitely have shutters.
Hello!
We’ve just removed the aluminum siding off of our 1852 Cottage Gothic house in the Pittsburgh area. A lot of the original window trim was removed to make the house flat enough to side. I can’t find any old pictures of the house at the historical society and there are no others quite like it in our town. Can you give me some guidance, if I sent some images of the house, what the shutters might have looked like? Or, if there even would be any on this style of home?
yes – send via the contact us on the website.
Would a 1910 four square house have shutters? And if so what kind?
No – Foursquare houses did not have shutters originally.
Our house was built in 1950 in Charlotte, NC. One of the wonderful features of the house is that every window originally had louvered shutters that could be opened and closed with cranks on the inside frame of the windows. It allow us to close the shutters from the inside on hot days to keep the sun from heating up the house while still allowing air to pass through. It also allows us to close the shutters and still keep the windows open when it is raining. Unfortunately, over time some of the crank mechanisms have broken. Do you know where I can find replacement mechanisms?
I do not but I am sure there is someone that can repair them – the problem is finding them.
My house is an original stucco house with aluminum storm windows. The frame around the windows is stucco and then the window is set into a narrow wood frame cemented into the opening. I don’t know house shutters would work or be attached to this style of construction and still be operable? thanks in advance
That narrow wood trim is called “brickmold” That is where the hinges for shutters attach, If not enough space they can be attached to the mortar. Send pics to a good shutter company and they will advise you.
I have a 1923 Dutch Colonial Revival with wood cutout shutters. The windows are ganged windows, but the shutters are only a single pane so if closed they would not cover the whole window. They are the correct height for the windows and mounted appropriately on hinges on the window casing. My question is whether these could be original to the house, since the article states that in the 1920’s even decorative shutters would have been functional, and yet many Dutch Colonial Revivals in the neighborhood (MN) have similar non-functional wood shutters that do not seem to be 1950’s era replacement shutters.
Hi – The function part meant not necessarily being used but having the ability to close. They were real shutters but in the 1920’s they were mostly decorative. If the shutter were closed, it would only cover half of a ganged window.
I came across this site while looking for information on 18th century shutters. The oldest portion of my house was built around 1703. It was enlarged in about 1757. In it’s original form it had a shallow peaked roof. I added a 2nd floor with a gambrel roof which…a challenge because replicating the angles of an 18th century roof while satisfying the building inspector was difficult. I did succeed in doing it, Now I’m wondering if I should make shutters…presuming they would have been fitted in the mid-18th century I’m tempted to make solid wood rather than louvered. I also wonder how the upstairs dormers should be treated. They are not wide enough to fold back against a wall and I’m thinking that otherwise they will look silly.
JVPuleo
Shutters for your house must be simple paneled or board and batten. If your dormers are designed correctly you couldn’t possibly fit shutters. So no dormer shutters. Dormers are actually more involved that one would think and what you see today on most houses are wrong.
Misspelled my own name…Puleo
I have a gambrel style home in Portsmouth Nh. I am having the asbestos siding removed and hope to restore the cedar shakes underneath. Built around 1900 – it definitely has traces of shutters. What type of shutter would you recommend? Thank you.
Hi – for 1900 use operable louvered.
We are working on an 1805ish house in Maine. It was a teardown when we bought it, but we are bringing it back to its original place. It was a nice but simple early Federal house in about 1805, a tavern section was added in about 1820 and then, I am guessing that in 1850 the 9 over six windows were replaced with 2 over 2 and frames around windows were changed to accommodate this new “modern look”. The amazing thing is that all the early window sashes with 9 over 6 (downstairs) and six over 6 (upstairs) were saved in the barn and we have installed them. We are also replacing the frame around the windows back to an earlier design. Since they are being replaced we have no idea if they ever had had shutters. I am mixed about adding them, but I think to buy a few salvaged ones and just try them out is the best idea. Do you know if shutters were a necessity in the early 19th century in the colder climates? I look to sources like antique clocks and Shaker maps etc for representations of houses from that period and most often I do not see shutters represented. Yet every house in Historic New England properties seems to have them.
Sounds like a great house! I would say that it did have shutters and probably mostly for privacy and security. Many houses had both interior and exterior or maybe just interior and exterior was added a bit later. I would do paneled on the first floor and louvered on the top. Having shutters is more probable than not having them.
Hi Ken. We have an 1896 folk Victorian home in Tampa. When we moved into the house it had plastic shutters which we have since removed. I want some kind of awning to minimize the extreme heat into the windows on the south facing side of the house. Your guidance is greatly appreciated.
Get real canvas awnings. I is really sad no-one uses them anymore. You really can’t do better than awnings. https://www.oldhouseguy.com/keeping-cool/ They will look awesome!!!
What kind of shutters would you put on an 1840s Greek Revival farmhouse built in upstate NY?
Solid panel on the first floor, operable louvered on the 2nd in Black or dark green.
HI, I have an historic West Indies style house is New Orleans. I am putting the dormer exterior shutters back on the house- What is the historic application to keep these louvered, operable shutters in their open position- I have seen on Charleston dormers there is a horizontal board with “v” cuts in the left and right sides, slipped onto each shutter- is this the proper application? or is there some kind of hardware to “buy” – a latch on the back of the shutter latched to the face of the dormer is what the carpenter suggested-
Acorn or Bullet latches hold the shutter in place instead of the usual shutter dogs you see. I really don’t know or understand what you mean for the Charleston dormers. I you have a photo please email me.
Thank you for your passion and willingness to share your expertise! Renovating a 1950’s ranch house that has a front false gable. Adding another to create a combination, as well as a front porch with several slender square columns. Will have two pairs of shutters, each with window box. Architect likens update to an English cottage. Amy suggestions for shutters?
Sounds scary – email me the drawing and I can take a quick look.