How Close to the Window Should You Hang Exterior Shutters?
Window shutters have practical and decorative use. Before storm windows and awnings came about, shutters were hinged onto outside window frames to act as insulation against cold weather, keep homes cool during hot weather and provide privacy and security. Over time, homebuilders began employing window shutters as a purely decorative element. Many shutters are fully secured to the house and wouldn't fit the window they're decorating if they could be used. There's one proper placement for functioning and nonfunctioning shutters. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Make sure your shutters match the shape and size of the window. When closed, both panels should fit snugly inside the window's casing. It's a common mistake to hang ornamental shutters that are longer, wider, narrower or shorter than the window they're adorning. Even if your shutters are for decorative purposes only, make sure they're proportional to the inside of the window casing.
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Mount your shutters so that the inside edge of each panel is 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches back from the corresponding inside edges of the window casing. This is called "offset space" and is important because it allows the shutters to swing through their full range of motion. The type of hinge you choose and the dimensions of the window casing dictate how much offset space you'll need to install the shutters.
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Fit the uninstalled shutters inside the window frame and mark where the hinge will sit. Hook the two parts of each hinge together and position them on the window casing and the shutter. Mark all hinge locations before installation.
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Use a tie-back to keep the shutters in the open position. An "acorn clip" or a "bullet shutter catch" attach the shutter to the house from the backside of the panel. A "shutter dog" is visible and often decorative; it holds the shutter to the house from the front side. Undo the tie-backs to use the shutters.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't mistake the window casing for the window jamb. The glass of the window is held between the jambs. The window casing is the outside frame of the window.
References
- Photo Credit wooden shutters image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com
