If you are looking for a way to greatly enhance the looks of the exterior of your home, consider purchasing plastic shutters. Not only are these types of shutters highly affordable but they add a great deal of curb appeal to your home. After all, almost all of a home’s outside windows could use a bit more detail.
Plastic shutters are very durable. They withstand all types of weather conditions very well including rain, snow, direct sunlight and dramatic changes in temperature. They are not prone to rotting or pitting like their wooden counterparts so maintenance requirements are low. Adding shutters to your home not only adds aesthetic appeal but they can actually increase the value of your home. Remember, its not necessarily the amount of money that gets invested that returns value, but the perception of the buyer. If the home looks better when these outdoor shutters have been installed and maintained properly, you’re going to get a higher asking price when it comes time to sell.
As for shutter installtion, It is quite easy to install vinyl shutters or plastic shutters yourself. They are normally screwed or bolted directly onto the building and it takes just a few minutes to completely dress a window. If you are adding them to a home that already has vinyl siding attached to it, shutters will literally just screw into side of the home. You’ll want to create pilot holes in your siding though and defintely don’t do this work in cold weather. Vinyl siding can crack in cold weather if you try to put screws or nails into it. If you are installing plastic shutters into brick or stucco material, you’ll want to pre-drill holes using a masonry bit. Be sure to measure properly also. No one wants “extra” holes in their masonry if they can avoid it. Take your time to do it right the first time. Of course, the do it yourself route is not for everyone. If you would rather have someone else install the shutters you can easily find a local general handyman to do the job for you.
If you take a trip to your nearest home improvement store you should be able to find a wide variety of these shutters. However, if you do your shopping online you will find many more types, styles and colors to choose from. Another advantage to shopping online for shutters is that these stores will deliver the shutters directly to your door as opposed to a local store wherein you will be required to transport them home yourself. On top of that, you may be able to save money on sales tax as online stores usually won’t charge you for taxes or shipping, thus allowing you to report the purchase at the end of the year and thus keep your money in your own pocket longer.
The cost of the shutters depends on where you purchase them from, the type chosen and how many you require. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $40 for a standard pair.
You will need to clean the shutters on occasion to keep them looking fresh. This is quite easy to do as you only need to remove them from your home and spray them off with a hose and then wash them with soapy water and rinse. If that is too much work, you may be able to use a vehicle brush used for washing trucks and cars to reach the shutters from the ground or ladder. You may also need to re-paint them after a few years if they should happen to fade. Painting is best done by removing plastic shutters from your home first. This is to avoid overspray or mistakes. Shop for spray paint that is designed for plastic and be sure to use wide, sweeping strokes when spraying so that you apply an even coat.
Plastic shutters made great sense if you are on a budget and would like to dress up the appearance of your home. They are affordable, very easy to install and will serve you well for many years into the future.