Custom Exterior Shutters

Adding wooden window shutters to your home is one of the simplest and easiest ways for you to enhance the look of your house's exterior. Shutters provide a sense of balance and symmetry especially if your windows are not of the same sizes. Using shutters also makes it easier for you to change the look of your house every now and then because of the fact that wood is easy to repaint. Instead of cleaning the shutters, you can simply repaint them and they will look fresh and new. When it comes to shutters you have two options, you can have custom exterior shutters or you can simply buy pre-made ones that can be bought in home stores. Custom exterior shutters though offer plenty of benefits. This article is about custom exterior shutters and what they can do to your home.

Having custom exterior shutters presents plenty of advantages over buying pre-made ones. If your windows are irregularly shaped or if you simply cannot find the ideal shutter that will go well with your home's exterior, then getting custom exterior shutters is your best bet. By getting custom exterior shutters, you can make sure that there will be no mismatch in terms of design and specifications. It would be a disaster to your home's aesthetic value if you use shutters that are ill-fitted or do not match the look of your house.

There are two options available to homeowners when shopping for custom exterior shutters and they are wooden shutters and synthetic shutters. A common material used in synthetic window shutters is Thermalite. This type of material replicates the appearance and texture of wood. Unlike wood though, this material is said to be able to resist fire and moisture and provides better insulation. Wood shutters, on the other hand, come in different types of wood. The most common type of wood that is used in shutters is cedar because of its durability and flexibility. Many manufacturers assemble ready to install shutters.

The choice between wooden and synthetic shutters is largely a matter of personal choice. If you want to stick to old-school home renovating techniques and appreciate the detail that only wood can produce, then you should go for wooden shutters. If you want the advantages of synthetic materials then go with synthetic shutters. Either way, you should perform a thorough research so you will find a trusted company that provides shutters that will last a long time.

Adding custom exterior shutters will definitely do wonders to your home's aesthetic value. In fact, if you are looking to provide an instant upgrade to your home, then getting custom shutters is the simplest and most affordable thing that you can do.

Take a moment to download this completely FREE report outlining the 8 essential questions to ask to ensure you shutter buying experience is free from headaches, delivery delays, and problems during installation. Get the report at http://coastshutters.com/how-to-buy-shutters/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Long

Tags: Custom, Exterior, Shutters

Wood Plantation Shutters - Get the Benefits

Wood Plantation Shutters are constructed with thick horizontal wooden slats and a vertical wooden handle, which allows the shutters to be easily opened and closed. There are many benefits to wood plantation shutters for homeowners.

Benefits:

Security

Wood plantation shutters or shutters of any type for that matter, allow increased security for your home. Most shutters allow homeowners to lock them from the inside, which increases security. You'll experience a nice cozy feeling knowing there is more than a thin single sheet of glass separating you from the bad guys.

Energy Costs

Rising energy costs have been a nightmare over the last decade and there is no clear indicator they will drop any time soon. Our fading economy is causing a double whammy on the issue of energy savings... less money in our pockets and more money going out. You can reduce your spending on heating and cooling costs simply by having wood plantation shutters installed on the outside of your home.

Heat transfers through glass rather well, especially because it's so thin. Having external shutters on your home creates a thick barrier of non-heat-conducting material between the scorching heat outside and the nice expensive cool air inside your home. You can reap similar benefits in the winter, as the exact opposite is true. Shutters will keep the heat in your home and the cold air out.

Appearance

Wood plantation shutters are aesthetically appealing and will beautify the exterior of your home. By adding curb appeal to your home, you're increasing its value. Wood Plantation shutters are a wise investment for more than just security and energy savings.

Information on Buying Wood Plantation Shutters

There is certainly no shortage of companies selling shutters to the general public. A simple web search will reveal tons of ads and pages. It's unlikely any actual research on shutters can be accomplished online because of the vast numbers of retailers. However, research is a critical component before buying shutters. Not all shutters will provide the same benefits.

Many shutters are manufactured in one off, cookie cutter factories and are not guaranteed to fit your exact window tightly and securely. To gain the maximum benefit from shutters, you will want to ensure they are custom built to your actual windows and installed by knowledgeable pros.

Installing Shutters

Installation of shutters is no different than most other home improvement jobs. Unless you're already a carpenter or general contractor, you're best off leaving the installation to experienced knowledgeable professionals. Sure, you can probably install them yourself without drilling a hole straight through your wall, but then again, you might not be able to. Stick to what you know best which is, well, whatever it is you do for a living.

Summary

There are many benefits to having wood plantation shutters installed on your home. Take precautions to ensure you get the right style, size, and construction of the shutters you purchase. Leave installation to the pros if you're not a bona fide handyman. Follow this humble advice and you'll be able to sit back in your cool, comfy house, feeling safe and secure, while sipping iced tea and saving money. All thanks to your new wood plantation shutters.

For a Free Report Exposing the 8 Questions Most Shutter Companies Hope You Never Ask. Visit http://coastshutters.com/plantation-window-shutters-free-report/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Long

Tags: Plantation, Wood, Shutters

The Economy and Your Dream House Plans

In this economic era what is the right thing to do regarding housing. Is it time to rent, time to buy a house, or is it time to build a new house? Of course, there is no easy answer as it is different for each person asking the question. For those who have the finances though, this may be the right time for building a new house. Let's face it, you can find many out of work construction workers so you may be able to find the best builders ready to help you build from your country farm house plans.

There isn't anything wrong offering those who are looking for work the opportunity to help build a dream house. If you have always wanted to buy plans or already have purchased bungalow house plans now may be the perfect time to start finding the team you need to build your dream house. You can possibly get good buys on some of the necessary materials and products necessary to complete the house also. Why wouldn't now be a good time to check into it at least?

It's also a good time to look at going green with those space saving colonial house plans. It's a great bandwagon to get on because it only benefits you in the long run. Looking into solar energy, using renewable building materials and the plethora of other possibilities is a great opportunity to be on the cutting edge and make your dream home that much more comfortable and enjoyable. It's not to say this is the perfect time but it is definitely the time to do your research and see if it is right for you.

If this is the right time for you then you will want to go to House Plans and More to find the best deal on your country farm house plans, your bungalow house plans or your space saving colonial house plans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Lane

Tags: Economy, House Plans, Dream

Patio Doors Will Not Shut

Have you ever had a tilt and slide patio door? I have, and they have always caused me hours of pain and misery! I am not kidding! I remember one time I was trying to shut the tilt and slide door after a party. Its so nice to have the patio door open and the breeze flowing into the house on a hot summers afternoon, and its even nicer when you have a lot of people over for a party as well. It makes it easier for people to get in and out of the house for food and drinks if there are 2 entrances back into the house. Well the party went great, good food and wine, and everybody was happy. I was really happy because the next day I was going on holiday and all that was left to do was the cleaning up. Not so bad as usual, the cleaning up, and it was getting dark outside, so i decided to close the patio door as well. Here came the problem - the door had come off its rail and would not budge. It was like it was jammed stuck and I could not close it.

I had 3 choices to try and solve the situation

1) Call somebody out to fix it at very short notice which is very expensive.
2) Try and wedge the door shut and go on holiday with the knowledge in my mind that the house could easily be broken into
3) Call my dad who lies 20 miles away and try and get him to come over.

In the end, I decide that calling the professional over was the thing to do, so I call my dad. The way to fix a problem with a tilt and slide door is this. It has a locating pin that will collapse on the hinges and the bottom of the door closest to the frame, then you have to push the top of the frame then push the handle down to close it. The locating pin was hitting the top of the stopper and not managing to get it back in. Still with me on this? I found a very small broken collar that sits around the pivot pushing the pin a little closer to the locator. It had broken and fallen out the locator pin was not lining up. The only way i can see of fixing this is a whole new locator hardware on the bottom of the door. So this is what you need to do. Go to a big DIY store and find a new locator for the bottom of the door, once that has been fitted, your worries should be over - thanks Dad!

Bespoke Patio Doors Folding Sliding Doors Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Schofield

Tags: Patio, Doors, knowledge

Tips For Buying Truly Green House Plans

If you're in the market for a new house plan, you've may have already become overwhelmed at the sheer volume of plans that are available today on both the internet and in house plan-related magazines and books.

Finding that perfect floor plan, in the perfect square footage range, matched with the perfect exterior Architectural style, can be very difficult. Added to that may be the confusion over which type of house plan package do you actually need?

Don't let the process overwhelm you. Here are some tips:

- Always make sure that you purchase your house plans from a Certified Professional Building Designer (CPBD) who is a member of the American Institute of Building Design.

Designers who have met the strict educational requirements, have suitable work experience and training in the field, and have passed the CPBD examination are highly-skilled professionals that specialize in the design and development of residential home plans. Don't settle for less in choosing your plans.

- If you find a house plan that fits "most" of your needs but not all, its typically quicker, better, and cheaper to have the actual designer of the house plans make these modifications for you, where possible.

- If you live in an area with unique building code requirements (i.e. hurricane/earthquake prone areas of the US) or specific state-licensed Architect/Engineer stamping requirements, then you may need to have the modifications done by a local professional. In this case, you would need to purchase a stock house plan package that comes with a "modifiable" license. The packages that come with this type license include: CAD Files, Reproducible/Vellum, and where available, PDF Files.

In regard to the PDF File plan package, a small number of leading home designers are now offering this option to their customers as a standard option.

What is the PDF File plan package:

The "PDF File" plan package is your best value, and provides you with an electronic version of the plan's construction documents. This plan package provides many advantages over the Reproducible, 8 Set, 5 Set, 1 Set, and Review Set plan packages including:

- Need more copies of the plan? No problem. Simply take the file to any local print shop and have them print out your copies in your desired size. In addition, you will have the copies available for use....that same day, in most cases.

- Need different size copies for different people? Easy. You can print out an 8 1/2 x 11 set for your office, a 11 x 17 set for your local building officials, a 18 x 24 set for your builder, a 24 x 36 master set for yourself. Unlimited flexibility.

- Need to modify the plan locally? PDF Files have got you covered. Simply take the PDF to a local building design professional and they will be able to update your drawings in the same way as if you provided them with a printed "Reproducible" set.

- Need your plans immediately? No need to wait for your plans to ship. Most designers can email you the PDF file, usually the same day.

Keep in mind that many designers might only offer a sub-group of their plans in the electronic PDF File format, but the more innovative, Award-winning design firms like House Plan Gallery, offer every single house plan in their collection with the PDF File plan package.

The PDF File plan package is truly the "green" choice for buying house plans in this day and age. No paper is used in its creation, no waste by-products are generated, and its innate ability to be electronically and quickly "mailed" to you is a huge benefit that you can take advantage of today.

Shop for house plans with the green PDF File plan package available at trusted and reputable home designers like HousePlanGallery.com.

Mark Mathis is the president of House Plan Gallery, Inc, an Award-winning home design firm specializing in the design of unique house floor plans with flexible floor plans and all the most-popular home design features.

Be sure to visit HousePlanGallery.com and join the "House Plan Gallery eNews" mailing list. You'll be the first to know about new house plans and special SUBSCRIBER-ONLY offers! Don't miss out... Join today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Mathis

Tags: Buying, House, Plans, Tips