As one of the only types of window treatments used on the exterior of a home, shutters are built to be strong, durable, and, most importantly, weather resistant. Unfortunately, despite how prevalent these characteristics might have been when they were new, even the best exterior shutters can wither with the stress of time. Constant exposure to the harsh outdoor elements can take its toll, and your once-effective shutters could now be well on their way to becoming ineffective. This is what happens to exterior shutters over time and how these damages can influence their usefulness.
Paint Peeling or Fading
If your shutters are on the side of the home that gets a lot of sun, it’s likely that they’ll obtain paint damage at some point. As the sun’s harsh rays beat down on them day after day, they can actually begin bleaching the pigment out of the shutter paint. This leads to heavy color fading and leaves your exterior shutters looking dull in contrast to the rest of your home. In extreme cases, the sunlight could even start breaking down the compounds in the paint itself, causing it to peel away from the frames.
Wood Damage
Exterior shutters can also begin experiencing structural damage after sitting on the exterior of your home for several years. Things like cracking and warping can occur as a result of constant and prolonged exposure to the elements and can affect how your shutters sit against your siding. If left to persist, they can become incredibly displeasing to look at, and their ability to protect your windows from moisture could decrease significantly.
Wood Rot
Another common type of damage that happens to exterior shutters over time is the development of wood rot. With enough direct exposure to rain, the moisture starts to penetrate the surface of the wood, and fungal bacteria can take root. This fungus eats away at the wood and causes it to lose its strength and structural integrity. Wood rot spreads fast and can make shutters so soft that they become unusable. As such, if you live in particularly rainy areas along the coast, it’s best to use models that are more effective at repelling water. Exterior Bahama shutters are one potential option, and they come with several other reasons to buy them as well.
Tight or Loose Hinges
The hinges of your exterior shutters are also highly susceptible to moisture. In fact, when left alone for a long time, they can develop rust and corrosion. These things can either make the moveable shutters too difficult to manipulate or too loose to stay closed on their own—and both options are equally problematic. Fortunately, it’s easy to mitigate this problem by cleaning and tightening these metal components every few months.
About the Publisher
Bo Kauffmann is a residential real estate agent with over 18 yrs experience in helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals. Inducted into the REMAX Hall of Fame in 2010 and receiving the REMAX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Bo has sold over 500 houses and condos in the Greater Winnipeg market. He is an accredited buyer representative (A.B.R.) and a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.
Bo provides exceptional service to First-Time Home-Buyers, Seniors looking to downsize and Home Sellers of all ages.
He can be reached easily By E-Mail or call/text him Call/Text Here
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