Blogging about Home Improvement Products

The Beauty of Composite Shutters

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

composite exterior shuttersIn today’s world of cookie cutter housing developments it is often left to the smaller accent pieces to put the finishing touches on your home that will set you apart from the rest. For many years now vinyl shutters have been thought of as an easy, and inexpensive way of adding your own flair. The only problem is that now everyone and their mother has added the same stationary shutters in one of the 4 most popular colors, and there is no longer anything distinct about them. They are as common as the 15 shades of beige vinyl siding that they rest upon. This doesn’t mean that shutter are no longer a perfect accent piece, it just means that you may want to look into an alternative material and design. May we suggest composite?

Exterior shutters made of wood composite materials are the best looking, closest to wood looking shutter you will find. The bonus; they are maintenance free, they can be hung on optional metal hinges that actually operate (we haven’t seen vinyl shutters that can do that) , they will not rot or crack like traditional wood shutters, and they maintain their beauty for many years to come. Backed by a 10 year warranty Winworks Composite Shutters are available in 40 beautiful colors finished in automotive quality paint. With construction of up to 1 ¼” thickness (dependant on style) it is easy to see how they provide superior structural strength. A huge variety of sizes are offered with widths of 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 inches available, as well as lengths in 1” increments from 28” – 91”. The 5 styles offered range from traditional to modern contemporary. Without a doubt there is a size and style available to compliment any home. Beautiful composite shutters definitely stand out, offering a richness and dimension that ordinary vinyl shutters never have.  When you want the “real thing” look without the “real thing” rot and maintenance, exterior composite shutters are your answer.

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Whiter than White Shutters? Yes, you can!!

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

                                                                                                                                               vinyl shutter exterior

I had an interesting question the other day, “How do I clean my white vinyl shutters?”  It seems like it should have been very simple to answer, and yet I realized that in 10 years of selling vinyl shutters I’ve never encountered this question before. Usually I tell my customers to just hose them off, they’re vinyl, maintenance free. But the idea of white shutters, maybe they needed a little more attention.

Upon checking with Builder’s Edge we were advised that they do in fact have a specific recommendation for the white and bright white varieties, Trisodium Phosphate For Detergent, or TPS for short. This is a phosphate of sodium in a powdered form which dissolves in water to act as powerful cleaner. It is safe to use on the vinyl products such as trim and shutters, and it will keep your white looking sharp for many years.

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Spring Projects -or- More Curb Appeal / Less Effort

Monday, March 31st, 2008

ShuttersIt seems as though spring is thankfully upon us, and that means it is time to lay out your game plan for what exterior home projects your going to tackle this year. Traditionally spring seems to be the time when homeowners think about shutters and other exteriorvinyl accents such as door headers, pilasters, decorative trim, mounting blocks and vents. There are several really good reasons for you to consider making shutters part of your springtime exterior makeover.


Individuality: The color and style of shutters can set a house apart from a cookie cutter neighborhood. Shutters can give your home a finished look with texture and hue, providing an added dimension.

Spotlighting : Your windows can look taller or wider just by adding shutters. The whole front of the house can look more proportionally fit with the addition of other embellishments like door surrounds and exterior dentil trims. Use a unique combination
to break out of the mold.

Affordable: Because pre-colored vinyl products require little or no maintenance, in the long run they will save time and money. In the short term vinyl is much less expensive then wood, doesn’t need to be primed or painted, and you’d be hard-pressed
to damage them during installation. No additional material is necessary for installation as the patented easy lock fasteners are always included with the shutters.

Ease of Installation: If you would much rather be participating in other outdoor activities (basically anything but yard or house work) you’ll be very pleased at how easy vinyl shutters are to install, how little time the entire project takes, and the enormous payoff in curb-appeal that something so simple can provide. Typically a drill, a rubber mallet, and a ladder (unless you are extremely tall or live in a rancher) are all that is required for tools, making clean up a cinch after your job is done.

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Gable Vents: Beauty with a Purpose

Monday, February 11th, 2008

Fypon, urethane millwork, gable vents

Functional gable vents (also known as louvers) provide proper air circulation for attic spaces while adding architectural interest to your home’s exterior.  Attic spaces take the brunt of both hot, humid summer temperatures and winter’s bitter cold.  During the summer months you keep your home cool and comfortable with air conditioning, but these systems do not exist in your attic causing significant heat build up and humidity that cannot escape.  Then during the winter months cold, stagnant air can cause condensation build up putting your home at risk for mildew and mold.  A simple solution to regulate your attic’s temperature and humidity levels is the addition of an open louver gable vent.  Vinyl gable vents are ideal if you are seeking a maintenance free vent that is easy to install.  Vinyl gable vents come in 18 colors, plus a paintable option for a custom color match.  Select a color to match our vinyl shutters to achieve a unified look to your home’s exterior.  If you are seeking a gable vent that is more decorative and architecturally pleasing consider a gable vent by Fypon Millwork.  Fypon carries an extensive line of urethane functional gable vents in many unique shapes and sizes. With either option your attic is sure to appreciate the breath of fresh air.

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