Exterior window shutters are most popular and common in the form of wood. And if you are going to buy wooden exterior shutters, the best type of wood to choose is the cedar. Why cedar window shutters? Because these are the most durable type and has the greatest ability to resist decaying process.
Cedar likewise will make you enjoy long use without any major repair or maintenance. What is it in this type of wood that makes for an ideal shutter? Tannin oil that is found in cedar is the important component that helps in the prevention of moisture to penetrate the wood. Likewise, this type of oil is loathed by most bugs and therefore they avoid anything that has it.
However, this does not mean that if your exterior window shutters are of excellent quality, there is no need to protect it. They must in fact be protected by the appropriate finishing prior to the installation. Make sure that you fully cover all parts of the shutters before you install and put them up into your windows.
The best base that you can use for your window treatment is primer coat of a special oil based primer. Such must be hued to as closely as possible to the final tint. The primer oil works by penetrating the wood. This will definitely provide better protection. If you intend to do the finishing and painting yourself, it is best to consult a painting company. Otherwise you can always employ the professional services of a painter to ensure excellent work on your shutters.
For more interesting articles on inside window shutters and window treatments in general, do visit our Window Shutters World blog.