Historical Louvered Wood Exterior Shutters

History

• Exterior wooden louvered shutters, historically, served practical purposes. They formed a protective cover over the windows during inclement weather, and they provided a modicum of home security and privacy while yet venting the home even while shut. While aesthetic appeal was a consideration, practicality was the main reason homeowners installed louvered shutters. Operable louvered shutters were being manufactured as early as the 1830s; fixed louvered shutters were not regularly used by U.S. homeowners until the late 1800s. The majority of U.S. louvered shutters in the 1700s and 1800s were made of wood.

Fixed vs. Operable

• The two types of louvered shutters on the market, both historically and currently, are fixed and operable. The louvers on fixed shutters do not open and close, while operable shutters allow you to move the louvers up and down. Operable louvered shutters have tilt rods in the middle of the shutter, which permit you to adjust the louvers to your liking. The louvers on fixed or operable shutters are arranged vertically or horizontally.

Shutter Hardware

• While historic louvered shutters in the United States were typically made from wood, the shutters' hinges were almost always iron. The hinges helped the shutters swing open. One half of the hinge attached to the shutter and the other end connected to the outside angle of the window casting. Another piece of hardware found on historic louvered shutters is the clasp. A clasp was responsible for pinning the shutters to the house walls when they were not being used. Clasps were made of metal and usually consisted of a hook and eye.

Problems

• Faulty designs were the major source of problems found in historic shutters. One problem common to historic shutters was inappropriate sizing: A shutter's width must be equal to half the size of the window's interior casing in order to open and close effectively. Even if the historic home's louvered shutters did not open and close, the shutter's aesthetic appeal diminished if the shutter had incorrect length and width dimensions. Another problem, specific to fixed louvered shutters, is the arrangement of the shutter's louvers. If fixed louvers had an improper angle, homeowners would not receive enough sunlight. They also gave a house a flat appearance and could enable water leakage in storms.