Choosing the Wood

• Shutters should be built from a hardwood so that they can provide the necessary protection from the elements needed. Windows expand and contract in size with humidity levels, are exposed to direct sunlight and must be protected from extreme temperatures as well as any random flying objects. Maple and oak are excellent, long-lasting hard woods that can be used in hot or cold climates and can be expected to hold up to the elements. When considering the wood you will purchase, make sure to gather good information on the weight, durability, straightness and finishing qualities because these characteristics can alter the way you build the shutters.
  
  

Joinery

• Connect the wood with joints for maximum durability. A common woodworking joint is the finger join, which involves cutting corresponding grooves and peaks where two pieces of wood will make contact. The grooves and peaks fit together like the fingers of your hand. Although aesthetically pleasing, finger joints are not extremely strong. Use a rabbet joint if your shutters will need to be especially strong. This is the best joint to use for outdoor shutters. A rabbet joint attaches pieces of wood together by cutting grooves half as deep as the wood is thick the entire width of the piece and about half an inch deep into the piece of wood, forming lips on each of the pieces. The lips are then overlapped so that the pieces of wood are flush and glued down. Unlike with finger joints, you can use screws or nails for added strength on rabbet joints. For joining the pieces you will want to used the strongest wood adhesive available.
  
  

Slats and Louvers

• A wooden shutter consists of a frame that is filled in with panels or slats. The slats are attached to the sides of the frame by pegs that fit into louvers that are installed in holes in the frame. The slats can then be tilted open or closed by louvers. Louvers determine the tension of the turning of the slats. Given these characteristics, you have many things to consider when designing your shutters-- for instance, the thickness of your slats. If your shutters are intended for indoors, thin slats may be ideal so that when slanted open the maximum amount of sunlight shines through. If your shutters are designed for outdoor protection, your slats will need to be thicker so that they can withstand a falling branch or rogue basketball. For indoor shutters, use louvers that to do not impose too much tension since the shutters themselves will be more fragile and you want to be able to open and close them with ease, whereas outdoor shutters may require tense louvers so that they hold their position against the elements--or no louvers at all if they will not need to be adjusted. Adjustable louvers with tension screws are also available. The bottom line is that you need to carefully consider the stress your shutters will be up against when choosing how to construct them.