Stained shutters are a viable choice for windows in Reno and Lake Tahoe. White shutters, either vinyl or wood, have had a lion’s share of the market for years, but you should consider using a stained shutter. When you use a wood shutter, one of the things you are paying for is the material itself. Why hide that beautiful wood grain under paint? A good stain job will bring out the beauty of the wood and create a rich and luxurious look.
Stained shutters will usually cost a little more than painted shutters and here’s why. When you paint a shutter, you can use a lower grade of wood, since the paint will cover any flaws in the perfection of the wood. A stained shutter will bring out the character of the wood and so the best grades of lumber must be used. Also, it can take longer to build a stained shutter, since the craftsman must be sure not to damage the panels or frames during the assembly process. Again, with a painted shutter, if he dings or scratches it, he can just fill and re-paint the damaged section.
Just about the only caveat to stained shutters has to do with Home Owners Association CC & R’s. Some of them require white or off-white on the windows that face to the street, but I’ve NEVER seen a HOA come down on a resident for putting in custom, furniture grade stained wood shutters.
Take a look at the photos to see some of the stained shutters we have installed in the last few weeks.