Have a question? 1-800-494-4321 or send an e- to sales@diyshutters.com

Exterior Shutters: Before and Happily Ever After

Jewel Foulds — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:09:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors BlogOnce the shutters, doors, and other various millwork we make are shipped to a customer we often wonder what the job will look like once completed. That's why the pictures sent in from customers are really nice to see.

Before and after remodeling pictures are especially fun!

In this before picture shown below the exterior window shutters seem to be just barely hanging on! The homeowner came to us to recreate these old arched shutters.

What a difference good posture with new exterior shutters makes!

Here is a close up of the half-round arched shutters on the gable.

The main floor has the narrow yet very tall windows you see in many Victorian homes. These exterior shutters have a quarter-round arched top.

If you would like to see some other pictures of past projects take a look at our photo gallery!

Kestrel Shutters & Doors Curb Appeal Gets A Thumbs Up!

Jewel Foulds — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:46:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

From a simple sketch on a piece of scrap paper to completion, our office remodeling project has been a long job. Both inside and out we have remodeled to turn this old police station built around 1940 - 1950 into a working office and showroom.

Just this past week our awning style Bahama shutters and window boxes were installed and today the window box planters were filled with beautiful ivy geraniums from a nursery close to us called Miller's Greenhouses. Millers has a wonderful selection. Still family owned, they have been in business since 1835! The geraniums for our flower boxes will be wintered over inside the office windows for us to enjoy. Come next Spring all we will need to do is pop them back in the planters.

The Bahama Awnings were a smart solution in helping to keep our office a bit cooler to save energy during the hot summer months since the Southern full sun exposure bakes the building and the pavement that surrounds- And with flowers at the windows and shrubbery by the entrance we have heat absorbing benefits but best of all they are simply beautiful.

We still have a bit more to go but the neighbors are already giving us a thumbs up!

Kestrel's Bahama Awning style shutters provide our office shade keeping it cooler inside. The view of the window flower boxes is enjoyed from both inside and out- for more information please contact us.

Many neat things happen in July...

With just the right amount of sun and rainfall, corn stalks are knee high by the fourth of July...

County Fair evenings end the day...

And of course, Red White and Blue flags & fireworks for July 4th picnic celebrations for Independence Day are fun for all...

Have a great and safe celebration.

-JAF

Happy Birthday America!

Kestrel Shutters & Doors, Inc. www.DIYShutters.com sales@diyshutters.com

Now in our 20th Year
May 4, 1989

Why Are There Pegs In Our Shutters & Doors?

Jewel Foulds — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:20:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Recently many customers have asked us about the hardwood pegs found in our doors and shutters. These pegs and their mitered layout on a completed frame are a signature mark of Kestrel Shutters and Doors.

The pegged mortise and tenon joint is a time honored cabinet makers joint with a use that extends very far back in time. Just google "mortise and tenon ship building" and you'll see for yourself the amazing use of this joint. Even in today's world, the pegged mortise and tenon joint is still one of the best wood fastening methods.

The peg, which acts as a cotter pin locks the connecting joint together. Pegs are usually pinned through the pocket joint and are revealed on both sides of the frame. However, one modern modification that we made to our mortise and tenon joints is to not have the pegs exposed on both sides. This design change allows us to provide our doors and shutters a distinct appearance to both sides. It also eliminates the slight possibility of the peg sliding out while doing it's job in holding the joint together.

Our standard practice for our custom sized, made to order, wood doors and shutters is to build the frames with the pegs clearly visible on the front face. But, time to time, some customers do not want to see these pegs and for good reason such as the traditional joinery does not match their interior design. Whatever the reason may be, it's an easy modification to have the pegs not show by inserting the pegs on the back side.

When ordering your doors if having the pegs visible is a concern please let us know and we will accomodate your design preference.

Want to learn more about mortise and tenon joinery? Click here: Defining the Mortise and Tenon, Old and New

Kestrel Shutters & Doors, Inc. www.DIYShutters.com sales@diyshutters.com

Now in our 20th Year
May 4, 2009

If you haven't read my posts before, I sometimes add other odds and ends to share...

I took this picture just the other day of Black Angus grazing on the lush June grass.

New Ways to Use Plantation Shutters

Jim Lapic — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:03:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog
We often think of Plantation shutters as the most gracious of window treatments, giving interior windows a true Southern charm. Really, there are many other applications well suited for this airy wide louver style. Over the years we have had the following questions asked and the answers show the true versatility of Plantation Shutters.

Can Plantation Shutters be used as Exterior Shutters?

Yes! Plantation Shutters are at home as exterior shutters and even interior rooms with high huimidity. Exterior Plantation Shutters must be made with wood that can withstand harsh weather and environments. This is why we hand build our exterior Plantation Shutters out of Spanish Cedar. Spanish Cedar is a durable hardwood that is highly noted for its resistance to rot, decay and insects.

Can Plantation Shutters have fixed louver blades?

While Plantation Shutters are known for their ability to control ventilation and the sunlight coming in to your home, they can be made with non-moving louver blades. The fixed louver blades still allow indirect light to filter in as well air flow.

A good example are the awning style Bahama Shutters used on this Barnes & Noble Booksellers storefront. They wanted the look of Plantation Shutters without operable louvered blades.

Can Plantation Shutters be used in place of trellis screening?

Yes. Louvered Shutters will screen a view and also stave off a gusty breeze. The airy appearance of Plantation Shutters will provide a perfectly cozy partition extending your living spaces outdoors.

Can Plantation Shutters be used as interior doors?

Yes. This actually adds quite a bit of functionality as it allows you to control both ventilation and sound within parts of your home. Some good examples would be doors to cover utility rooms and doors that lead from living areas into screened in porches. When Plantation Shutters are used as interior doors we increase the proportions of the stiles and rails to add stability and look proprtional.

Hopefully ths has given you some insight in to the different ways Plantation Shutters can be used. So the next time you find yourself thinking about adding exterior shutters to your home or replacing some closet or interior doors, consider Plantation Shutters.

Kestrel Shutters & Doors, Inc.

www.DIYShutters.com 800.494.4321

sales @ diyshutters.com

An Introduction to Plantation Shutters

Jim Lapic — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:51:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

If there is any one style of shutter that is requested more than any other it is Plantation Shutters. What is surprising is that many people come to us for Plantation Shutters without even knowing what they are. Simply put, there has been so much publicity on Plantation Shutters over the years that people recognize the style as something desirable without fully knowing the style.

What are Plantation Shutters?

Plantation Shutters, in their basic form, are louvered shutters with approximately 2" to 3" wide operable louver blades. Our Plantation Shutters feature a 2.1/2" wide operable louver blade.

Why are they called Plantation Shutters?

While some of the old plantations in the South used operable louvered shutters with wide louvers the term is much more recent. The term "Plantation Shutters" is really just a marketing idea someone came up with along the way, most likely not long after the release of "Gone with the Wind" and our introduction to Tara, Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. Let's face it, "Plantation Shutters" sounds so much nicer than "Shutters with wide, operable louvered blades".

So get a price quote on Plantation Shutters but remember they are only one of many styles of interior shutters. We'll be happy to price as many shutter styles as you would like.

Online Easter Egg Hunt for Kids

Jim Lapic — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:31:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

To bring some more fun in to this world we put together this Online Easter Egg Hunt designed for kids. Each egg they find and click opens up a new site where they can discover Easter crafts, games and coloring pages from around the World.

Do I need a Bottom Track for my Closet Door Hardware?

Jim Lapic — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:00:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

A common misconception is that closet door hardware, especially hardware for sliding closet doors, require a bottom track. The belief is that the bottom track helps support the weight of the doors as well as keep the doors aligned.

The Johnson Hardware we supply with our closet doors is actually designed to support the entire weight of the doors at the top. The rollers are all sets of 3 or 4 wheels that have been machine turned and balanced. This means that the optional bottom track is used only to help guide your sliding closet doors and bifold doors.

When should I use a bottom track?

You really only need to use the bottom guide when there is a concern that the doors might be bumped hard enough to swing back and forth. Some good examples would be if the doors are being be used between rooms or if you have small children or large pets.

Are bottom tracks only for sliding closet doors?

No. Larger bi-fold doors are also good candidates for a bottom guide track. Follow the same rule as with your sliding closet doors. If you think your bi-fold doors are going to be bumped a lot then a bottom guide track might be helpful.

Do I need to cut into my floor to install the bottom track?

No. Since the bottom guide tracks do not support any weight they can be surface mounted to your floor. Wood strips can be placed on either side of the track to give the look of a finished threshold. If you have not installed your floor you can also use a bottom guide track. In this case you would simply install your flooring on either side of the bottom guide track. The nice thing about this method is that the track is submerged below the floor level so there is no concern about tripping.

So while a bottom track is not needed to support the weight or your doors, it can help to guide your doors.

Hardware for Bifold Doors

Jim Lapic — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:10:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

When it comes to closet doors, one of the most popular ways to mount them is as bifold doors. Basically this means that the doors are hinged together in pairs and will open and close in pairs.

While there doesn't seem like there would be much variation in the hardware for bifold doors there are a few different factors to consider.

Where will your doors fold open?

The first thing to look at is how you want to have your doors fold open. Traditional bifold doors will fold up in pairs within the closet opening. The doors can be mounted so that they all fold to one side only or split up so that pairs of doors fold to both sides. If you do NOT want the doors to fold up inside the opening then you can choose what is known as "full access" hardware.

Johnson Hardware 1601 series is a full access hardware that folds the doors 180° open and out against the face of the wall. The advantage of this is that you do not have pairs of doors blocking part of your opening. Three of the most practical applications for this are closets that hold a washer and dryer, closets that hold a home office and closets that stow away a Murphy Bed. If you do not have the wall space for your bifold doors to swing out and open then you will need to go with more traditional hardware that keeps the doors within the opening.

Can you mount your bifold doors to the floor?

Some hardware for bifold doors require that you mount a bottom pivot directly on to your floor. If you have custom flooring this may not be practical or desired. This is one of the reasons that Johnson Hardware 111FD series is so popular. This is a heavy duty track hardware that holds bifold doors up to 50 lbs each but does not require you to touch your floor. Instead the bottom pivot mounts to your jamb to support your bifold doors.

Are your closet doors oversized?

Many of the closet doors we make are oversized and need to have bifold door hardware that has heavier limits. The Johnson Hardware 100FD series will handle bifold doors up to 75 lbs each and the Johnson Hardware 200FD series will handle bifold doors up to 48" wide each and 125 lbs each. These series of bifold track hardware will have a bottom pivot that mounts to the floor to help stabilize the oversized doors.

Closets with more than 4 doors

Sometimes it makes sense to have more than 4 doors within a closet opening. Most often it is because the closet has a very wide opening or it could even be several sets of interior doors to separate two rooms. In cases like this we offer what is referred to as multifold door hardware. The Johnson Hardware 100RD series will handle doors up to 24" wide and 50 lbs each while the Johnson Hardware 200RD series will handle doors up to 36" wide and 75 lbs each. Both of these can handle up to a maximum of 12 individual interior doors, 6 folding to the left and 6 folding to the right.

Bifold Door Hardware - Summary Table

Series	max. Door Size	max. Door Weight	max. Doors Folding in One Direction	Bottom Pivot
1601	24" x 96"	30 lbs.	2	none
111FD	24" x 108"	50 lbs.	2	Jamb Mount
100FD	24" x 108"	75 lbs.	2	Floor Mount
200FD	48" x 108"	125 lbs.	2	Floor Mount
100RD	24" x 108"	50 lbs.	6	Floor Mount
200RD	36" x 108"	75 lbs.	6	Floor Mount

Copyright Kestrel Shutters & Doors. 1989-2009<script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&charset=utf-8&style=default&publisher=fd56c256-e957-4ff7-b293-b01800e57b3d&offsetLeft=20&offsetTop=-150"></script>
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Green Window Shutters and a Valentine

Jewel Foulds — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:45:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Not even Kestrel Shutters can keep cupid out of your home! Happy Valentines Day.

Finding The Correct Hinge Offset for Exterior Shutter Hardware

Jewel Foulds — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:58:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Finding the correct offset for exterior shutter hardware certainly can be daunting. But, with a little practice you’ll be well on your way to hanging your shutters with an offset that's just right!

What is Hinge Offset and why is it needed?

Hinge Offset is the counterbalance needed for a shutter or door to easily swing open and close, clearing any obstacles such as a deep fitted window frame or trim mouldings. With a larger hinge offset a larger swing (also referred to as “throw”) is created making the shutter protrude, or kick out, further away from the pivot point of the hinge. Knowing which hinge offset you will need is just a matter of finding the amount of throw needed.

Hardware Basics

Hinges are comprised of two parts.

Exterior strap hinges and the “L” type straps (also called “New York style hinges”) shown here on the right consist of a strap and a pintle. In this picture the pintle is on the left and the strap is on the right. The strap mounts to the shutter's back face and the pintle mounts to the building. Most, if not all shutter and door hinges, are made to be able to separated for installation, as well as general maintenance, hence the term "Lift off Hinge or Loose Pin Hinge".

Measuring Offsets for Plate Mount Strap Type Hinges

Pintle offset is measured from the base, to the center of the pintle, or pin. When measuring pintle offset sometimes the plate will be included and sometimes not. The measurement will be close enough to measure either way. In this picture I did not incude measuring the plate portion of the pintle that the tape measure is seated on. See how the measurement is one and a half inches ( 1-1/2" ) to the center of this pintle pin shown to the right?

Measuring the offset on the strap is similar to measuring the pintle offset. Just measure to the center of the knuckle, the hinge joint, less the strap thickness like I did in this picture below.

Just remember that you must measure the strap perpendicular to the portion that is mounted on the shutter face and not the angle as I am in the picture above.

Typically the strap offset is matched with the pintle offset. From closest to furthest in the picture shown below are half inch (1/2"), one and a half (1-1/2") and three and a quarter (3-1/4") offsets.

Offsets for Edge Mortise Types

Edge Mortise hinges shown in the picture to the right are also known as butt hinges. Butt hinges consist of two sections or leaves. The pivot pin is located on one of the leaf knuckles. They can be an "H" style (also called a Parliament hinge) as shown or a plain squared version that is our HE1-401 style. Click the picture below for both examples.

For another example of an edge mortise hinge just take a look at your home's entrance door. See how the hinge leaves are flush with the surface? This is known as hinges that are mortised in. One side of the hinge is mortised flush on the edge of the door and the other half with the pin is mortised flush into the door frame also known as a jamb. It is the same idea for a shutter.

Offsets are measured on an edge mortised butt hinge by taking the distance from the outer edge of the hinge leaf to the center of the pin. You can also just divide the full width of the hinge, both leaves open on a flat surface, and divide by two.

This hinge shown is referenced as a jamb leaf pintle. It's the same idea for mounting as an edge mortise hinge, mounts to the jamb. The leaf shown has an offset of 2-1/2" from the outer edge. Sometimes you'll see offset measured from the inside leaf to the center of the pin. In this picture you can see that would be about 1" from the inside leaf edge to the center of the pin. If you are going to use this type hinge or even the edge mortise types you need to make sure that the jamb is wide enough for the leaf plate to be securely screwed down.

Whether it is a strap hinge or a butt hinge the pin portion is mounted to the frame. In some cases this will be reversed for strap shutter or gate hardware if the pin is made to be on the straps knuckle. This feature is true of many hinges found on Old Philadelphia Federal Shutters. Regardless of where the pin is located the offset rules will still apply.

How to find your offset

Minimum hinge throw required

The distance from where the hinge will mount to the house to front face of the trim or casing that protrudes out the furthest from your home's façade is the minimum throw required. This is shown in figure 2 below. If there is no trim or casing, as in many brick and stone homes as shown here to the right and at the beginning of this article, then the minimum hinge throw required will be the distance from where the pintle mounts on the frame to the façade.

Using what you now know about hinge offsets take a look at this picture-

Do you see the pintle's large offset, the projection out from the window frame? Along with the matched offset on the "L" strap hinge the shutter now has adequate "throw" kicking it far enough away from the exterior wall. This is the key to knowing which offset to use- just find your throw.

[Fig. 1] Shutter closed over opening.

[Fig. 2] Shutter when open against the exterior façade , minimum hinge throw shown.

[Fig. 3] Shutter when open against the exterior façade with ventilation space detailed.

A ½” – 1-1/2” ventilation space is recommended between façade and shutter.

Along with the minimum throw you'll need to add enough offset to include an area for a ventilation space, a gap, behind the shutters when they are open and tied back against the wall with shutter dogs. This will help the wood ventilate so they do not retain moisture. It will also help ventilate the house wall too. There is no rule for how much ventilation space is required but it typically ranges from about a half to one and a half inches when the shutters are held open with tiebacks.

The following charts show some common offsets that we offer and their throw.

Table A - Use this chart for when the pintle offset equals the strap offset:

Hinge Offset	Hinge Throw	Minimum Hinge Throw Required
1/2"	1"	0" to 1/2"
1.1/2"	3"	0" to 2.1/2"
2.1/4"	4.1/2"	0" to 4"
3.1/4"	6.1/2"	0" to 6"

Table B

Some of the hinges that we sell can have split offsets. You might need a large pintle projection from the house and a smaller offset on the shutter hinge. Use this chart for when the pintle offset does not equal the strap offset

Pintle Offset	Strap Offset	Hinge Throw	Minimum Hinge Throw Required
1"	0"	1"	0" to 1/2"
1"	1"	2"	0" to 1.1/2"
1"	2"	3"	0" to 2.1/2"
2"	0"	2"	0" to 1.1/2"
2"	1"	3"	0" to 1.1/2"
2"	2"	4"	0" to 2.1/2"

Every window can be different...

When measuring for your hinge offset do not assume that all of your windows will be the same. There can be variations in the way the windows were installed and your exterior walls were built. This is especially the case in older homes and homes with additions. Taking the few extra minutes per window to make sure you have the right offset will save you much time and money in the end.

Are you still not sure which shutter hinge to use?

Below are a some helpful paper cut out worksheets that you can print out. These templates can be helpful to place where your new shutter hardware will be installed to make sure that you will have adequate offset.

Your printer defaults should be fine for these worksheets to print to scale but if the measurements are incorrect just make sure that your printer is set to a a one to one (1:1) ratio in order for the cut-out templates to work.

Click & Print:

1/800.494.4321 or sales@diyshutters.com

Copyright Kestrel Shutters & Doors. 1989-2009

Happy New Year 2-0-0-9

Jewel Foulds — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:29:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Best Wishes to all in this New Year 2-0-0-9

Tailored Fabrics for Doors and Shutters

Jewel Foulds — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:21:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Fabric prints and solids for both window shutters and interior doors are a really neat idea because it becomes so easy to change a room's appearance with beautiful patterns and textures- Change the fabric panels throughout the seasons or by whim to update home decor without changing much of anything else. On display in our office we now feature this snowman print fitted on our 6070 series closet door. The wood frame and authentic beadboard is finished in brilliant white- A perfect winter wonderland for a little one's room.

We can tailor your supplied fabrics for shutter frames, folding screens, and the Kestrel series of closet doors specifically made for fabrics. We also are offering Richloom fabrics which are found at many fine fabric stores. You might even consider crafting your own panels as a sewn or even as a no sew project.

For more information about adding fabrics to Kestrel Shutters and Doors call or write today. 1/800-494-4321 sales@diyshutters.com

Richloom Platinum fabrics shown.

Pattern: Bingo

Colors available from right to left: Spring, Lagoon, Surf, Earth, Citrine, Berry, Alabaster. Also available are Coral, Cameo, Natural, Butter and Mist.

A good find ! Shutter Dogs that need a home.

Jewel Foulds — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:15:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Now here's a good deal for cast iron shutter hardware. We have star and flower pattern sill mount shutter dogs that only need a little bit of finishing touch up or you might just want to use them as is for antiquity.

An excellent buy at $22.50 a pair!

"Long Arm" Shutter Dogs mount to the exterior window sill apron and they work especially well for a home that has a stone or brick facade. Click either picture to see these shutter holdbacks installed on a home.

Made in USA

A limited supply is available. Order now before they are all gone.

Season's Greetings

from Kestrel Shutters & Doors

Thanksgiving Greetings

Jewel Foulds — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:56:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Happy Thanksgiving

from all of us at Kestrel Shutters & Doors

Village Shutters

Jewel Foulds — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:50:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

In a small village named Snowdenville, where two roads intersect under an old maple tree, there are several older homes situated on each of the corners. All of the homes are different with their own personality and charm. One common bond that they do share is that they all display the same style board and batten shutters, each with the same simplistic conifer tree cut-out. When December arrives, what could be more appropriate than a Christmas tree (or two) at every window?

Look at the happy Jack o' Lantern in the window...

While we did not make the shutters for this adorable and very old log cabin, we did make all new shutters just like these for the home that sits caddy corner to this one. The modern day look alikes were made with an exterior-grade material called Extira®. This material was a perfect and cost-effective way to recreate these decorative exterior shutters. I will snap a picture of the project for an upcoming post once the scaffolding is down and the project is complete.

For a price quote in this design just contact our office. We have several cut outs to choose from and you can also send us your own design that you may have such as a cat or dog, a house number, and even your initials. The pattern can be cut through the shutter or carved into the shutter's surface as a relief. Panel cut outs are a fun way to personalize your home.

Smooth Curves

Jewel Foulds — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:14:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

For years we have offered a variety of standard S-curve shape shutter dogs, a.k.a. shutter tiebacks, in several materials including an imported cast iron variety. This very popular cast iron version has a scalloped edge. Now, we have a cast iron scroll with a smooth edge. Simple but very elegant. Just $15.00 a pair! Item: HE3-257

Remember Remember the Eleventh of September

Jewel Foulds — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:11:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Photo: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA

I can hear the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “A date that will live in infamy.” The world was with us in sorrow in the days to come after that day. What Mr. Roosevelt said in 1941, to our dismay, applied to that horrific day in September. On this day, now seven years later, we still feel our losses in both life and in our monumental accomplishments. We also obtained a back of our mind fear that was created on that day. America was changed forever.

When I see the American flag I think of 9-11 but I also see much more. I see the strength of a nation and the hope she has and the ability to overcome just about anything found in all of us. The flags design is simple but is absolute beauty. The colors and the layout are strong and full of meaning and full of history in which 9-11 will forever reside within. I see in her the foundations many of which were painful in which America was built upon. And I see in her America’s strengths and character in which brought many people from around the world here where they knew hope could be found and a better life.

Choosing the Correct Exterior Shutter Hardware – Hinges Part 1

Jim Lapic — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:37:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

If you want your exterior shutters to be able to open and close properly over your windows, you need to make sure that you choose the correct exterior shutter hardware. This can be a bit confusing as every window and window frame is different. Even if you have the same style of trim on all of your windows don't be surprised if some of the measurements are slightly different.

Throughout the Fall I will be writing articles on how to choose the correct exterior shutter hardware to make your shutters functional…or simply look functional.

This article will cover the types of hinges that are available. At the bottom of this article is a Summary which has some Quick Reference tables that you can use. If you are already familiar with exterior shutter hardware, feel free to skip directly down to the Summary. You will also find some pictures showing different types of installations.

Types of Exterior Shutter Hinges

1. Straight Strap	2. L Strap	3. Plate	4. Mortised

Exterior shutter hinges can be broken into two groups; surface mounted and edge mounted. Surface mounted hinges are typically installed on the back of the shutters. These can include (1) straight straps, (2) L straps and (3) plate shutter hardware. Bahama shutter hinges (not shown) are also surface mounted but attach at the top front face of the shutters. Surface hinges can mount onto your house with either a plate pintle or with a lag bolt pintle. Edge mounted hinges (4) are mortised into the edge of the exterior shutter closest to the window and look similar to a door hinge.

Closed Position for Your Shutters

5. Inside Mount -

Window frame shown in Green

6. Overlap Mount -

Shutters overlay opening so no frame is exposed

The first thing that you need to decide is where the shutters will sit when closed over your window. Exterior shutters can be mounted to fit within your window frame and/or jamb (see diagram 5 above - inside mount) or to completely cover your window frame (see diagram 6 above - overlap mount). Most often shutters are mounted as an inside mount. This is because with an inside mount installation, exterior shutters are seated and secured within the frame when the shutters are closed. More resistance to high winds is achieved because the wind cannot "lift" the shutter off like a kite in the wind. Also, inside mount installations will help prevent break-ins as the shutters cannot be lifted off the hinges when closed properly. The reason you would use an overlap mount is if you were using Bahama shutter hardware or if there was not enough depth for the shutters to sit within the window frame and/or jamb.

Inside Mount for Exterior Shutters (see diagram 5)

If you are using an inside mount take a look at where your shutters will sit within the window opening when closed. You need to know what the material is that will be around your closed shutters. (This is shown in green in diagram 5 above) If this is framed in wood that is deep enough to hold your shutters then you can use either surface mounted hinges or edge mounted hinges. If the opening is a material other than wood, such as brick, vinyl or stone, then you will need to use a surface mounted hinge.

Overlap Mount for Exterior Shutters (see diagram 6)

If your shutters will be overlapping your window opening, so that there is no window frame visible, the most practical option is to use a surface mounted hinge. These can be any strap or plate hinge mounted to the sides or Bahama shutter hinges mounted at the top.

Hinge Mounting Method

If you are using surface mounted exterior shutter hinges you need to decide where you can mount the hinge pintle. This will determine whether you need to use a plate pintle with screws or a lag bolt pintle. If you are able to mount the hinge pintle directly onto the flat surface of your wood trim or wood frame (shown in green in diagram 5) you will be able to use a plate pintle. If you need to mount the hinge pintle onto some other material like brick or stone you will need to use a lag bolt pintle.

Once you know the type of exterior shutter hinge and pintle you will need to determine the offset. This will be covered in next blog post.

Summary / Quick Reference

To help choose the type of hinges you will need to mount your exterior shutters follow these 4 steps.

Step 1. Determine whether you have an inside mount (see diagram 5 above) or an overlap mount (see diagram 6 above).

Step 2. Look at the building material around your window opening and, using Table A below, find out whether you need a surface mounted hinge or an edge mounted hinge.

Step 3. Look at the building material where you will be mounting your hinges and, using Table B below, find out the type of mounting method you will need to use.

Step 4. Using Table C below look for a hinge that meets your requirements for hinge type (step 2) and for mounting method (step 3). You can see the available hinges pictured above (pictures 1,2,3 and 4) to help decide the look you want.

Hinge Type - Table A

Use this table for quick reference for determining hinge type

Closed Position	Material Around Opening	Hinge Type to Use
Inside Mount	Wood	Surface or edge mounted
Inside Mount	Brick	Surface mounted
Inside Mount	Stone	Surface mounted
Inside Mount	Vinyl	Surface mounted
Inside Mount	Stucco or other veneer	Surface mounted
Outside Mount	Any	Surface mounted

Hinge Mount - Table B

Use this table for quick reference for to determine the type of pintle to use with your surface mounted hinges

Material Pintles Are to be Mounted To	Use This Pintle
Wood (flat surface)	Plate Pintle with screws
Wood (non-flat surface)	Lag Bolt Pintle
Brick	Lag Bolt Pintle
Stone	Lag Bolt Pintle
Vinyl	Lag Bolt Pintle
Stucco or other veneer	Lag Bolt Pintle

Available Hinges - Table C

This next table will list different hinges and the mounts available.

Hinge Type	Item Codes	Available Mounts
Edge Mounted	HE1-401	Edge Mounted
	HE1-405	Edge Mounted
	HE3-370	Edge Mounted

Straight Strap	HE1-701	Plate Pintle with screws OR Lag Bolt Pintle
	HE1-702	Plate Pintle with screws OR Lag Bolt Pintle
	HE1-705	Plate Pintle with screws OR Lag Bolt Pintle
	HE2-10	Plate Pintle with screws OR Lag Bolt Pintle
	HE6-4000	Plate Pintle with screws OR Lag Bolt Pintle

L Strap	HE2-40	Plate Pintle with screws OR Lag Bolt Pintle
	HE6-2000	Plate Pintle with screws OR Lag Bolt Pintle

Plate	HE3-321	Plate Pintle with screws
	HE3-323	Plate Pintle with screws
	HE5-670	Plate Pintle with screws

Mounting Examples

The following photos show some different mounting methods used on different buildings.

Pennsylvania - Stucco face - inside mount - wood frame - surface mounted plate pintle with screws.

St. Croix USVI - Stucco face - inside mount - no frame - lag bolt pintle mounted through the stucco.

California - Concrete face - overlap mount - surface mounted Bahama shutter hardware

Belgium - Stone face - inside mount - stone window frame - lag bolt pintles

West Virginia - Stucco over brick face - inside mount - wood frame - surface mounted plate pintles with screws.

Gazebo Bird Feeder

Jewel Foulds — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:32:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

I liked this gazebo bird feeder so much that I gave two out as gifts this past Christmas. Very easy to install, these feeders are made in Pennsylvania and are a welcome addition to your garden. Dimensions: 21"H x 12.5"D

Large Gazebo Feeder $127.50 includes delivery* Click here to purchase

*Standard ground delivery included in the Continental USA. Cedar post not included.

Soup & Nuts, Building a Shutter & Door Business.

Jewel Foulds — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:51:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Soup & Nuts, Building a Shutter & Door Business.

Kestrel was started entirely from scratch back in 1988 by my partner and me. We began developing some different wood products namely radius arbors, pergolas, for entrance ways and folding screens. We officially opened for business on May 4, 1989 under the name of Kestrel Manufacturing. We decided to focus only on selling folding screens and so we set out advertising them. The folding screens drew reader interest in seeing our advertisements and we began to be flooded with brochure requests through the mail. With one of our folding screen designs being an operable louver shutter style one customer along the way asked us if we would make interior operable louver window shutters for them. One thing led to another and we soon found ourselves in the shutter business. These were the days of paper media as the World Wide Web was not yet commercialized.

Back in the early days of growing this business, "soup and nuts" referenced in the article title refers to dinner meals that my partner and I ate often. That is Lipton Cup of Soup and a piece of rye bread toast with peanut butter. An unusual but rather tasty combination, it was our economical and a quick dinner meal to make in order to just keep working into the night running the shop making the products while saving money to build the business.

We learned a lot making operable louver shutters and in no time we developed our brand which included a knock down shutter kit. We named the product The Original DIY Shutter™ kit. It was developed in order for the end user to paint or stain the shutters easier as well as allowing the end user to save some money by assembling the shutter frames themselves. Since operable louvered shutters were tricky to paint by hand and with the amount of labor involved in assembling the product it was timely to produce. In the early days we would sit hand assembling the components and we realized that anyone could do the same while watching TV. DIY Shutters™ were a smart solution.

Many good opportunities came our way in projects to build and print media articles. The Rich-Twinn Octagon House was one of many historic shutter replications that we furnished. We duplicated several rectangular as well as arched top shutters that featured both horizontal and vertical operable louvers specific to this project.

In 1996 an article was published in the New York Times about shutters and we were listed as a source. Not long after the article in the New York Times, the editors at Martha Stewart Living who read this article all came together with the same idea. The idea was to see if Kestrel could make, of all things, a folding screen. This screen would be one of several varieties shown for an upcoming article about the history of folding screens and their many uses. It was a full page photograph that captured the attention of many. We were right back to the original product that we had started out with. We received many orders thanks to that one article. For many years after the June 1996 issue we worked with several of the editors from Martha Stewart Living to make different items with our basic shutter frames, as well as interior shutters too, that they would need for a variety of their creative and informative articles.

One of these articles would show how to make dot cut outs in the June 2000 issue. It featured a fireside screen with an Art Deco hole cut out pattern made with a basic shutter frame and two bifold pairs of white circle cut out shutters for a kitchen window.

Later that year another article had a clip of our interior shutters in a kitchen room for the article titled 'The Color Blue'. This was in the September 2000 issue.

We even made a shutter that was fitted to make a large mantle top mirror. A duplicate hangs in our office to this day.

The Hollister store was one of several other retail installations that our shutters were produced for to provide the look that they wanted. When the Hollister stores were in the planning stages I went to see the Abercrombie demo store set up with many old, authentic, antiques. Everywhere were antiques such as steamer trunks, carpets and furniture that would all be reproduced to look just as these worn originals for each of the future stores to be built.

Other retail projects have included these louver inserts made years back for a restaurant located in the Las Vegas Bellagio Casino next to the beautiful Murano Glass ceiling. The white louvered wainscot wrap each pillar section rising to the top.

Our goal was to build a business that would provide a great quality product with a good crew of people. Now after all of these years we are looking towards new goals as we keep Kestrel going strong. Since those early days we have added additional product lines to meet the needs of our customers and to diversify the business in making items that would be complementary such as louver inserts, closet doors as well as being the first in producing styles of shutters found only in Europe.

Our shop once consisted of a narrow isle about three to four feet wide in a garage where we made the first orders. All of these years later we have grown and today we now have a considerable amount of shop space. The first pieces of equipment that we owned were a small router and a mitre saw. While we now use specialized equipment to make the product lines faster and better we still hold on to those smaller original pieces which remind us of how it all began.

Photo credits:

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. -Magazine Covers as well as articles

Newstead Historical Society, NY- Rich-Twinn Octagon House

Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times- Hollister store, evoking a beach house.

Also to the customers of Kestrel Shutters & Doors, Inc.

The company name Kestrel is the name for the smallest member in the falcon family. Just recently I took this picture of two Kestrel silhouettes perched in the tree, most likely a male and female.

It was neat to see these two enjoying the evenings amber glow. American Kestrels were once seen in abundance throughout our area but over the last ten years the birds population has declined. What was once common to see these small birds perched on telephone wires along the country roads almost altogether disappeared over the last several years. The good news is that they seem to be on the comeback and I can see evidence of their reappearance in my travels. You can find more information about Kestrels as well as other information about all of the beautiful raptors at Hawk Mountain located in Kempton Pennsylvania. Their website is www.hawkmountain.org

A naturally beautiful and renewable choice- Wood shutters and doors by

Kestrel Shutters & Doors, Inc. www.DIYShutters.com 1-800-494-4321 / sales@diyshutters.com

Now in our 19th Year
May 4, 2008

Defining the Mortise and Tenon, Old and New

Jewel Foulds — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:14:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Defining the Mortise and Tenon, Old and New

The mortise and tenon joint is one of the oldest methods of joining two pieces of material together and certainly is still very much a mainstay in fine cabinetry work today. There are many references to mortise and tenon joinery throughout the ages. Historical monuments such as Stonehenge, the hulls of early boat and ship vessels, and even Egyptian sarcophagi were made with this frame construction. Whether stone, metal, or wood, the construction method is still very much the same.

The mortise is essentially a slot or a hole cut into or through one piece of material. The tenon is an extension milled onto another piece of material that will be fitted into the mortise. The outer dimension of the tenon matches in both shape and size to the inside dimension of the mortise. When the tenon is inserted into the mortise, the two pieces of material are joined.

In traditional woodworking, door and shutter frame mortises are milled into the vertical inside of each upright frame member. This upright frame member is called a stile. Mortises are placed where horizontal cross rails intersect. Cross rails, or simply rails, are the horizontal frame members. Rails are made over sized in length allowing for the ends to be milled down creating a tenon.

A well made deep fitted mortise and tenon is very strong since there is quite a bit of surface area contact between both pieces of wood. A snug fitting joint is the best as it will help to prevent the frame from racking. With the use of pegs, wedges or both wedges and pegs, as shown in the pictures of the shutters below, the parts are held tightly together creating a fastened joint.

These aged shutters are well over 100 years old. They are great examples to show mortise and tenon construction with the use of both peg and wedge fastening methods.

The shutter frames are fastened together with both pegs and wedges. The wedge is inserted in the opposite side of where the tenon was inserted. The peg is just below my thumb.

I pulled this wedge out for you to see. It is pretty amazing that someone a long time ago cut this and at least 11 more, all fitted perfectly by hand, for each pair of these exterior window shutters.

The mortise shown on these old shutters is called a through-mortise simply because it is open on both sides, milled all the way through the stile. This mortise and tenon was made to fit a wedge. The wedge pinches the tenon into the mortise slot and holds the joint together much like a wedge shape door stop holds a door open or shut.

Through mortises are seen on objects made in periods in time when milling machinery was not available or advanced enough in order to mill the material quickly and easily.

With the advent of machinery, through mortises for the most part were replaced with "pocket" mortises. Pocket mortises are just how the name sounds. The pocket mortise is open on one face only for the tenon to be received.

We have seen wedges used on many old shutters that we reproduced. However, since we use the pocket mortise and tenon method we only need to use pegs. Pocket mortises are very good for outside applications since end grain is not exposed. The reason that end grain should not be exposed is because just like a drinking straw will suck up water so does end grain. End grain is essentially very much like many tiny straws bundled together that supply the tree and it's canopy with water. When end grain is exposed and proper maintenance is not provided it will eventually lead to deterioration.

More then likely these old shutters would still be hanging if they had had just a little more maintenance with finishing as it appears that this paint is the original finish. For being as old as these shutters are they are still held together rather well because of the well made mortise and tenon construction.

Pegs are inserted into a hole that has been drilled through the face of the shutter through the mortise and tenon joint. The peg acts much like a cotter pin locking the two pieces together.

The mortise and tenon joint is a very old construction method and still one of the best woodworking types of joinery today. Our interior shutters, exterior shutters as well as all of our doors are assembled using this method of joinery.

When we assemble door and shutter frames a light application of glue is applied to the mortise and tenon joint areas. Then the parts of the frame are fitted together along with the components that will be inside of the frame such as operable or fixed louvers or even solid wood panels. The shutter or door is then clamped together to tighten and flush all of the joints. When the joints are flush and tight a hole is drilled through the mortise and tenon for the pegs. After the pegs are inserted the joint is now locked together and the clamps are released. At this point this joint can take extreme force and still not pull apart and it will undoubtedly last as long as the old shutters shown in this post, if not longer.

Did you know? Just because a wood product can mention made with “mortise and tenon construction” does not imply that it is good unless it is properly made. When mortise and tenon joints are too loose, improperly fitted, the joint will fail and the frame will rack.

Post written by Jewel Foulds, April 2008

Spring is no doubt one of my favorite things. Nature is fresh and full of color. I was lucky to capture this picture just recently. This spring time beauty known as 'Bleeding Heart' is an Old Fashioned favorite in many gardens.

Kestrel Shutters & Doors, Inc. www.DIYShutters.com

Celebrating our 19th Year in business on May 4, 2008

Should I go with bifold or sliding closet doors?

Jim Lapic — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:15:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

The choice between installing bifold doors and sliding closet doors depends on a few different factors. The use of the closet, the space around the closet, and, of course, your personal preference, are all considerations.

What is the difference between bifold doors and sliding closet doors? The first thing to do is to look at how these two types of doors function. Bifold doors, just as the name implies, are a pair doors that are hinged together and fold up together. This means that you can take all of the doors and fold them up to the sides so that they are out of the way and you have almost full access to your closet. With sliding closet doors the doors slide back and forth on multiple tracks and can be stacked up, one in front of the others. Since the doors never fold out of the way, fully exposing the entire area, there will always be some part of the closet blocked.

What is in your closet? Will the closet be for clothes, storage of seasonal items, or used as a pantry? If you will only need to get to one part of the closet at any time then a sliding or a bifold will work well for you. If you need full access to the closet, or you just want to be able to open the doors and see everything at once, then bifold doors are your best choice. Keep in mind that sliding doors can be removed if you should need full access once in a while.

What is around your closet? Is there limited space around your closet? Is there the concern that if you open up the doors they might hit furniture or artwork on your walls? Do you want a streamline fit, rather then doors folding out into the room? If this is the case then sliding closet doors are probably your best option.

Which do you prefer? Another point, just as important as those mentioned above is, simply put, which do you prefer? Even if one of the door installation types is not completely ideal for you, it may still be worth it if you really like the look enough. Regardless of which track hardware you choose, you can still pick whichever style of door you like the most. Every style of door that we offer can be mounted with hardware for either bifold doors or sliding doors .

What's wrong with how these shutters were installed?

Jewel Foulds — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:36:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

In my last post, "Finding a Wood Shutter", I included this picture as shown. While it is a beautiful picture of Kestrel European Board and Batten Shutters with a breadboard top, I noted that there is something wrong with the hardware installation. It will be easier to see if you imagine the shutters closing over the window.

For starters some of the slidebolts were installed on the wrong sides. This is the hardware that is located in the middle of the shutters. When the shutters are closed, the bolt on one shutter slides into the catch on the ajoining shutter to securely lock the shutters closed. The slide bolts would need to be mounted to the outer side of the shutter, not to the inside next to the window as shown on the right in this picture.

The other error that we noticed in looking at this picture is that the shutter dogs, also known as tiebacks, were installed a bit unusual. Most shutter dogs are typically designed to be mounted below the bottom outer corner of the shutter in order to hold the shutter steadfast against the wall. Shutter dogs have a "weighted" or heavier bottom side to allow the piece to stay in an upright position to hold the shutter in positon. These shutter dogs were installed on the vertical sides instead. While the shutter dogs may not function properly if mounted this way, it can still be aestically pleasing. Keep in mind though, that we do have offset shutter dogs available which are designed and weighted for side mount installations.

Finding A Wood Shutter

Jewel Foulds — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:31:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Finding a wood shutter supplier with a simple Google search is easy, just be attuned to where and how the shutters are made and with what they made with before you buy. Do your homework by simply asking questions and doing some internet research on the materials and construction methods. There are many types of wood that shutters can be made with but you’ll want to choose the material that is best suited for your installation whether it is inside or out.

Each supplier or direct manufacture should be able to help you with selecting shutter and shutter hardware styles suited for the application and the sizes that you will need. Some companies even offer finishing services from a basic prime to a full finish ready to install. With the different types and styles of shutter hardware that are available your shutters can be fully functional as well as decorative.

Picture at right: Kestrel European Board & Batten with Breadboard top. However, there is something wrong with this install- Do you know what it is? You are welcome to post your answer in the comments section below.

Here at Kestrel Shutters & Doors we have been making both interior and exterior shutters since 1989. We are located in Southeastern Pennsylvania where so many shutters adorn the classic Chester County façade found on many historic homes and sites. The shutter designs that we have chosen as ‘standards’ follow the older shutter styles found not just here in Chester County but also throughout the US and abroad.

The shutters that we build are made entirely by us entirely here in house. We have a very good as well as dedicated team who produce each order. It’s a several step process before each shutter is assembled by hand. The process begins with hand sorting rough lumber for each order and then milling it to size and profile. Through the use of various specialized equipment we then process the milled materials into individual component parts. Where components are joined together we use what is called a mortise and tenon joint construction.

Note: Just because it's mortise and tenon joinery does not imply that it is good unless it's milled correctly. Joints that are loose or secured with screws in the end of the tenon are not as strong and are prone to failure. The best and most historically accurate way to secure a mortise and tenon joint is with a peg that goes through the tenon locking it in place like a cotter pin.

Kestrel mortise and tenon joints fit snugly together and are secured with Honduran Mahogany pegs. The pegs are positioned on the face of each stile according to the size of the tenon.

The hardwood that we use, Basswood and Spanish Cedar, come out of forests that are managed and are harvested responsibly. American Basswood is for interior use and Spanish Cedar is for exterior and interior use. Basswood, known as Linden wood, is used by woodcarvers because of it's many good qualities. The stability, workability, and light patterned even graining is why carvers use it and that is what makes it a great choice in making interior shutters and interior doors, especially those with louvers, since the material holds straight and true. Spanish Cedar is traditionally used in lining cigar boxes and humidors. We began using Spanish Cedar over a decade ago as an alternative to Western Red Cedar because of the consistent quality of the wood that was lacking in Western Red and we found it to be more durable. While Spanish Cedar is predominately used for exterior work because it "breathes" out moisture making it rot resistant, the material also performs very well for interiors too, especially in humid areas where moisture is prevalent. It has also been used as a substitute for Honduran Mahogany since the grain pattern, color and quality are very similar.

Every shutter and door is made to order and available in unfinished wood or completely finished. By choosing full finishing in either paint or stain the shutters are ready for installation once received. However, if you are a DIY, do-it-yourself, kind of person we are the originator of a product called The Original DIY Shutter™ kit.

DIY Shutters™ are the same as our fully assembled version; we just do not assemble them. DIY Shutters™ are an easy to assemble kit to be completed start to finish on site with some general woodworking tools. We developed DIY Shutters just about the same time that the company started. The benefits in a DIY kit is about saving money and a great satisfaction in building your very own top quality shutters.

Did you know? We also offer DIY Shutter™ component parts.

An open and shut case when it comes to deciding which louver to have.

Jewel Foulds — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:24:00 GMT

The Kestrel Shutters & Doors Blog

Deciding on a Louver style is a combination of how the louvers will be used, the surrounding décor, and your own personal preference.

First to think about is how will the louvers be used. For both inside and outside applications knowing the purpose of the louvers is helpful to determine if you need fixed or operable louver blades- then you can decide on louver width. Some things to consider when choosing a width are if the louvers are going to be used for privacy, ventilation, and if you will be adjusting them for viewing. If you prefer to have operable louvers, both narrow and wide louver widths will provide privacy when closed. However, a larger louver blade width will have a wider viewing area since each louver is spaced further apart. Also, a wider operable louver blade will allow for greater ventilation since blades can be adjusted to a fully opened position. The opposite is true with our standard fixed louvers. In a smaller stationary louver greater ventilation is achieved because there are more open areas simply because there are more louvers. When louvers are used to hide appliances make sure that you have the required amount of cubic feet per minute, CFM, of air flow. Keep in mind that fixed louvers do not offer complete privacy but if you like the look of louvers and do not have ventilation requirements you could choose a faux louver which will provide privacy with a louvered look.

The next consideration is the surrounding décor. Your home may be anything from Traditional to Contemporary, Cottage to Art Deco but, regardless of styling, any of these could match a narrow louver blade or a wide louver depending on room, window, and furniture proportions. Match the louver size with the scale of what you see. In my last post, “Made to fit vs. Make it fit”, I mentioned proportions and how some are more comfortable then others. For example, a large window with one shutter might not suit smaller louvers but be perfect with wider louvers for a more open and airy appearance. The same window when fitted with several smaller shutters will look proportioned correctly with a smaller louver.

Sample louvers can help you see which looks best for the application if you are just not sure. Much like taping paint color samples onto a wall when deciding on room colors and glancing at them at different times of the day to see which one you like; do the same with louver samples, you’ll know in a matter of days which one is just right for you and your home.

Did you know? Plantation Louvers may give a hint of a Southern style but it is actually just a generic marketing name that refers to an operable louver shutter with a louver blade that is between two to three inches in width. However, you will find that louver blade widths can be dependant throughout regions due to both climate and cultural differences.

Note: If you live in an old historic home then you also need to consider what the home should have. If you are lucky you will have some of the original shutters but if not check other old homes of a similar style nearby that might have their original shutters. Most likely yours had very much the same. The historic commission in your area should also be able to lend some assistance with old photographs.

Louver & Panel combination shutters: