Care Instructions Shutters

Let’s talk about how to properly care for your beloved new shutters so you can enjoy them for years to come and stays under warranty.  

 

As you probably have gathered, these shutters are made out 100% poplar hardwood.  This wood started as rough lumber from a lumber yard, and has not been reclaimed or used for any other purposes other than for your shutters. 

 

Your shutters have been finished with several top coats of Spar Urethane, on both the front and back.  Spar Urethane is a type of finish that is meant for wood products that will be exposed to the outdoors.  It is slightly softer than traditional polyurethane, as it is intended to expand and contract with the changes in temperature.  The Spar Urethane topcoat is intended to seal and protect your shutters from weather, and keep them looking new for years to come.  

 

Ongoing Care:

  • Try to make sure that shutters are not placed in a location that will be excessively wet, or has little air flow…i.e. repeatedly getting soaked by a clogged gutter or downspout, or hit with a sprinkling system on a daily basis.
  • The topcoat should help repel insects and pests, but periodically, check and make sure that no nests or bugs are making a home in them. Use pest control if this is becoming a problem.
  • If possible, try to make sure that the shutters are mounted on areas of the house that are protected by the roof overhang. This will preserve the life of the shutter as it will be more protected from the elements. 
  • Once per year, do a thorough check on your shutters to look for areas where the varnish may be wearing away or breaking down (this happens with all exterior wood varnish).  Reapply the Satin Sheen, Helmsman Spar Urethane to those areas.  After a few years, we recommend brushing on a couple new coats of this varnish on the whole shutter.  

 

What NOT to do:

  • Do not use your shutters for any purposes other than their intended use.