Entirely custom. You'll notice I used different width boards. This gives it an entirely custom feel. You can't look at them from the road and think "store bought". I chose cedar for its beauty and resistance to pests. These are non-utilitarian, they do not open and close when installed. They are decorative.Made 4 of these panels for two front windows. They are about 4 foot highI got two different cedar plank sizes from big box hardware store. Ripped what I needed with table saw.I used pocket holes for joining. Cedar is soft. Don't overuse coarse grit sandpaper. I worked up to 320 here.Cedar is very porous/absorbent. To avoid stain blotching I conditioned the wood first. Use oil based for outdoor work.I find sable brushes do a much better job than bristle brushes. Smoother finish and works better to get stain into detail.Using weight to keep the boards flat BEFORE using hardware is important. Slender planks that are side by side tend to make the work bow. Keep it flat!I added the fluer de lis design using a dremel tool bit.Then used a dark stain to protect and give contrast.Oil based spar varnish for the finish. This photo is BEFORE the varnish. (NOTE: Normally Board and Batten shutters have an 1/8\" to 1/4\" space between boards to allow for expansion/contraction. I chose not to. Instead I radioused each corner edge [this reduced the pressure during expansion] and did not over tighten the pocket screws. AND make sure to NOT use glue. You need to allow for movement.)Wet sand for a smooth sprayed-on look. I go nuts... went up to 1500....and Voila!I was inspired to do this because driving down my street I noticed everyone had the same fake (hollow) louvered shutters!The house gets SERIOUS blazing sun from noon onward! Been up for three years now. No cracking or splitting. via /r/DIY https://ift.tt/2MUzmWB
