Shutter Framing and Finishing Process

Various framing and finishing options for your custom wood shutters personalize them to your needs.

Shutter Frame Styles

Once we receive your millwork from O’Hair Shutters the appropriate frame for your style of window opening or door is constructed. Frames can be made for both square and arched windows. All but a very few shutters are installed using some type of frame. Square, frameless shutters installed directly in out-of-square openings result in uneven reveals and a poor appearance. Frames allow us to create a perfectly square opening for your shutters while disguising imperfections in the shape of the window. The following are common types of frames based on our region’s typical style of windows and methods of construction..

Framing

Z-Frame
A “Z-frame” is most commonly used on sheetrock openings. The style of frame wraps the window’s edge hiding imperfections behind the frame. The portion of the frame that overlaps the wall gives the window a custom, wood-case appearance. When professionally installed a “Z-Frame” can take a poorly constructed opening and make it appear square.




L-Frame
Wood cased windows, with or without a recessed area, and doors are treated with an “L-Frame” installation. This frame style is installed in a range of conditions; from partially to fully recessed within a wood cased area, to completely surface mounted on a window with no recess or a door. There are many variations of this frame style to deal with virtually all non-sheetrock applications.

Painted and Stained Finishes

A Furniture Quality Finish that Looks Original to Your Home
Once the product is framed it is thoroughly inspected and prepared for a premium, furniture quality finish. We offer numerous standard painted and stained finishes and a custom match is always available. Quality shutter installations should result in a treatment that looks like it was installed and finished with the woodwork in your home. A good match is critical for a quality, custom appearance.

The Importance of Using Water Based Paint vs. Oil Based Paint
Paint technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, however the majority of shutter companies still use common, inexpensive, noxious oil based paint. Oil based paint is cheap and forgiving to apply which is of benefit to the shutter supplier, however, the use of oil based paint has many drawbacks to you as a consumer.

We use high quality, 100% acrylic, water based paint. This provides one of the most durable, long-lasting finishes available in the paint industry. It dries quicker than oil based paint and forms a harder finish that stands up much better over time. Colors also stay truer much longer with water based paint because it will not yellow, fade or chalk like oil based paint. We also care about the environment both inside your home and out. One of the great benefits of water based paint is the lack of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) chemical offgassing. Oil based painted shutters tend to have a very strong odor that will permeate your home for months after installation. This is the VOC chemicals offgassing and contaminating the air you and your family breathe. Water based paint is very low odor and dissipates quickly leaving no harmful chemicals in your home. Another benefit of using water based paint is the simple clean up process which does not require toxic chemicals that are costly, dangerous, and harmful to the environment if not properly handled. Water based paint is clearly the superior choice for a high quality, durable, and environmentaly friendly finish.

Stained Finishes Bring Out the Beauty of Real Wood Shutters
We offer a wide range of standard stained finishes that represent the most popular color choices used in today’s residential construction. While these standard finishes provide an outstanding match in many cases, a custom match is always available. Matches can be performed using a drawer, shelf, piece of trim or flooring, or any other item from the home that is the desired color. Our in-house, professional Finish Color Technition will match the desired tone and color, then prepare a sample for customer approval. The shutters will be professionally finished using various types of stain and finishing methods to acheive the exact finish desired once the sample has been approved.