Thanks in advance to anyone who looks at this. I’ve been working on a whole house renovation job building some custom built-ins. (I think my whole shop is now on site!) Anyway, the GC on the job asked me to build some raised panel shutters. And, since I was set up making doors I said sure! Here’s my question. Has anyone ever made shutters (exterior) out of this PVC trim material ? I’m using 5/4 for the stiles and rails and 3/4 material for the raised panels. The material tools well and I was told I could use PVC cement to glue the stiles and rails. I’m going to make the panels tomorrow and start assembling. Just wonder how the expansion / contraction factor is going to play out. The shutters are going to replace wood ones and will be mounted on hinges.
Once again, thanks for any comments!
P. Powell
Good times, riches and Son of a _itches
I’ve seen more than I can recall.
J. Buffett
Replies
The shutters are going to replace wood ones and will be mounted on hinges.
Dude....till you said that, I was with you all the way. But PVC has NO structural strength. It can't hold it's own weight unless it's fastened to something else. What that imeans is that you can't make functioning raised panel shutters out of the stuff, unless you also include a framwork of steel or aluminum (or something!)
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Hey! Thanks for commenting. I assembled one yesterday. It seems to be pretty sturdy. As I mentioned the shutters will be replacing wood shutters mounted with hinges. They really are not true functioning shutters. The existing ones have dogs to hold them back but every shutter is the same size, (14") and they are mounted on 36" windows. The home is not hysterical (historical) so the end result is for appearance and life span. I'm going to try hanging one and see what happens!!!! I'll keep you posted. I'll post a pic of my sample as soon as I figure out how to do it.
Thanks again!
P. PowellGood times, riches and Son of a _itches
I've seen more than I can recall.
J. Buffett
They really are not true functioning shutters.
I feel better since yo said that. Go ahead and put the hinges and the dogs in place -- that will make them look authentic. But be certain to add at least 6 screws per shutter that go into the sheathing. Those screws will avoid problems with the lack of structural integrity.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Seems to me that PVC wouldn't expand and contract like wood, and even if it did it would be as one unit with the same expansion/contraction in every direction, since the parts are glued. I don't think you need to be concerned--they can't split like wood if restrained.
Seems to me that PVC wouldn't expand and contract like wood,
Absolutely true. Wood expands (in one direction) based on humidity. PVC expands in all directions, based on temperature.
And it still has ABSOLUTELY NO structural strength. The stuff truly can't hold it's own weight. It must be secured to wood framing, or sheathing, at multiple points.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.