home-made shutters
 

Could all you creative minds out there help me make some internal window
shutters? The drafty windows are set in 2ft thick stone walls and are all
sorts of shapes and sizes. I would like them to be solid not louvred, in
keeping with the old look of the house. I really can't spend much on them
though, and while my joinery skills/ tools might be fairly basic, I've done
wonders making cupboard doors and boxing in open plan stairs with left over
laminate floor boards so don't mind trying to make cheap rubbish look ok. I
was wondering about using those mdf vertical panelling sheets as I quite
like that look. Or just plain panels of mdf/ cheap wood would maybe be
cheapest - or.........???

Any thoughts, ideas and experiences would be great. Thanks.
Liz

home-made shutters
 

"EN" wrote in message
...
Could all you creative minds out there help me make some internal window
shutters? The drafty windows are set in 2ft thick stone walls and are all
sorts of shapes and sizes. I would like them to be solid not louvred, in
keeping with the old look of the house. I really can't spend much on them
though, and while my joinery skills/ tools might be fairly basic, I've
done
wonders making cupboard doors and boxing in open plan stairs with left
over
laminate floor boards so don't mind trying to make cheap rubbish look ok.
I
was wondering about using those mdf vertical panelling sheets as I quite
like that look. Or just plain panels of mdf/ cheap wood would maybe be
cheapest - or.........???

Any thoughts, ideas and experiences would be great. Thanks.


I'd be tempted to make a "frame" that is fixed to the window reveals, so
that you have a nice regular area to cover with doors. Then try an use some
of the cheapish pre-made doors from one of the diy sheds (eg B&Q or Wickes).
Not the cheapest solution but, if your skills aren't that good, maybe the
best.

Have you considered shutters outside- something a little "rustic" doesn't
look so bad on the outside of an old house. Plus you don't loose window
sills etc.


--
73
Brian, G8OSN
www.g8osn.org.uk

home-made shutters
 

In article ,
says...
Could all you creative minds out there help me make some internal window
shutters? The drafty windows are set in 2ft thick stone walls and are all
sorts of shapes and sizes. I would like them to be solid not louvred, in
keeping with the old look of the house. I really can't spend much on them
though, and while my joinery skills/ tools might be fairly basic, I've done
wonders making cupboard doors and boxing in open plan stairs with left over
laminate floor boards so don't mind trying to make cheap rubbish look ok. I
was wondering about using those mdf vertical panelling sheets as I quite
like that look. Or just plain panels of mdf/ cheap wood would maybe be
cheapest - or.........???

If you can cut a straight line in MDF you can make quite effective
panels simply by gluing strips of 6mm MDF onto both sides of a sheet of
6mm MDF. Smooth the edges, slap on a few coats of paint and nobody need
know that they aren't "real". If you have a router you can tart them up
a bit by chamfering or moulding appropriate edges.

home-made shutters
 

"Rob Morley" wrote in message
t...
In article ,
says...
Could all you creative minds out there help me make some internal window
shutters? The drafty windows are set in 2ft thick stone walls and are
all
sorts of shapes and sizes. I would like them to be solid not louvred, in
keeping with the old look of the house. I really can't spend much on
them
though, and while my joinery skills/ tools might be fairly basic, I've
done
wonders making cupboard doors and boxing in open plan stairs with left
over
laminate floor boards so don't mind trying to make cheap rubbish look ok.
I
was wondering about using those mdf vertical panelling sheets as I quite
like that look. Or just plain panels of mdf/ cheap wood would maybe be
cheapest - or.........???

If you can cut a straight line in MDF you can make quite effective
panels simply by gluing strips of 6mm MDF onto both sides of a sheet of
6mm MDF. Smooth the edges, slap on a few coats of paint and nobody need
know that they aren't "real". If you have a router you can tart them up
a bit by chamfering or moulding appropriate edges.

You can get louvred shutters with no gaps in the louvres,
i.e. they are solid. They make them in pretty well all permutations of sizes
in 3" multiples, e.g. 12x15" or 24x36" or 27x30" etc etc. I don't know the
make but my local builders' merchants has them ( Devon ).

Andy

home-made shutters
 

"EN" wrote in message
...
Could all you creative minds out there help me make some internal window
shutters? The drafty windows are set in 2ft thick stone walls and are all
sorts of shapes and sizes. I would like them to be solid not louvred, in
keeping with the old look of the house. I really can't spend much on them
though, and while my joinery skills/ tools might be fairly basic, I've
done
wonders making cupboard doors and boxing in open plan stairs with left
over
laminate floor boards so don't mind trying to make cheap rubbish look ok.
I
was wondering about using those mdf vertical panelling sheets as I quite
like that look. Or just plain panels of mdf/ cheap wood would maybe be
cheapest - or.........???

Any thoughts, ideas and experiences would be great. Thanks.
Liz

An alternative might be to fit secondary glazing inside the windows. It'll
kill off your draughts the house would be warmer and you'll still be able to
see through the windows. The house we have was fitted with them when we
moved in and they have been great. they're only very basic units - single
glass working like sliding doors and of very simple construction.

Just a thought.

Paul