One of the less thought-of woodworking projects can actually be one of the most detailed and complicated that you ever undertake, but also one of the most fun. Shutter woodworking plans can be bought in huge volumes if you know where to look, but even then you have a lot of things to consider. Once you factor in color, finishing, style, and shape, you have a truly enormous number of possibilities. And don't forget price, which is affected a lot by what material you choose to use (vinyl and faux wood are available, but real wood shutters are by far the best investment).
Shutter woodworking plans are rather cheap. It's the wood that is the primary expense. Because of this, it is recommended that you purchase or look through several plans so you can decide exactly what look you want before you begin work. The benefits of wood though over other shutter materials make it worth the cost though. First of all, faux wood and vinyl are both rather fragile in comparison to real wood, and they also age quicker in both appearance and texture. Fake materials are also more prone to warp, crack, and bend when exposed to natural elements like prolonged sunlight and extensive precipitation.
Shutter woodworking plans also emphasize energy efficiency in general. One of the important parts of these plans is that the shutter set-up be quite secure in how it handles heat and energy. Well-made shutters are free from surface irregularities, gaps, and cracks, all of which can let in cold or let heat escape, or vice versa. Once the shutters have been well-cut, they can then be assembled correctly to keep humidity and precipitation out of the house.
When choosing your shutter woodworking plans, be sure to keep dimensions in mind. Don't buy plans for three-foot shutters if you only need to cover a two-foot wide window, as that counts as wasted material. Also make sure you keep in mind the style of the shutter that you will be hoping for, as well as the method by which you want to hang the shutters (as a good example, shutters that are intended to open and close are measured quite differently than those that are supposed to be fixed). Ill-fitting shutters can actually be quite costly, as they might let heat escape (which will be less efficient on your energy bill) or they might damage the visual appeal of your house.
