Advice with shutters, please?

[argus]

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I need to consider a few things and wonder if I can consult the collected wisdom?

I have been asked to consider making some traditional external louvred window shutters for a person with a house in the south of France. (Dunno why he doesn’t get a local to do it).
They will in fact be faux shutters, insofar as they will be fixed in place and not to be closed.

I’m a normal furniture maker (if there is such a thing) - needless to say, I’ve never made these things before, but I guess it’s not rocket science, as they say.

1)
What material? It has to be reasonably light (the shutters are not structural), durable, and able to withstand a southern French climate – i.e. lots of sun. I was thinking of Western Red Cedar, or Douglas fir. It will all eventually be painted.

2)
I’m going to use external quality glue. My normal glue will be Evostik exterior. Is there anything more suitable, given the potential for heat?

3)
Any tips on accurately cutting lots (I mean lots and lots) of angled slots for the slats?

Thanks in advance for the advice when it comes.

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[mrgrimsdale]

Sounds a crap idea. South of France - he really needs real shutters, they are brilliant in the summer.
If they must be false, hang them slats angled inwards otherwise they look false from miles away - and everybody will know he's a mad british berk!!
Mind you they'll know that anyway with it being the only house for miles around with the shutters open in high summer.

cheers
Jacob

[cadas]

I own and run an joinery shop here in southern France and would offer the following:

1. Shutters are essential and not decorative, UK owners usually discover this in the second year, so build yours to be used.

2. They are built from oak or 'bois exotique' (a generic term for one of the various hardwoods that are freely available from timber merchants) Softwoods will only last a season or two if lucky.

3. Most French joiners have the cutters to make these, they seem to come as standard sets as dims are traditional/

4. Glue, these shutters 'must' be morticed and tennoned with pegs, with loose slats, the climate will destroy most glues except epoxy, so they must be able to accommodate this, plus if he wants to keep them open you have to cope with damp side against wall and hot side exposed.

Shutters aren't cheap here because that are serious items of joinery and not merely decorative, probably why your client wants to get them done in the UK.

PM me for more info

[dom]

I can third the above, I have a house in Northern italy and even there the shutters are kept closed in the summer, they really are a must.
Great service Cadas ;D

Argus I believe Brimarc are selling either a DVD or plans by Norm which tell you how to make a jig

[argus]

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Cadas and Dom,

Thank you both for the sound advice. It reinforces a niggling thought that I had about this - namely material and fixing media.....

I'm already making some furniture for this guy, so all this about shutters came as an extra - an afterthought really.

One other thing is that the local authority, probably the Mairie, has stipulated the paint colour, so I have advised him to go back and check on any other consents to be obtained , thinking that materials and the underlying idea of a faux shutter may not agree with local rules.

It is, by all accounts, a modern property .

But, the customer is always right,..... even when he's wrong.


Thanks, guys.



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[mrgrimsdale]

argus said:

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But, the customer is always right,..... even when he's wrong.

Not if you are a professional. It's your job to tell him what he really needs , even if he needs nothing and you don't get a job out of it.
If he insists on something stupid just say no - let some other t**t do it, there's plenty of cowboys about.

I know it sounds a bit severe but you can build a reputation for reliability on it, and you get to do a better class of work. Those who want cheapo bodges leave you alone.
What's more you don't have crap jobs in your portfolio - which might put off good clients.

cheers
Jacob
PS I've heard of other similar brit/french building fiascos: the 2nd home owners who found french winter really cold and fitted plastic DG with little opening top lights, and false shutters. Come the summer and the place would just about self ignite. They'd sit about outside in their baggy khaki shorts, sandals and socks, wondering how people could put up with the heat ;D ;D

[paulchapman]

You could also remind them that it does sometimes get very cold during the winter, even in the South of France, and shutters are a good way of deflecting the wind and keeping the house warmer when it's blowing a gale. My Mum and Dad lived in Spain for a few years and I can assure you that it can get very cold in December and January, even in hot countries.

Cheers

Paul

[dom]

Mine are subjected to, extremely hot in the summer 95 degrees is very common, to 4' of snow in the winter.
Yet they are only varnished every 5 or 6 years and always look great. I've never thought to ask what they use, so will find out next visit.

[paulchapman]

dom said:

I've never thought to ask what they use

So you have servants out there as well......... ;D

[dom]

Well, yes, doesn't everyone ;D

[argus]

paulchapman said:

dom said:

I've never thought to ask what they use

So you have servants out there as well......... ;D

Come the revolution, we'll all have servants..... no, that's not quite right....

Vladimir Illich Ulyanov.

[engineerone]

i think he meant he would have servants

paul