• Est. 1998. Proudly supplying WA customers with quality shutters and blinds for 25 years!

Timber Guide

The choice of timber for your shutters will determine their life, durability and look.

Why choose timber shutters

In winter a house looses heat from the glass windows, and in the summer, the heat from the sun radiates in through the glass windows. There basically is no insulation value in glass. A shutter, blind or curtain improves the situation because it creates air pocket between the glass and the shutter, blind or curtain. The thicker (more insulating) the covering the better. Western Red Cedar shutters and heavy-duty curtains give the best overall results for life span and insulating properties. These two options require the biggest upfront investment but they last longer.

Shutters have the advantage over heavy-duty curtains, of better control of light, airflow and privacy. Shutters are also easier to dust and clean. We would recommend shutters as the better long-term investment over curtains, because with care, they should never need replacing and they add value to your home. The conduction of heat in wood is directly related to its density. Woods with low density have the highest thermal insulating value because such woods contain a high proportion of cell cavities. In dry wood, these cavities are filled with air which is one of the best known thermal insulators.
  • Western Red Cedar
  • Paulownia
  • Popular
With its low density and high proportion of air spaces, Western Red Cedar is the best thermal insulator among the commonly available softwood species and is far superior to brick, concrete and steel.

Western Red Cedar has been used by the Egyptians over 4,000 years ago and found it the pyramids, this is valid proof of quality and of its high standard in usage before shutters were ever created. Indians used to carve their totems out of Western Red Cedar which are still standing today and they used to build canoes using the same wood. Western red cedar varies from pale pinkish-brown to dark brown. It is the lightest weight softwood in common commercial use; western red cedar is some 25% lighter than European redwood.

Most commonly used as vertical cladding and external weatherboards, furniture and is popular for garden buildings and greenhouses as well as a deck covering. It is used, for roofing shingles (especially in America).

Western Red Ceder Benefits

Western Red Cedar is slow growing and has small cells.
Lowest shrinking factor of any softwood.
When it’s laid flat, will stay straight.
It has natural true straight grain.
Insect repellent Presence of Thujic acid which is a natural repellent.
Acoustic properties Natural insulation and absorption.
Density 12%mc.
Natural Durable Resits rot and decay with natural preservatives.
Slow growing wood, small cells don’t let heat or moisture in.
Accepts entire spectrum of finishes Natural freedom from resin.
Fine grain.
Applying oils will complement the wood.
Painting the wood will make it fit into its surroundings.
Low density so it holds the heat in or keeps it out.
Indoor/Outdoor usage
Can be use for indoor and outdoor alike.
Western Red Cedar is a preferred wood for nearly all purposes where attractive appearance and resistance to weather is important.
Recently, Paulownia has received a great deal of interest for its environmental properties and has been put forward as a potential solution to the global deforestation problem which lies at the heart of the climate change debate. It is being used as a reforestation tree in several countries, including Australia, Germany, China, the USA and Panama. The Paulownia, a hardwood, has been grown in China for at least 2600 years. It may well hold the record for history’s oldest plantation tree. The decorative grain of Paulownia timber is soft and easy to work, versatile, dimensionally stable for its weight and does not easily warp or split and will take on and release moisture without damage and is highly rot resistant. Paulownia is not attractive to termites, and independent tests conducted in Western Australia show Paulownia to have less attraction to termites than Pine or Jarrah.

Paulownia is ideal for blinds and shutters, being neither too heavy nor too light, but still offering a reasonable amount of hardness, thus giving a good resistance to knocks and bumps and resistance to bowing and warping when kiln dried. The wood is also insect, rot and fire resistant.Paulownia is a reasonably quick growing timber, and is readily available. The plantation forests are managed for sustainability, ensuring an environmentally friendly and ongoing supply.

Environmental Benefits

  • Can be commercially harvested in five to seven years.
  • Roots can go 40 feet deep and regulate the water table preventing dry land salinity.
  • The tree has a high atmospheric carbon uptake rate and therefore helps against the greenhouse effect turning CO2 into Carbon that is locked up in timber and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
  • Lightweight with excellent weight-strength ratio.
  • Afforestation of degraded land areas results in control of erosion and nitrate contamination.
  • Able to regenerate from the stump very fast, resuming growth immediately.
  • Hardwood is fire-resistant. Ignition temperatures are between 400 to 450° compared to the hardwood average of 220 to 235°.
  • This timber carries a Forest Stewardship Council certificate (licence code FSC-C028206).
  • This certificate ensures that the timber is planted and harvested in an environmentally appropriate manner. Resistant to warping and bowing when kiln dried.
  • White Teak is a hardwood and one of the hardest, strongest and most durable of all natural woods.
  • As well as being resistant to rotting, if constructed correctly, it is very strong making it suitable for panelling, cabinetry, doors, window frames, shutters, blinds, making toys, pencils, picture frames and premium food stuff packaging (where hygiene and appearance is critical).
Poplar timber carries a Forest Stewardship Council certificate.

This certificate ensures that the timber is planted and harvested in an environmentally appropriate manner.

Poplar is a harder timber than Basswood. Therefore will stand up well to knocks and bumps. Resistant to warping and bowing when kiln dried. High resistance to swelling or shrinking, or warping, and is very lightweight. The tree is also rarely attacked by parasites. Commonly used for light construction, furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, shutters, musical instruments, exterior trim and siding, paneling, mouldings and millwork, edge-glued panels, turnings and carvings.