How to Tell if Your Home is Missing Shutters

Was your home originally built with exterior shutters? It’s not always easy to tell. If you’ve been the sole occupants of your house then you already know the answer. Asking if your home could use custom exterior shutters is a different conversation entirely.

Back in the day, exterior shutters came and went with the seasons and the storms. Some homeowners put shutters up seasonally, perhaps to avoid having to close them in the winter months and then install them again every summer. If you haven’t seen any older photos of your home, there’s still a way to find out if you had exterior shutters and if they were functional.

Take a look at the top center of your window sill. If there are one or two metal brackets or a recessed part, those are evidence of shutter hardware. You can also look for holes from hooks or catches on the exterior wall next to the window. Arguably the most telling sign would be hinge brackets or plates that are still on the frame or screw holes to show where the hinge would have been.

Irregularities in the paint on your siding could be evidence since many homeowners grew lazy with closing shutters and more than likely didn’t even bother to paint underneath them. If the shutters were never closed, debris caught behind could have left marks on the siding as well.

Not sure what shutter style the original exterior shutters were? Take a look at our detailed house style guide. If you still have any questions call 800-250-2221 to speak to our expert Sales and Design Consultants.