Kestrel Shutter Specifications

These next few pages are here to show you the how's, what's and why's of a Kestrel Shutter.

Please take a moment to discover what we will do to make
your new wood shutters an exceptional value.

Kestrel interior shutters are made from FAS kiln dried Basswood. We use this Pennsylvanian hardwood wood for our interior shutters because of it's light weight and it's renowned stability. With it's smooth, clean graining Basswood is well suited to either stain or paint but can be left in it's natural cream color.

Kestrel exterior shutters are made from FAS kiln dried Spanish Cedar. This wood may be more familiar to you as "cigar box wood". Spanish Cedar has always been the traditional wood for humidors / cigar boxes because of it's natural ability to breathe out moisture. This is what makes it such a wise choice for exterior shutters. Instead of holding in the moisture, like pine or oak, Spanish Cedar will automatically balance out it's moisture content, preventing it from rotting. This is also a benefit from a finishing stand point. Shutters made from Spanish Cedar do not need to be primed and will never need treating. Think of the savings you will realize from never having to upkeep your shutters. Another benefit of Spanish Cedar, one that places it ahead of all other cedars, is that it is a hardwood. Where all other cedars are softwoods, unable to take physical punishment, Spanish Cedar is extremely hard allowing your shutter to survive even the harshest of storms and hurricanes.

Anatomy of a Kestrel Shutter

Pegged Mortise-and-Tenon - Sometimes "the way they used to do it" is still the best way.
click here to discover why!

Louver Tenons - Each louver blade is milled at either end to create tenons which allow it to spin easily. Like our pegged mortise and tenon joints, this is the traditional way. We do not use plastic or steel pins which can bind, hampering movement.

Balanced Louvers - No one likes to have louver blades that flop. When you open the blades, you want them to stay in that position until YOU change your mind. We make sure that your louvers will always remain in whatever position you place them, for as long as you want them to stay. Instead of using some mechanical device which will wear out over time, we make each louver tenon off centered to counterbalance the weight of the tilt rod. This way you remain in control of your shutters.
Brass Eyelets - Staples can eventually fall out from normal expansion and contraction. This is why we do not use them. Instead, every louver blade in your shutter is properly secured to the tilt bar with a threaded, solid brass eyelet, screwed into predrilled holes.