We own a bungalow in Daytona Beach that faces directly north, which means that in the mornings and afternoons the deepest sides to the east and west get hit by the sun. Long term we'd like to replace the old sash windows with double glazing, but as things stand the sun hitting on the glass generates a lot of heat during the summer. We've also tried to alleviate the situation by having extra insulation put in the roof.

We're tossing up between installing awnings or Bahama shutters on the six windows that take most of the hit from the sun. Awnings are considerably cheaper but will only last a few years before they start to fade - that's if we don't get a tropical storm or hurricane coming through and blowing them off! Costing for the Bahama shutters seems to run to $500 - $700 each, which adds up to a fair bit.

I have a fully kitted out woodworking shop and could, with a bit of planning, make the Bahama shutters for a fraction of the cost, but I'm not sure how the end result would stand up to the elements, especially the slats. Has anyone on here ever made them, and can recommend an appropriate wood that could stand up the heat and monsoonal rains once painted?

Thanks in advance.

 

Most woods will survive if properly painted. The hard part is finding quality wood that is straight and won't warp. Mahogany, teak, cypress, cedar, redwood, ipe and many tropical woods are naturally resistant to rot and are often used outside but are pricey. You could also consider using vinyl so you don't have to worry about rotting and reduce the need for paint. Or, you could use different materials like have a local metal shop cut your slats out of metal (stainless steel would be best, aluminum or steel) and install them in a wood frame.

 

Thanks for that. I might try and give it a whirl with the appropriate woods. Going the stainless steel route sounds expense enough that it would likely be as expensive as buying the commercially available units.