"Oval Windows, sometimes called eliptical windows, are a nice addition to any homes facade. There is often a need to treat these shaped
windows when they end up in a closet area (concern with fading on
clothing) or in a bathroom (often in powder baths) as they frequently
do.
Here is a recent inquiry we received about an oval window, and our
response with the customer:
Customer Request– Hi there
Wood Shutters. I have an oval bathroom window for which I’m looking for shutters the
hieght is 30? and the width is 40-1/2? I’m not sure if I prefer the fan
-like, or horizontal louvre orientation, but would like someone to
contact me to see what you guys can do.
Our Reply– Thanks for taking the time to contact us. The oval plantation
shutters are among the most beautiful we make. There are a couple of
things you might bear in mind regarding your preferences.
As a woodworker I look first at function. Because of the shape and the
way the louvers interact with the shape, a horizontal louvered panel
should allow for more overall direct light (or sightline) to the
outside. We sculpt the back edges of the louvers so that they will open
to 90 degrees. There would be a slight ‘glue-in’ piece (typically not
more than 1/2 of one louver width) to act as a light stop top and
bottom. That means that with the louvers fully opened, there would be a
slight appearance of “flattening” of the oval shape top and bottom.
Most of the ovals we see are oriented taller than wider. The horizontal
louvers in your case would add a little to your cost because they
exceed our recommendation for maximum width. We could however orient the
louvers vertically
Wooden Moulding. They would either close to the left or the right depending on how you
installed it and again should open to 90 degrees. I would opt for either
of these if your view to the outside (or maximum natural light coming
in) is your goal.
Alternately, a fan shape with all louvers radiating out from a center
oval hub has a very nice visual appeal from the interior and exterior,
but louver operation is more limited. If you look at the window like a
clock, the louvers at 12, 3, 6, and 9 would open virtually fully. The
louvers at 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, and 10:30 wouldn’t open far at all. All
louvers would operate independently of one another within the parameters
I mentioned. This is perhaps better if indirect natural light is
desired, and/or if your view to the outside world is less than stellar.
Again, as a woodworker, I think this option is the most beautiful and
reflects the architecture of the window itself in the best way, but
isn’t as functional as the horizontal/vertical option. Regardless, I
would need a template of the opening to build it.
Customer’s Reply– Reading your response, I realized I had the height
and width reversed, so ours is taller than wide, which, as you point
out, is the norm. Would a tracing of the window frame work for you as a
template?
goodwood Reponse– You know, the thing I really like about fabricating
custom shutters is that even after nearly 19 years with goodwood, I
still haven’t seen it all as a lot of architects/designers/window
manufacturers/contractors all like to have their own ‘signature’
designs. While I have seen some ovals wider than tall, most are indeed
taller than wide…just thought I’d make mention of it because it had the
potential to affect pricing. Otherwise, there’s no difference in your
cost between the options.
A tracing of the opening will work just fine
Polyurethane Moulding. Most of our window treatment pros do that on ‘butcher paper’, roll it
up and send it over in a mailing tube. Some will make their tracing,
transfer it to cardboard and put the cardboard in the window to verify
before sending it (the cardboard) to us. It’s okay if the template is
taped together and folded. We’ve seen templates made from the Sunday
comics even!
A comment on the fan louvers. Did you notice the size of the hub
(center circle)? At goodwood we keep that in proportion to your opening
size so that it complements your window. No short cuts here…… Sure its a
bit more work and requires more hand shaping of the louvers
Good Wood, but its worth it in the appearance of the finished product."
"Exterior Shutters are a small segment of what we do, but occasionally
someone will want a plantation style exterior shutter and turn to
goodwood for help with their project.
There seems to be some confusion about what makes a plantation shutter
exterior or interior grade, so here is a brief explanation of what to
look for in an exterior shutter.
Wood Species– exterior shutters that stand the test of time are made of
western red cedar, cypress (pecky or clear), or mahogany. These woods
naturally repel water and insects, making them the longest lasting most
durable choice. not to mention the beauty of handcrafted mahogany
shutters!
Fasteners and Glue– Make sure your manufacturer is using exterior grade
glue and stainless steel staples (found on moveable louvers).
Otherwise, the joints of the shutter will fail and the fasteners will
quickly rust. This is especially true if your home is near ocean air,
as salt can be very corrosive.
Finish: A marine quality finish is recommended. A good finish will
protect your purchase, so don’t skimp in this area. Shutters used for
exterior projects made by goodwood can be ordered with a marine finish,
or raw and you can source the finish work yourself.
Even with a great finish, maintenance will be required. Your shutters
should have a new protective coat added to them every few years. It
varies depending on your climate and their exposure to the elements how
often this needs to be done. It is a good idea to look them over ever
year for signs of damage.
