Splendid timber of choice is solid basswood. This sustainable timber is light weight, a good insulator, stores carbon, long lasting and very stable. We use cedar not only when a natural timber finish is required, it's used in our white painted shutters as well as in louvres and screens. This is not the industry norm, paint often hides many compromises for the unwary.

Unfortunately others use 'manufactured' or 'engineered timbers' – cheap pieces of wood from a variety of unstable timbers which are glued together to create one piece. Some imported shutters, sold as western red cedar, are in actual fact an 'engineered timber' core with a cedar veneer surface glued on. This is a cheap alternative for the manufacturer but offers little benefit to the end user. Wherever glue is used there is a risk of de-lamination and cracking .

Splendid shaped louvers and shutters open and closeOur master craftsmen love a challenge. Over the years they have shown whenever a designer asks us to create a shutter in an unusual shape, they can generally make it with blades that can open and close. From oval plantation shutters for homes, to the 6meter diameter motorised cedar louvre pictured in our factory prior to install .

This heritage roof gable louvre, pictured below, is a perfect example of how we can solve architect's problems. The original was a timber vent with fixed louvres. Our team replicated the proportions and original features in western red cedar, with blades that now can be adjusted to let in light and air, or closed to shed rain.