Choose A Finish
Elizabeth Shutters paints shutters in every imaginable color. Occasionally, we even paint them in multiple colors to match personalized color schemes. We use six standard colors including popular shades of "bright white", "off white" and "Swiss Coffee." Beyond these basics we offer color matching to standard color samples from major paint manufacturers or to any swatch, photo, wood chip, chair leg or rock sample you can bring us.
Elizabeth Shutters offers multiple textures for a more distinctive finish. Our classic acrylic smooth finish sets a standard in the wood shutter industry for richness and consistency. In addition, we have our own sandblasting operation and can custom "age" your shutters on demand. Sandblasting erodes the surface of wood without altering its structural integrity. The surface is exposed to a jet of "sand" that wears away softer portions of the wood grain and creates a highly textured grain detail similar in many respects to driftwood. This weathered look is easy to clean and richer in texture, but has virtually the same functionality as smooth shutters. We also offer scoring, aging and antiquing for customers that want an even more personalized finish.
Lacquer Vs Water-Based Paint
Prior to 2001, shutter manufacturers painted with Lacquer or Acrylic, rather than Water-Based Paint. The paints have the following characteristics and advantages:
| Characteristic/Paint with this advantage | Water-based | Lacquer/Acrylic |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (won't chip) | X | |
| Strength (won't crack) | X | |
| UV Resistance (won't fade or yellow) | X | |
| Water-Resistance (won't bubble) | X | |
| Fill Rate (smooth finish) | X | |
| Color Retention | X | |
| Less Runny (even finish) | X | |
| Even Coverage (fewer bare spots, less bleed-thru) | X | |
| Higher Percentage of Paint Solids (consistent color) | X | |
| Lower VOC emissions (less polluting) | X |
Since 2001, the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has greatly decreased the allowable VOCs (pollutants) generated by painting shutters. In response, shutter manufacturers have switched to Water-Based paints with fewer VOCs. As outlined above, Water-Based paint is better for our environment, but not nearly as good for your shutters.
Elizabeth Shutters has taken a different path. Elizabeth Shutters has invested over $500,000 in pollution-control equipment to reduce paint emissions 98.7%. As a result, Elizabeth Shutters' Lacquer and Acrylic paints are safer for the environment than water-based paint. Elizabeth Shutters is fully in compliance with the AQMD and one of several California companies, including IBM, Motorola, Mercedes Benz and General Motors to invest in this vital technology. According to the equipment manufacturer (Munters Corporation), Elizabeth Shutters is the only shutter company in the world to make this investment. Elizabeth Shutters is the only major shutter company in Southern California legally painting with lacquer and acrylic.
