14" Wide Standard Size Four Board Joined Shutters, w/Installation Screws (Per Pair)

"Buy American!" might sound like nothing more than a slogan advanced by American manufacturers to sell products made in the USA, but the truth is that there are many reasons to consider buying American-made goods.

At Pacific Columns, Inc. we not only manufacture several of our products in the USA but we are also diligent in partnering with other US based manufacturers.

We've listed just a few of the benefits of "Buying American" below:

Top Ten Reasons to Buy "Made in the USA" Products:

1. Foreign labor standards allow unsafe worker conditions in many countries. When you buy American you support not only American manufacturers but also American workers, safe working conditions, and child labor laws.
2. Jobs shipped abroad almost never return. When you buy goods made in the USA, you help keep the American economy growing.
3. US manufacturing processes are much cleaner for the environment than many other countries. When you purchase American-made products, you know that you're helping to keep the world a little cleaner for future generations.
4. Many countries have no minimum wage restrictions, or the minimum wage is outrageously low. When you choose products made in the USA, you contribute to the payment of an honest day's wages for an honest day's work.
5. The growing lack of USA ability to manufacture many products is strategically unsound. When you seek out American-made goods, you foster American independence.
6. The huge US trade deficit leads to massive, unsustainable borrowing from other countries. Debt isn't good for you and it isn't good for America.
7. Foreign product safety standards are low. For example, poisonous levels of lead are in tens of millions of toys shipped to the USA. When you buy toys and other goods made in the USA, you can be confident that American consumer protection laws and safety standards are in place to protect you and your family.
8. Lack of minimum wage, worker safety, or environmental pollution controls in many countries undermines the concept of "fair and free trade". No Western nation can ultimately compete on price with a country willing to massively exploit and pollute its own people. When you buy American made products, you insist on a higher standard.
9. Factories and money are shifting to countries not friendly to the USA or democracy. When you avoid imported goods in favor of American-made items, you help ensure that the United States doesn't find its access to vital goods impacted by political conflict.
10. As the US manufacturing ability fades, future generations of US citizens will be unable to find relevant jobs. Buy American and help keep your friends and neighbors-and even yourself-earning a living wage.

The most rustic looking of popular exterior shutter styles, board and batten house shutters were the most common type of shutter in America until the mid-18th century, when lighter and open louver shutters became more common. The board and batten shutters could be bolted and were thick, sturdy and good at protecting homes from inclement weather and intruders. Today they are most often used as ornamentation that brings back the charm of that era in our history.

Style and Function
Although the name board and batten makes you think wood, as they were originally made from wood boards, they are often made today in inexpensive and durable vinyl. Exterior vinyl shutters, made of urethane materials, are resistant to cracking or rotting from sun or water damage, and require less maintenance than traditional wood shutters. Home improvement stores offer a wide variety of board and batten shutters. Widths of these types of house shutters usually vary more than louvered or raised panel shutters, and really allow you to achieve a unique look through the different sizes and styles. Some board and batten shutters have spaces between the vertical boards, to allow sunlight and air to pass through. The number of vertical boards typically ranges between two and five, with a board crossing these horizontally at the top and bottom. They are also available curved at the top for rounded window openings.