The pond dig has begun!

[MitchM]

That roof looks sharp, CE!

 

[RobAmy]

That roof looks sharp, CE!

Well of course it does its metal Mitch

Nice job

 

[j.w]

Very nice job on your roof CE and I usually just see shutters on the front of most homes. Had them on our last house and only in front

 

[CountryEscape]

Does anyone have any negative thoughts on shutters ... like wasps get under them or they are hard to clean or they fade or anything like that? I would paint them with the same paint as on the front door, so they would match everything. I had the paint mixed to match perfectly with the barn roof, which is the same color as the house roof, so not worried about them not matching. I think I agree, JW, I've only seen them on the front of houses. Just seems like it would dress up the front. My house is so plain and boring, thinking it needs something.

 

[j.w]

I think shutters would look nice on your windows CE. If you buy the kind that have no slat holes and seal the edges all around no bugs should be able to get in there.

Bugs can nest in this kind in between the slats:

Can't on these:

 

[CountryEscape]

Oh, I've never seen the second type. Will have to look again. Thanks for the pics, JW!

 

[Lisak1]

I think the "front shutters only" is more of a cost saving measure for builders than anything. The homes in our neighborhood where you can see the back of the house from the street (corner lots) have shutters all around - the rest of us front facing people got only front shutters! We added them to the back and side windows - we just like the way they finish the window and add a touch of color all the way around.

As for wasps, we do get an occasional wasp nest, not in the slats, but under the bottom or side edges of the shutters. They don't fit flat to the house because of the style siding we have. I guess you could seal around them in some way, but I don't know of anything that would hold up to the weather (silicone sure doesn't) be unobtrusive, and completely block access. All wasps need is a small hole to get started. Anyway, we just watch under the edges for signs they are starting to build and hit it with the jet sprayer on the hose - knocks the nest out and discourages them from returning.

And they are very easy to install yourself - you need a drill, a ladder, and a second pair of hands to help hold while you screw them to the house. If anyone is looking to repaint their vinyl shutters - we used Rustoleum spray paint to freshen ours up about 5 years ago and they still look like the paint is fresh. The original color was already fading within the first couple of years, even though the are guaranteed to "never fade" - riiiiiiight!

 

[CountryEscape]

Good points, Lisak1! I agree, shutters always fade, look really bad. The paint I would use is the same quality (same stuff, actually, since I still have some left) that I used on the barn roofs when I repainted the roofs that were in good shape. I agree, wasps and so forth don't need much to get under or into something. I really don't have much trouble with them, come to think of it, so will just leave them open on the edges and no worry about it. I agree, putting them all the way around a house sure does dress it up. Then I have to ask ... on the back side of my house there is sliding glass doors, kitchen sink window, entry door, and bedroom wide window. Would you just do the windows? I know I've seen shutters around doors, too, but that seems like it would be far too much. Come to think of it, either end of my house has just one large window (garage one end, bedroom other end) and there is a small bathroom window on the garage end. Hmm ... will have to think on whether I want to go all the way around or not. I sure spend most of my time at the back of the house, where the ponds are.

 

[Lisak1]

Exactly! We spend most of our time in the backyard, so I want it to look as finished and spiffy as the front!

We didn't do our patio door or the small bathroom window - it's in a dormer, so there isn't enough room on either side of the window for shutters.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Since we're talking about shutters...

I share a fire pit with my neighbor, and a couple days ago I found 6 or 8 small shutters in the pit, in good condition. I started wondering if I could make something out of them like a birdhouse, bat house, or something. The shutters don't actually move, just for show, but I was wondering if the slats would keep birds away or invite wasps to nest. any ideas?

 

[addy1]

I made bird houses, in some the paper wasps do move in , the birds love them. I bet they would nest in your shutter boxes. Make a few and see if they do. I drilled holes in to keep it cooler and for air flow for them, they are used all summer.

 

[CountryEscape]

I've been very busy this past weekend! Spotted this large wolf spider while moving edge of the pond liner. He was nice enough to stay put for the photo, then I told him he needed to skadaddle!

Sunday I "created" a new glass block path to the new rock bridge over the stream. I love night lights, and had these blue rope lights got on clearance after Christmas, so thought what the heck! Love the effect!

Then, yesterday, I did the other side. Only had one extra glass block, so did this side with flat rocks. Used rocks on edge for the edges, to keep the sand/rocks in place better, hopefully. We shall see how it fairs winter freezing and thawing, but once again, loved the lights at night.

And, this guy was watching me yesterday, probably during the whole project. I spotted him when I was about halfway done, and he watched me the whole time. Took this pic when I went back out to take the nighttime pic of the lights.

 

[j.w]

Saw this in another thread and now I see how you did the lights. Very neat!

 

[CountryEscape]

Windows open, listening to the toads going at it tonight, so figure there will be a bunch of eggs come morning. Did a short video, mainly for the sounds, then learned they are Fowler's Toad. I just think it's cool, there were at least 3 of them going at it, and still are!

 

[j.w]

Heard those same frogs watching that old movie Deliverance last night. Cool sounding frogs