If choosing a fan with wood blades, make sure they are sealed to prevent warpage. Fans rated for use in damp locations, such as a porch or bathroom, usually have plastic paddles. But many manufacturers offer a variety of blade styles for a given fan, allowing you to customize the look.
Many blades are also reversible, featuring different finishes on either side of the paddle.
Take note of the pitch of the blades because that, along with the blade span, determines how well the fan cools. The steeper the blade pitch, the more effectively the fan will move air around. Fans that are to be used in damp or humid locations, like the bathroom or a covered porch, must be Underwriters Laboratories certified for moist environments. A higher-power motor helps meet the demands put on the fan by the resistance of the blades. In other words, the greater the span and pitch, the more powerful a motor is needed.