Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Seattle

While there are many faux wood plantation shutters on the market in Seattle, they don’t have the same quality.  While some faux wood coverings will last forever without splitting, warping, or fading, other faux wood coverings will start to wear down in just a short amount of time.

It might be hard to determine what’s best about the different faux wood plantation shutters.  But as you learn about the different kinds of faux wood, it will be much easier to tell which interior shutter is built to last.

The following list details the different varieties of faux wood shutters in Seattle and orders them from the least durable to the most best:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some window treatments that use vinyl show themselves as faux wood.  But don’t be deceived, vinyl is not faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and shiny veneer is hard to integrate into a decor style, unlike quality faux wood or hardwood shutters.  They may be one of the cheapest plantation shutter products on the market, but that’s because they don’t last very long.

Vinyl can also be damaged by heat. It’s not unusual to see vinyl plantation shutters melt or discolor due to the sun’s rays. Because of their tendency of warping or cracking and their poor insular qualities, vinyl shutters do not grant much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if the shutter uses hollow shutters.

• Benefits:

  Lowest cost of the non-wood plantation shutters.

• Drawbacks:

  Looks like plastic; thin materials; hollow louvers; little energy efficiency; can quickly warp, crack or discolor.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

An improvement from vinyl shutters are wrapped plantation shutters.  These treatments are comprised of pressed wood, wood chip materials, or glued MDF, and then covered with a synthetic, vinyl, or plastic coating. The plantation shutters feel more substantial and can seem much more like a traditional wood plantation shutter than their less durable alternatives.

Unfortunately, synthetic wrapped shutters have many drawbacks. The pressed grain under the covering can be extremely porous, leaving the window treatment vulnerable to humidity and moisture. It’s commonplace to see a warped or cracked louver or discover that the vinyl wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters won’t be custom-fitted for non-standard shaped windows like arches or circles.

• Benefits:

  More substantial than vinyl shutters; might resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not suitable for high humidity or high moisture climates. Will take in moisture and humidity. Aren't moisture resistant; outer layer can chip away; warps or splits easily; no specialty shapes.

Solid Extruded Faux Wood Shutters:

Plantation shutters created from solid extruded synthetic materials give you more durability than all of the other non-wood plantation shutters.  As the synthetic material saturate the shutter, they create more substantial, solid louvers that are more protected from warping.  You will also see that these treatments last longer on average and will perform much more like hardwood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters are also able to be custom-made to fit every window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded window treatment is only as good as its synthetic formula.  Some recipes create a brittle treatment, which can be cracked or chipped by nails or screws during installation. If the faux wood doesn’t have a UV inhibitor, then the shutter will fade and yellow from the sun. Some manufacturers paint their shutters, which also invite chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

  More durable product that works like a hardwood plantation shutter. 

• Drawbacks:

  Quality depends on the formulation of the faux wood composite.

The Most Popular Composite Faux Wood Shutter Is A Polywood® Shutter

Polywood plantation shutters are constructed from an very durable extruded faux wood formula that will never warp, chip, crack, or fade.  Its unique formula is like real wood, but with a material that withstands moisture. We include a UV inhibitor with the faux wood mixture so that the plantation shutter will always stay looking great for year after year.  They are even simple to clean -- just a duster for routine work, and a wet cloth for stubborn dirt.

Our Polywood shutters are also made to be the most energy-efficient window treatments available.  In comparison, Polywood shutters are shown to be 70% more energy-efficient than hardwood shutters, and 1600% more efficient than aluminum blinds. And we also include a lifetime warranty.  Those are features no other shutter offers.

• Benefits:

  Lifetime warranty against splintering, fading, and warping; most energy-efficient window treatment available; looks great in any style and decor.

• Drawbacks:

  More expensive than ineffective vinyl plantation shutters -- but worth it!

Contact Sunburst Shutters Washington Today To Get Your Long-Lasting, Charming Polywood Shutters

When comparing the benefits and drawbacks of the numerous faux wood plantation shutters, Polywood clearly is your only choice. Our Sunburst Shutters Washington reps will show you the perks of our Polywood plantation shutters, and how they will enhance any room in the house. To book a complimentary in-home consultation, call 360-464-2277 or complete the form below today!