Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Cincinnati

While you can find plenty of faux wood plantation shutters on the market in Cincinnati, they don’t have the same quality.  While some faux wood window treatments will last a lifetime without warping, cracking, or yellowing, other faux wood treatments will begin to wear down in just a few years.

It can be difficult to figure out what’s best about the different faux wood plantation shutters.  But after you learn about the different kinds of faux wood, it will be easy to see which interior shutter will stand the test of time.

The following list examines the different kinds of faux wood shutters in Cincinnati and orders them from the least ideal to the most durable and stylish:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some window treatments that use vinyl present themselves as faux wood.  But don’t fall for it, vinyl is different from faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and slick coating can be difficult to match to a decor style, unlike some other faux wood or basswood shutters.  These treatments may be one of the cheapest plantation shutter products available, but that’s because they are flimsy and ineffective.

Vinyl can also be easily affected by heat. It’s not abnormal to see vinyl window treatments melt or fade due to sunlight exposure. Because of their habit of warping or cracking and their poor insular qualities, vinyl shutters won’t provide much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if the shutter uses hollow shutters.

• Benefits:

  Least expensive of the non-wood shutters.

• Drawbacks:

  Looks plastic; thin materials; hollow louvers; low energy efficiency; can quickly warp, chip or yellow.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

A step up from vinyl shutters are synthetic plantation shutters.  These window treatments are comprised of pressed wood, wood chip materials, or glued MDF, and then wrapped with a synthetic, vinyl, or plastic coating. The shutters have more weight and can look much more like a normal wood plantation shutter than their hollow louvered counterparts.

However, synthetic wrapped shutters have many drawbacks. The pressed wood under the wrapping can be extremely porous, leaving the shutter exposed to humidity and moisture. It’s a common occurance to find a warped or cracked louver or discover that the synthetic wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters won’t be custom-fitted for non-standard shaped windows like arches or octagons.

• Benefits:

  More substantial than vinyl shutters; can resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not suitable for high humidity or high moisture areas. Will absorb moisture and humidity. Aren't moisture resistant; wrapping can chip away; warps or cracks easily; no custom shapes.

Solid Extruded Faux Wood Shutters:

Plantation shutters created from solid extruded faux wood are more durable than all of the other non-wood plantation shutters.  Because the synthetic material permeate throughout the window treatment, they have durable, solid louvers that are more resistant warping.  You will also find that these shutters generally last longer and will act much more like hardwood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters also can be custom-made to fit every window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded plantation shutter is only as durable as its faux wood recipe.  Some mixtures create a frail shutter, which can be cracked or chipped by nails or screws during installation. If the mixture doesn’t include a UV inhibitor, then the shutter will fade and yellow when exposed to sunlight. Some manufacturers need to paint their shutters, which also brings about chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

  More substantial treatment that is most comparable to a basswood plantation shutter. 

• Drawbacks:

  Quality depends on the mixture of the faux wood composite.

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

Polywood plantation shutters are comprised from an extremely durable extruded faux wood mixture that will never yellow, chip, or splinter.  Its patented formula gives it a feel like real wood, but with a composite that repels moisture. We mix in a UV inhibitor into the faux wood composite so that the entire shutter will still look great for decades to come.  They are even easy to clean -- only use a duster for weekly work, and a wet cloth for stubborn dirt.

Our Polywood shutters are also designed to be one the most energy-efficient window treatments on the market.  By comparison, Polywood shutters are shown to be 70% more energy-efficient than regular wood, and 1600% more efficient than aluminum blinds. And we also include a lifetime warranty.  Those are benefits no other plantation shutter offers.

• Benefits:

  Lifetime warranty against warping, cracking or yellowing; most energy-efficient window covering around; looks nice in any decor.

• Drawbacks:

  Higher cost than ineffective vinyl plantation shutters -- but worth it!

Contact Sunburst Shutters Cincinnati Today To Get Long-Lasting, Beautiful Polywood Plantation Shutters

When comparing the good and bad of the different faux wood plantation shutters, it's easy to determine that Polywood is the clear winner. Our Sunburst Shutters Cincinnati experts will show you the perks of our Polywood plantation shutters, and how they can help any room in the house. To book a free in-home consultation, call 513-216-9740 or fill out the form below today!