Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Raleigh

While you can find plenty of faux wood plantation shutters on the market in Raleigh, they all won’t age the same.  While some faux wood coverings will last forever without chipping, warping, or fading, other faux wood coverings will start to degrade in just a few years.

It might be difficult to tell the different faux wood plantation shutters apart.  But once you know about the different types of faux wood, it will be much easier to figure out which interior shutter will stand the test of time.

The following list examines the different kinds of faux wood shutters in Raleigh and rates them from the worst to the most best:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some window treatments that use vinyl are misrepresented as a faux wood treatment.  But make no mistake, vinyl is not faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and slick finish can be difficult to integrate into a your decor, unlike some other faux wood or basswood shutters.  Vinyl may be one of the most inexpensive plantation shutter products around, but that’s because they don’t last very long.

Vinyl can also be easily affected by heat. It’s not uncommon to see vinyl window treatments melt or discolor due to sunlight exposure. Since these treatments warp, yellow, and have poor insular qualities, vinyl shutters do not give much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if you have hollow louvers.

• Benefits:

  Lowest cost of the non-wood plantation shutters.

• Drawbacks:

  Appears plastic; flimsy construction; hollow louvers; low energy efficiency; can quickly warp, crack or discolor.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

An improvement from vinyl shutters are synthetic plantation shutters.  These coverings are constructed from pressed wood, wood chip components, or glued MDF, and then bound with a synthetic, vinyl, or plastic coating. The plantation shutters have more weight and can seem much more like a normal wood plantation shutter than their vinyl counterparts.

But, synthetic wrapped shutters have plenty of cons. The pressed material under the wrapping can be extremely porous, leaving the shutter vulnerable to humidity and moisture. It’s not unusual to see a warped or splintered louver or find that the vinyl wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters won’t be custom-fitted for specialty shaped windows like arches or ovals.

• Benefits:

  Thicker than vinyl shutters; might resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not suitable for high humidity or high moisture rooms. Will absorb 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 constructed from solid extruded faux wood are more durable than all of the other faux wood plantation shutters.  As the synthetic material saturate the product, they create durable, solid louvers that are more protected from warping.  You will also find that these treatments are more durable and will act much more like hardwood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters are also able to be custom-crafted to fit every window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded shutter is only as well-made as its synthetic recipe.  Some mixtures create a frail shutter, which can be split during installation. If the faux wood doesn’t include a UV inhibitor, then your window treatments will fade and yellow over time. Some companies paint their shutters, which also leads to chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

  More substantial shutter that is most comparable to a hardwood plantation shutter. 

• Drawbacks:

  Quality depends on the formulation of the faux wood composite.

And Then There's Polywood® Plantation Shutters

Polywood plantation shutters are comprised from an very durable extruded faux wood formula that will never warp, chip, crack, or fade.  Its patented formula makes it seem like real wood, but with a density that resists moisture. We mix in a UV inhibitor with the faux wood composite so that the entire shutter will still look like new for year after year.  They are even easy to clean -- you only need a duster for weekly work, and a damp rag for stubborn dirt.

Our Polywood shutters are also constructed to be the most energy-efficient window treatments available.  In comparison, Polywood shutters are made to be 70% more energy-efficient than regular wood, and 1600% more energy-efficient than aluminum blinds. And all these benefits are paired with a lifetime warranty.  Those are features no other plantation shutter offers.

• Benefits:

  Lifetime warranty against splintering, fading, and warping; most energy-efficient plantation shutter on the market; looks great in any style and decor.

• Drawbacks:

  More expensive than hollow vinyl shutters -- but worth it!

Call Sunburst Shutters Raleigh Today To Get Long-Lasting, Charming Polywood Shutters

When seeing the benefits and drawbacks of the different faux wood plantation shutters, it's simple to determine that Polywood is number one. Our Sunburst Shutters Raleigh experts are ready to show you the advantages of our Polywood shutters, and how they can help any room in your home. To book a no cost in-home consultation, call 919-887-9198 or send in the form below today!