Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In San Diego

While there are many faux wood plantation shutters on the market in San Diego, they don’t have the same quality.  While some faux wood shutters will last virtually forever without warping, cracking, or yellowing, other faux wood treatments will begin to wear down in just a short amount of time.

It may be tough to figure out what’s best about the different faux wood plantation shutters.  But as you learn about the different varieties of faux wood, it will be easy to see which interior shutter is built to last.

The following list looks at the different types of faux wood shutters in San Diego 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 fall for it, vinyl is different from faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and shiny coating is tough to integrate into a decor style, unlike quality faux wood or real wood-based shutters.  These treatments may be one of the most inexpensive plantation shutter products available, but that’s because they can warp and fade.

Vinyl can also be easily affected by heat. It’s not uncommon to see vinyl plantation shutters melt or discolor due to extensive exposure to the sun. Because of their practice of warping or cracking and their poor insular characteristics, vinyl shutters do not grant much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if the louvers are hollow.

• Benefits:

  Lowest cost of the non-wood shutters.

• Drawbacks:

  Looks like plastic; frail construction; hollow louvers; little energy efficiency; will often warp, splinter or discolor.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

An improvement from vinyl shutters are synthetic plantation shutters.  These treatments are constructed from pressed wood, wood chip components, or glued MDF, and then bound with a synthetic, vinyl, or plastic coating. The shutters are heavier and can look much more like a traditional wood plantation shutter than their vinyl counterparts.

Unfortunately, synthetic wrapped shutters have some problems. The pressed grain under the outer layer can be extremely porous, leaving the shutter sensitive to humidity and moisture. It’s not unusual to find 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 non-standard shaped windows like arches or ovals.

• Benefits:

  Thicker than vinyl shutters; may resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not preferable for high humidity or high moisture climates. Will take in moisture and humidity. Aren't moisture resistant; wrapping can chip away; warps or cracks easily; no specialty shapes.

Solid Extruded Faux Wood Shutters:

Plantation shutters constructed from solid extruded synthetic materials are more durable than any of the other non-wood plantation shutters.  As the synthetic material saturate the window treatment, they form thick, solid louvers that are more resistant warping.  You will also see that these shutters are more durable and will function much more like real wood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters are also able to be custom-fitted to fit every window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded shutter is only as good as its synthetic formula.  Some recipes create a brittle shutter, which can be split during installation. If the faux wood composite doesn’t have a UV inhibitor, then the shutter will fade and yellow over time. Some manufacturers need to paint their louvers, which also leads to chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

  More durable product that works like a real-wood plantation shutter. 

• Drawbacks:

  Quality depends on the mixture of the faux wood composite.

The Best Composite Faux Wood Shutter Is A Polywood® Shutter

Polywood plantation shutters are made from an very durable extruded faux wood formula that will never crack, warp, or yellow.  Its proprietary formula is like real wood, but with a composite that withstands moisture. We add a UV inhibitor with the faux wood mixture so that the plantation shutter will keep looking nice for year after year.  They are even simple to clean -- you only need a duster for routine work, and a damp rag for deeper cleaning.

Our Polywood shutters are also made to be one 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 efficient than aluminum blinds. And we also include a lifetime warranty.  Those are benefits no other shutter offers.

• Benefits:

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

• Drawbacks:

  Higher cost than hollow vinyl shutters -- but worth it!

Contact Sunburst Shutters San Diego Today To Install Long-Lasting, Charming Polywood Shutters

When seeing the benefits and drawbacks of the different faux wood plantation shutters, Polywood clearly is your best choice. Our Sunburst Shutters San Diego representatives will be happy to show you the perks of our Polywood plantation shutters, and how they will work in any room in your house. To get a free in-home consultation, call 760-405-8887 or send in the form below today!