Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Washington DC

While there are many faux wood plantation shutters available in Washington DC, they all won’t age the same.  While some faux wood shutters will last forever without warping, cracking, or yellowing, other faux wood shutters will start to break down in just a few years.

It may be difficult to tell the different faux wood plantation shutters apart.  But once you know 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 kinds of faux wood shutters in Washington DC and rates them from the worst to the most best:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some window treatments that use vinyl show themselves as faux wood.  But don’t fall for it, vinyl should not be considered faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and slick finish can be difficult to blend with a your decor, unlike some other faux wood or basswood shutters.  Vinyl may be one of the most inexpensive 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 uncommon to see vinyl plantation shutters melt or yellow due to the sun’s rays. Because of their habit of warping or splintering and their poor insular characteristics, vinyl shutters do not provide much energy-efficiency to your windows -- especially if the shutter uses hollow shutters.

• Benefits:

  Lowest cost of the non-wood plantation shutters.

• Drawbacks:

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

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

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

Unfortunately, synthetic wrapped shutters have some problems. The pressed material under the outer layer can be extremely porous, leaving the window treatment vulnerable to humidity and moisture. It’s commonplace to find a warped or cracked louver or learn that the vinyl wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters aren’t custom-fitted for odd shaped windows like arches or octagons.

• Benefits:

  Thicker than vinyl shutters; might resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not suitable for high humidity or high moisture climates. Will absorb 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 created from solid extruded synthetic materials are more durable than all of the other non-wood plantation shutters.  Because the synthetic material permeate throughout the window treatment, they have 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 basswood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters are also able to be custom-fitted to fit every window shape and size -- even ovals.

But a solid extruded window treatment is only as good as its synthetic recipe.  Some formulas create a brittle shutter, which can be broken by nails or screws during installation. If the mixture doesn’t include a UV inhibitor, then the shutter will fade and yellow from the sun. Some companies need to paint their louvers, which also brings about chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

  More substantial treatment that compares favorably to a basswood plantation shutter. 

• Drawbacks:

  Quality depends on the formulation of the faux wood composite.

And Then There's Polywood® Plantation Shutters

Polywood plantation shutters are constructed from an extremely durable extruded faux wood compound 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 into the faux wood formula so that the entire shutter will keep looking great for year after year.  They are even easy to clean -- just a duster for routine work, and a wet cloth for stubborn dirt.

Our Polywood shutters are also made to be one the most energy-efficient window treatments available.  In fact, Polywood shutters are made to be 70% more energy-efficient than traditional wood shutters, and 1600% more energy-efficient than aluminum blinds. And we also offer a lifetime warranty.  Those are features no other shutter company offers.

• Benefits:

  Lifetime warranty against warping, cracking or yellowing; most energy-efficient plantation shutter around; looks great in any decor.

• Drawbacks:

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

Call Sunburst Shutters DC Today To Get Your Long-Lasting, Beautiful Polywood Plantation Shutters

When seeing the benefits and drawbacks of the different faux wood plantation shutters, you can definately tell that Polywood is superior to other faux woods. Our Sunburst Shutters DC experts will be happy to show you the benefits of our Polywood shutters, and how they can help any room in the house. To book a complimentary in-home consultation, call 240-339-2588 or fill out the form below today!