3 Ways Polywood Shutters Are Preferred Over Hollow Vinyl And Composite Shutters In Southern California
December 15, 2015
Plantation shutters in Southern California come with different options. And when you want to know which non-wood shutter fits your home best, some differences may be tough to recognize. You can unknowingly choose the wrong type and find yourself ordering shutters that aren’t durable. Wondering if Polywood® shutters - our best-selling solid polymer shutters - are a better investment than MDF (multi-density fiberboard) or hollow vinyl shutters? Learn about the three ways Polywood shutters are a better choice than composite shutters in Southern California to help you decide.
1. Polywood vs Composite Shutters Durability
Polywood shutters are fashioned from a top grade solid polymer that results in the most color-retention, durability, and rigidity than any other shutter available. This means the shutter louvers will not chip over time. In contrast, composite shutters are constructed from a pressed-board core, wrapped with poly-vinyl. The vinyl enveloping the pressed board is prone to peeling from the core substance easily. And this peeling is accelerated in humid, wet, and hot climates. Non-wood shutters are also available as hollow vinyl shutters. But they deteriorate the fastest because of the elements.
Both forms of non-wood shutters are susceptible to deterioration and warping under varying climate conditions in Southern California. Polywood is built with UV inhibitors that divert heat. And with heat being the main problem in chipping the shutter louvers, Polywood is without a doubt the highest quality plantation shutter you can buy.
2. Polywood vs Composite Shutters Color Fastness
Polywood shutters colors include three superior white paints. We bake the paint finishes on each piece at hot temperatures that exceed any temperatures Southern California could experience. The patented finishing process includes UV inhibitors to ensure the color never fades.
Other types of non-wood shutters finishes are limited to either low quality paint finish or no paint finish at all. In a lot of cases, the vinyl covering is the all the color you get. This finish may look good initially, but it fades as time goes by. And when it comes to hollow vinyls, some are painted. However, with the material easily conducting heat, this seriously impacts the finish over time.
3. Polywood vs Composite Shutters Energy Efficiency
Third party testing illustrates that Polywood shutters block up to 30° of temperature and lead to reduction of heat transfer by up to 45%. That’s how Polywood insulates up to 70% better than the top solid wood shutter.
It’s the heat blocking properties of the solid polymer material Polywood’s made of that make these plantation shutters so energy efficient. However what sets Polywood apart even more from composite shutters is the weatherstripping on louvers and panels. Just interlock the weatherstripping pieces while closing the panels and you get an airtight seal against the effects of the weather outside. No matter how far and wide you look, there isn’t a composite shutter that can give you the energy savings close to that of Polywood.
The Sunburst Team In Vegas’s First Hand Experience With The Durability Of Polywood Shutters
In 2004, Sunburst Shutters Las Vegas had Polywood shutters fastened to the sides of their trucks as part of the graphics. These trucks were parked outside and saw the climate Nevada is known for. We’re talking excessive heat for more than five months a year!
These shutters had been on our vehicles for more than 7 years at that point. Our team conducted an experiment to see how effective Polywood is in retaining the original paint color. We wiped the Polywood shutter that was on the truck clean. And we compared it side by side to a new Polywood. The color was the same. There was no fading or discoloration. It further validated for the team that this paint finish is the best in the market!
And with Polywood withstanding all that heat damage on the side of a truck for more than 7 years, it’s undoubtedly the strongest shutter for your house in Southern California.
