Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Southern California

While you can find plenty of faux wood plantation shutters available in Southern California, they all won’t age the same.  While some faux wood window treatments will last a lifetime without warping, cracking, or yellowing, other faux wood coverings will begin to degrade in just a few years.

It may be tough to understand the pros and cons of the different faux wood plantation shutters Southern California.  But once you know about the different kinds of faux wood, it will be easy to figure out which interior shutter is built to last.

The following list looks at the different kinds of faux wood shutters in Southern California and rates them from the least durable to the most durable and stylish:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some window treatments that use vinyl would like you to believe that they are using faux wood.  But make no mistake, vinyl is not faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and slick coating can be difficult to integrate into a your decor, unlike some other faux wood or real wood shutters.  Vinyl may be one of the cheapest 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 unusual to see vinyl shutters melt or discolor due to the sun’s rays. Because of their practice of warping or cracking and their poor insular qualities, vinyl shutters don’t provide much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if the louvers are hollow.

• Benefits:

  Lowest cost of the non-wood plantation shutters.

• Drawbacks:

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

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

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

But, synthetic wrapped shutters have plenty of cons. The pressed grain under the covering can be extremely permeable, leaving the shutter sensitive to humidity and moisture. It’s commonplace to see a warped or cracked louver or discover that the vinyl wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters cannot be custom-fitted for odd shaped windows like arches or ovals.

• Benefits:

  Heavier than vinyl shutters; may resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not preferable 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 custom shapes.

Solid Extruded Faux Wood Shutters:

Plantation shutters created from solid extruded faux wood give you more durability than most of the other faux wood plantation shutters.  As the synthetic fibers permeate throughout the window treatment, they create thick, solid louvers that are more resistant warping.  You will also find that these shutters are more durable and will function much more like real wood shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters also can be custom-fitted to fit every window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded shutter is only as durable as its synthetic recipe.  Some mixtures create a fragile shutter, which can be broken by nails or screws during installation. If the faux wood doesn’t have a UV inhibitor, then the shutter will fade and yellow over time. Some manufacturers paint their shutters, which also invite chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

  More durable shutter 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 yellow, chip, or splinter.  Its patented formula makes it seem like real wood, but with a density that withstands moisture. We add a UV inhibitor with the faux wood formula so that the plantation shutter will keep looking nice for year after year.  They are even a snap to clean -- just a duster for weekly work, and a wet cloth for stains.

Our Polywood shutters are also constructed to be the most energy-efficient window treatments available.  In fact, Polywood shutters are shown to be 70% more energy-efficient than traditional wood shutters, and 1600% more energy-efficient than aluminum blinds. And all these advantages accompany a lifetime warranty.  Those are combined features no other shutter company offers.

• Benefits:

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

• Drawbacks:

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

Call Sunburst Shutters Southern CA Today To Get Long-Lasting, Beautiful Polywood Plantation Shutters

When comparing the good and bad of the numerous faux wood plantation shutters, you can easily tell that Polywood is superior to other faux woods. Our Sunburst Shutters Southern CA representatives will be happy to show you the advantages of our Polywood plantation shutters, and how they will enhance any room in your house. To book a free in-home consultation, call 888-611-2474 or complete the form below today!