Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Philadelphia

While there are plenty of faux wood plantation shutters available in Philadelphia, they don’t have the same quality.  While some faux wood window treatments will last a lifetime without chipping, warping, or fading, other faux wood coverings will begin to break down in just a few years.

It may be hard to tell the different faux wood plantation shutters apart.  But after you learn about the different kinds of faux wood, it will be easier to figure out which interior shutter is built to last.

The following list examines the different kinds of faux wood shutters in Philadelphia and orders them from the least ideal to the most best:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some shutter products that use vinyl would like you to believe that they use faux wood.  But don’t fall for it, vinyl is not faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and shiny finish is tough to integrate into a decor style, unlike quality faux wood or hardwood shutters.  These treatments may be one of the cheapest plantation shutter products around, but they also may be the least durable of the non-wood shutters.

Vinyl can also be damaged by heat. It’s not unusual to see vinyl window treatments melt or yellow due to sunlight exposure. Since these covering warp, yellow, and have poor insular characteristic, vinyl shutters do not grant much energy-efficiency to your windows -- especially if you have hollow louvers.

• Benefits:

  Lowest cost of the non-wood plantation shutters.

• Drawbacks:

  Looks like plastic; frail construction; hollow louvers; minimal energy efficiency; will often warp, crack or yellow.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

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

But, synthetic wrapped shutters have some problems. The pressed grain under the outer layer can be extremely permeable, leaving the shutter sensitive to humidity and moisture. It’s a common occurance to find a warped or splintered louver or discover that the vinyl wrapping has split or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters aren’t custom-fitted for specialty shaped windows like arches or circles.

• Benefits:

  Thicker than vinyl shutters; may resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not suitable for high humidity or high moisture areas. Will take in moisture and humidity. Aren't moisture resistant; synthetic wrap can chip away; warps or splinters easily; no specialty shapes.

Solid Extruded Faux Wood Shutters:

Plantation shutters made from solid extruded faux wood give you more durability than all of the alternative faux wood plantation shutters.  Because the synthetic material saturate the shutter, they have thick, solid louvers that are more resistant warping.  You will also discover that they last longer on average and will act much more like real wood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters are also able to be custom-crafted to fit any window shape and size -- even ovals.

But a solid extruded shutter is only as well-made as its synthetic recipe.  Some recipes create a fragile product, which can be broken by nails or screws during installation. If the faux wood doesn’t have a UV inhibitor, then your plantation shutter will fade and yellow when exposed to sunlight. Some manufacturers paint their products, which also leads to chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

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

• Drawbacks:

  Quality depends on the mixture of the faux wood composite.

Polywood® Shutters Are The Most Popular Composite Faux Wood Shutters

Polywood plantation shutters are made from an extremely durable extruded faux wood compound that will never crack, warp, or yellow.  Its proprietary formula makes it seem like real wood, but with a density that withstands moisture. We mix in a UV inhibitor with the faux wood mixture so that the plantation shutter will always stay looking nice for decades to come.  They are even simple to clean -- you only need a duster for normal work, and a wet cloth for stubborn dirt.

Our Polywood shutters are also constructed to be the most energy-efficient window treatments on the market.  By 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 company offers.

• Benefits:

  Lifetime warranty against warping, cracking or yellowing; most energy-efficient window treatment around; looks nice in any style.

• Drawbacks:

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

Call Sunburst Shutters Philadelphia Today To Get Long-Lasting, Elegant Polywood Shutters

When seeing the pros and cons of the different faux wood plantation shutters, it's plain to see that Polywood is number one. Our Sunburst Shutters Philadelphia reps will show you the advantages of our Polywood shutters, and how they will work in any room in your house. To book a complimentary in-home consultation, call 215-874-4897 or complete the form below today!