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Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Destin

March 02, 2020

While you can find plenty of faux wood plantation shutters on the market in Destin, they all won’t age the same.  While some faux wood coverings will last virtually forever without splitting, warping, or fading, other faux wood treatments will begin to degrade in just a few years.

It might be hard to tell the different faux wood plantation shutters apart.  But as you learn about the different kinds of faux wood, it will be easy to tell which interior shutter will always look great.

The following list examines the different kinds of faux wood shutters in Destin and rates them from the worst to the most best:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some plantation shutters 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 hard to match to a decor style, unlike quality faux wood or real wood-based shutters.  These treatments may be one of the cheapest plantation shutter products on the market, but you get what you pay for.

Vinyl can also be damaged by heat. It’s not unusual 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 nature, vinyl shutters do not grant much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if the shutter uses hollow shutters.

Different Faux wood plantation shutters in Destin
  • Benefits:

    Least expensive of the non-wood plantation shutters.

  • Drawbacks:

    Looks plastic; frail construction; hollow louvers; low energy efficiency; will often warp, chip or fade.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

A step up from vinyl shutters are wrapped plantation shutters.  These treatments are made of pressed wood, wood chip components, or glued MDF, and then bound with a synthetic, vinyl, or plastic coating. The shutters are heavier and can appear much more like a normal wood plantation shutter than their less durable counterparts.

However, synthetic wrapped shutters have some problems. The pressed material under the covering can be extremely permeable, leaving the window treatment sensitive to humidity and moisture. It’s commonplace to see a warped or splintered louver or discover that the vinyl wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters aren’t custom-fitted for specialty shaped windows like arches or circles.

  • Benefits:

    Thicker than vinyl shutters; can resemble real wood.

  • Drawbacks:

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

Solid Extruded Faux Wood Shutters:

Plantation shutters made from solid extruded synthetic materials give you more durability than any of the alternative non-wood plantation shutters.  As the synthetic material permeate throughout the shutter, they create durable, solid louvers that are more protected from warping.  You will also discover that they are more durable and will act much more like basswood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters are also able to be custom-fitted to fit any window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded plantation shutter is only as durable as its synthetic formula.  Some recipes create a fragile product, which can be cracked or chipped during installation. If the faux wood doesn’t include a UV inhibitor, then your window treatments will fade and yellow from the sun. Some manufacturers paint their louvers, which also leads to chipping and yellowing over time.

  • Benefits:

    More substantial treatment that is most comparable to a hardwood plantation shutter. 

  • Drawbacks:

    Quality depends on the mixture of the faux wood composite.

And Then There's Polywood® Plantation Shutters

Different Faux wood plantation shutters in Destin

Polywood plantation shutters are constructed from an very durable extruded faux wood formula that will never yellow, chip, or splinter.  Its patented formula makes it seem like real wood, but with a material that repels moisture. We add a UV inhibitor with the faux wood mixture so that the entire shutter will always stay looking great for decades to come.  They are even simple to clean -- only use 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 comparison, Polywood shutters are made to be 70% more energy-efficient than hardwood shutters, and 1600% more energy-efficient than aluminum blinds. And these shutters include a lifetime warranty.  Those are combined features no other shutter company offers.

  • Benefits:

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

  • Drawbacks:

    Higher cost than flimsier vinyl interior shutters -- but worth it!

Call Sunburst Shutters Destin Today To Install Long-Lasting, Elegant Polywood Shutters

When seeing the benefits and drawbacks of the available faux wood plantation shutters, Polywood clearly is your best choice. Our Sunburst Shutters Destin reps will be happy to show you the advantages of our Polywood shutters, and how they will enhance any room in your home. To book a no cost in-home consultation, call 850-203-0419 or fill out the form below today!