Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Chicago

While you can find plenty of faux wood plantation shutters available in Chicago, 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 short amount of time.

It can be difficult to determine what’s best about the different faux wood plantation shutters.  But after you learn 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 varieties of faux wood shutters in Chicago and rates them from the least durable to the most best:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some plantation shutters that use vinyl are mislabeled as a faux wood covering.  But don’t fall for it, vinyl is different from faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and slick finish is hard to match to a your decor, unlike other faux wood or hardwood shutters.  These treatments may be one of the cheapest plantation shutter products on the market, but they also are the least durable of the non-wood coverings.

Vinyl is also damaged by heat. It’s not unusual to see vinyl plantation shutters melt or discolor due to sunlight exposure. Because of their tendency of warping or splintering and their poor insular nature, vinyl shutters do not grant much energy-efficiency to your windows -- especially if the shutter uses hollow shutters.

• Benefits:

  Lowest cost of the non-wood shutters.

• Drawbacks:

  Looks like plastic; flimsy materials; hollow louvers; little energy efficiency; can quickly warp, chip or fade.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

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

Unfortunately, synthetic wrapped shutters have many drawbacks. The pressed material under the covering can be extremely porous, leaving the treatment to be vulnerable to humidity and moisture. It’s a common occurance to see a warped or cracked louver or learn that the synthetic wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters won’t be custom-fitted for non-standard shaped windows like arches or ovals.

• Benefits:

  Heavier than vinyl shutters; might resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

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

Solid Extruded Faux Wood Shutters:

Plantation shutters made from solid extruded faux wood are more durable than any of the alternative non-wood plantation shutters.  Because the synthetic fibers saturate the shutter, they create more substantial, solid louvers that are more resistant warping.  You will also see that these treatments are more durable and will function much more like hardwood plantation shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters are also able to be custom-crafted to fit every window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded plantation shutter is only as durable as its synthetic recipe.  Some formulas create a fragile shutter, 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 companies paint their shutters, 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.

The Most Durable Composite Faux Wood Shutter Is A Polywood® Shutter

Polywood plantation shutters are constructed 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 composite that repels moisture. We add a UV inhibitor into the faux wood formula so that the plantation shutter will always stay looking nice for year after year.  They are even easy to clean -- only use a duster for weekly work, and a damp rag 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 hardwood shutters, and 1600% more efficient than aluminum blinds. And these plantation shutters come with a lifetime warranty.  Those are features no other shutter offers.

• Benefits:

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

• Drawbacks:

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

Contact Sunburst Shutters Chicago Today To Get Your Long-Lasting, Elegant Polywood Shutters

When seeing the benefits and drawbacks of the different faux wood plantation shutters, Polywood clearly is your only choice. Our Sunburst Shutters Chicago experts will be happy to show you the perks of our Polywood plantation shutters, and how they can help any window in your home. To schedule a free in-home consultation, call 847-250-6544 or send in the form below today!