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Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In New York

March 02, 2020

While you can find plenty of faux wood plantation shutters on the market in New York, they don’t have the same quality.  While some faux wood shutters will last forever without warping, cracking, or yellowing, other faux wood treatments will start to break down in just a few years.

It might be difficult to tell the different faux wood plantation shutters apart.  But as you learn about the different varieties of faux wood, it will be easy to tell which interior shutter is built to last.

The following list examines the different types of faux wood shutters in New York and rates them from the least durable to the most durable and stylish:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some window treatments that use vinyl show themselves as faux wood.  But don’t fall for it, vinyl should not be considered faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and slick coating is hard to blend with a your decor, unlike quality faux wood or hardwood shutters.  These treatments may be one of the cheapest plantation shutter products on the market, but that’s because they are flimsy and ineffective.

Vinyl is also damaged by heat. It’s not uncommon to see vinyl plantation shutters melt or discolor due to extensive exposure to the sun. Because of their habit of warping or splintering and their poor insular nature, vinyl shutters do not give much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if you have hollow louvers.

Different Faux wood plantation shutters in New York
  • Benefits:

    Lowest cost of the non-wood plantation shutters.

  • Drawbacks:

    Looks plastic; flimsy materials; hollow louvers; minimal energy efficiency; will warp, chip or fade.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

An improvement from vinyl shutters are synthetic plantation shutters.  These coverings are comprised of pressed wood, wood chip materials, or glued MDF, and then wrapped with a synthetic, vinyl, or plastic coating. The shutters have more weight and can seem much more like a real wood plantation shutter than their vinyl counterparts.

But, synthetic wrapped shutters have plenty of cons. The pressed grain under the wrapping can be extremely porous, leaving the treatment to be sensitive to humidity and moisture. It’s not unusual to find a warped or splintered louver or find that the synthetic wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters won’t be custom-fitted for odd shaped windows like arches or octagons.

  • Benefits:

    More substantial than vinyl shutters; can resemble real wood.

  • Drawbacks:

    Not great for high humidity or high moisture rooms. 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 created from solid extruded faux wood are more durable than any of the alternative non-wood plantation shutters.  As the synthetic material permeate throughout the product, they have thick, solid louvers that are more protected from warping.  You will also find that these shutters 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 every window shape and size -- even ovals.

But a solid extruded shutter is only as well-made as its faux wood formula.  Some recipes create a fragile product, which can be broken during installation. If the mixture doesn’t have a UV inhibitor, then your plantation shutter will fade and yellow over time. Some manufacturers paint their louvers, which also brings about chipping and yellowing over time.

  • Benefits:

    More durable shutter that is most comparable to a real-wood plantation shutter. 

  • Drawbacks:

    Quality depends on the formulation of the faux wood composite.

Polywood® Shutters Are The Most Durable Composite Faux Wood Shutters

Different Faux wood plantation shutters in New York

Polywood plantation shutters are comprised from an very durable extruded faux wood mixture that will never yellow, chip, or splinter.  Its unique formula gives it a feel like real wood, but with a density that repels moisture. We include a UV inhibitor into the faux wood composite so that the entire shutter will always stay looking great for decades to come.  They are even simple to clean -- just a duster for routine work, and a damp rag for stains.

Our Polywood shutters are also designed to be one the most energy-efficient window treatments on the market.  In fact, Polywood shutters are made to be 70% more energy-efficient than hardwood shutters, and 1600% more energy-efficient than aluminum blinds. And these Polywood shutters are paired with a lifetime warranty.  Those are features no other shutter offers.

  • Benefits:

    Lifetime warranty against splintering, fading, and warping; most energy-efficient window treatment available; looks great in any style and decor.

  • Drawbacks:

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

Call Sunburst Shutters New York Today To Get Your Long-Lasting, Charming Polywood Plantation Shutters

When seeing the good and bad of the available faux wood plantation shutters, it's easy to see that Polywood is the clear winner. Our Sunburst Shutters New York experts will show you the advantages of our Polywood plantation shutters, and how they will enhance any window in the house. To schedule a complimentary in-home consultation, call 631-246-3930 or complete the form below today!