Different Faux Wood Plantation Shutters In Miami

While you can find plenty of faux wood plantation shutters on the market in Miami, they don’t have the same quality.  While some faux wood coverings will last virtually forever without warping, cracking, or yellowing, other faux wood coverings will start to wear down in just a few year’s time.

It may be tough to tell the different faux wood plantation shutters apart.  But after you learn about the different types of faux wood, it will be easy to see which interior shutter is built to last.

The following list details the different types of faux wood shutters in Miami and rates them from the worst to the most durable and stylish:

Vinyl Shutters:

Some window treatments that use vinyl are misrepresented as a faux wood product.  But don’t be deceived, vinyl is not faux wood. Vinyl’s plastic look and slick coating is hard to blend with a decor style, unlike other faux wood or basswood shutters.  Vinyl may be one of the most inexpensive plantation shutter products available, but that’s because they can warp and fade.

Vinyl is also easily affected by heat. It’s not abnormal to see vinyl window treatments melt or fade due to sunlight exposure. Because of their habit of warping or splitting and their poor insular characteristics, vinyl shutters do not grant much energy-efficiency to your home -- especially if the louvers are hollow.

• Benefits:

  Cheapest of the non-wood shutters.

• Drawbacks:

  Appears plastic; flimsy construction; hollow louvers; low energy efficiency; can quickly warp, crack or yellow.

Synthetic Wrapped Product:

An improvement from vinyl shutters are synthetic plantation shutters.  These coverings are constructed from pressed wood, wood chip materials, or glued MDF, and then wrapped with a synthetic, vinyl, or plastic coating. The plantation shutters feel more substantial and can look much more like a normal wood plantation shutter than their vinyl alternatives.

Unfortunately, synthetic wrapped shutters have many drawbacks. The pressed grain under the wrapping can be extremely permeable, leaving the window treatment exposed to humidity and moisture. It’s not unusual to see a warped or splintered louver or learn that the synthetic wrapping has chipped or peeled away.  Also, wrapped shutters cannot be custom-fitted for non-standard shaped windows like arches or circles.

• Benefits:

  More substantial than vinyl shutters; can resemble real wood.

• Drawbacks:

  Not great for high humidity or high moisture areas. Will take in moisture and humidity. Aren't moisture resistant; wrapping can chip away; warps or cracks 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.  Because the synthetic fibers permeate throughout the product, they have durable, solid louvers that are more protected from warping.  You will also find that they are more durable and will act much more like hardwood shutters. Solid extruded faux wood shutters also can be custom-fitted to fit every window shape and size -- even arches.

But a solid extruded plantation shutter is only as durable as its faux wood formula.  Some formulas create a frail treatment, which can be broken by nails or screws during installation. If the faux wood composite doesn’t have a UV inhibitor, then the shutter will fade and yellow when exposed to sunlight. Some companies paint their products, which also invite chipping and yellowing over time.

• Benefits:

  More durable product that compares favorably 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 comprised from an extremely durable extruded faux wood formula that will never crack, warp, or yellow.  Its patented formula makes it seem like real wood, but with a material that repels moisture. We add a UV inhibitor into the faux wood mixture so that the entire shutter will keep looking great for year after year.  They are even easy to clean -- you only need a duster for weekly work, and a damp rag for deeper cleaning.

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

• Benefits:

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

• Drawbacks:

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

Contact Sunburst Shutters Miami Today To Install Long-Lasting, Elegant Polywood Plantation Shutters

When looking at the pros and cons of the available faux wood plantation shutters, Polywood clearly is your only choice. Our Sunburst Shutters Miami representatives are ready to show you the perks of our Polywood plantation shutters, and how they will work in any room in the house. To get a free in-home consultation, call 305-520-7515 or fill out the form below today!