Quality Faux Wood Shutters vs Other Faux Wood Shutters in New Brunswick

There are plenty faux wood shutters out there, but what’s the difference between high-end faux wood shutters, like our Polywood® shutters, that will look nice for decades and faux wood shutters that look worse and worse over time?

The trick is to pay attention to the faux wood shutter’s craftsmanship and technicalities such as its durability, finish, and energy efficiency potential.

Good faux wood doesn’t splinter, crack, chip or warp

Any type of faux wood plantation shutters look attractive when first hung.  But over time, shutters that are made with shoddy materials such as cheap composites, vinyl-wrapped particleboards, or hollow louvers can start to bow, chip, splinter, or yellow.  This is definitely apparent in your everyday spaces or in spaces that have extreme heat, cold, or dampness.  

High-quality faux wood, like Polywood, is made from extruded compounds that won’t warp, fade or break.  Its rigid design allows shutters to defy bowing, splintering, cracking, and chipping, especially in humid or varying-temperature rooms.  Inspecting the warranty should be the most accurate way to tell the durability of a faux wood shutter.  Companies that show a lifetime guarantee will back their products because they only use the most durable materials.

Quality faux wood doesn’t stain

Everyday maintenance will be the same for most faux wood window treatments.  However, detailed cleaning has another set of problems. Vinyl and other substandard materials will take in some of the water when scrubbed with a wet rag.  Some faux wood shutters also have coatings that can trap dust and dirt so that they are almost impossible to keep clean.

Companies that produce quality plantation shutters know that faux wood should be cleaning friendly.  For example, Polywood has a finish that is simple to wipe down quickly, so that your shutters appear magazine worthy.  High-caliber faux wood should be completely water resistant, so no matter what gets on the shutter, it should come off with a wet cloth or spray cleaner.

High quality faux wood is energy efficient

As you lower your high-quality faux wood shutters, you should experience a quantifiable difference in air flow and heat loss.  The thick louvers and dense composites will help block sunlight that makes the room toasty and drafts that can cool down the space.  The top faux wood window treatments, like Polywood shutters, will even go further in ensuring energy efficiency by adding in UV inhibitors and weather stripping.

Plantation shutters crafted with an inferior composite will not offer the same energy benefits.  Those using shoddy composites or hollow louvers will still promote heat loss. Over time, inferior shutters can begin to bow and leave gaps between the louvers.  The way to find out if you are using a cheaper faux wood is to look at its R-rating. The larger the number, the more energy efficient the shutter.

Contact your New Brunswick shutters rep and get the window treatment for you

Picking a high-caliber faux wood shutter can sometimes seem like an impossible task.  However, our Sunburst representatives can show you all our faux wood options, so you can select the perfect window treatment for your space.  To schedule a no-cost in-home consultation, call 732-301-6168 today.