Victoria Norman
Shutters, Blinds, & Retractable Screens
Compare Shutters
Vinyl, wood, poly, mdf, which shutter is the best?
We sell vinyl, wood and poly and I have recommended each of them depending on the customer and application. Most companies would tell you that one or the other is a better product depending on what they sell. We think this is the wrong approach and it reminds me of the saying "when the only tool you possess is a hammer, you tend to perceive all of your problems as nails".
Generally speaking wood has the greatest strength to weight ratio. If you were to look at a thin slice of wood under a microscope you would see that it is made up of tiny square empty boxes or cells. When the tree was living the cells were filled with fluid. All of our wood shutters are made with kiln dried wood so the cells are all empty and therefore very light. This creates an outstanding strength to weight ratio that allows us to do things with wood that we just can't do with vinyl or poly. Wood is also more flexible in the ways it can be glued, sanded, carved, and shaped. This allows us enjoy a wide range of design options.
As the trend toward wider panels continues we see that it is just not possible to build a wide panel in vinyl or poly without some sagging. Tall vinyl and poly panels usually require additional support or divider rails. A divider rail is a solid plank replacing one or more louvers in order to provide additional strength to the panel. These rails block light and view because they do not open like a louver. Some tall folding panels are not even available in poly or vinyl without an upper track to keep them from sagging or breaking.
Wood shutters can be stained or painted to match existing paints and stains in your house. This is not possible with poly or vinyl. Some poly shutters probably could be repainted but it would not be cost effective. Typically you must settle for white, not as white, and ecru.
Poly and vinyl shutters are hard to beat in areas that get exposed to water and steam. A wood shutter over time could swell and shrink with exposure to water eventually causing the finish to crack and flake. We like to use poly or vinyl in small bathrooms and over kitchen sinks. They also work well in high humidity climates where the windows are opened a lot. Wood shutters are not warranted against water damage however if they do get damaged it is usually repairable. Just about any damage to a wood shutter is repairable. Most of what we sell is wood but we have done some very nice poly and vinyl jobs.
One industry myth that leads some potential wood customers astray is that poly and vinyl won't warp in the sun like wood. We sell thousands of wood shutters every year and I have yet to see a wood shutter warp. I have seen a wood shutter built with a warped piece of wood in which case the shutter never was right, but I have never seen a shutter warp in a customer's window after installation. The reason for this is the type and grade of wood used plus the strict use of kiln dried wood. Once wood is dried and finished it is also stabilized and will not warp. I have heard of companies using green or non-dried wood which could probably lead to all sorts of problems but we have never experienced it in our shop. The sun is not an enemy of wood shutters. The kiln is much hotter than you will ever get them and hot climates such as Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Phoenix Arizona have wood shutters everywhere due to their high insulation value and longevity in direct sunlight. Since poly and vinyl are man made they are usually straight but seem to be more susceptible to sagging (the whole panel sags instead of a louver).
On the other hand, I have seen some poly shutters turn yellow or brown. You will note that some companies do not mention this in their warranty. Poly, or plastic is an oil based product like enamel paint (which also turns yellow). Some poly shutters are actually painted in order to keep them from yellowing. I don't have a problem with this practice but it is kind of funny when they sell their product as easier to clean than painted wood when in fact their product has the same paint covering it. A well painted wood shutter with a high quality finish is as easy to clean as any poly or vinyl product, but avoid water. Look for poly and vinyl shutters that warrant against yellowing. The paint we use on our shutters has no oil and will not yellow.
Although most people think of poly and vinyl as being cheaper than wood, this is not necessarily so. Just as wood shutters come in a wide range of prices and quality levels, so do poly and vinyl. Poly shutters are generally made of solid material and vinyl are usually hollow. The poly usually looks more like real wood than the vinyl. Up close it is obvious that the vinyl is not wood.
Faux wood is a term that often covers a wide range of products that are anything but wood. It is a generalization that demands further questioning from the buyer. Faux just means fake so ask what the product is made from.
Mdf is medium density fiberboard (basically sawdust and glue) and typically is the cheapest of the cheap when it comes to shutters. Being neither light or sturdy I would just avoid them altogether. If you are going to spend the money on plantation shutters, but want mdf to save money, it is well worth the few extra dollars for the real thing.
Back to Plantation Shutters
We sell vinyl, wood and poly and I have recommended each of them depending on the customer and application. Most companies would tell you that one or the other is a better product depending on what they sell. We think this is the wrong approach and it reminds me of the saying "when the only tool you possess is a hammer, you tend to perceive all of your problems as nails".
Generally speaking wood has the greatest strength to weight ratio. If you were to look at a thin slice of wood under a microscope you would see that it is made up of tiny square empty boxes or cells. When the tree was living the cells were filled with fluid. All of our wood shutters are made with kiln dried wood so the cells are all empty and therefore very light. This creates an outstanding strength to weight ratio that allows us to do things with wood that we just can't do with vinyl or poly. Wood is also more flexible in the ways it can be glued, sanded, carved, and shaped. This allows us enjoy a wide range of design options.
As the trend toward wider panels continues we see that it is just not possible to build a wide panel in vinyl or poly without some sagging. Tall vinyl and poly panels usually require additional support or divider rails. A divider rail is a solid plank replacing one or more louvers in order to provide additional strength to the panel. These rails block light and view because they do not open like a louver. Some tall folding panels are not even available in poly or vinyl without an upper track to keep them from sagging or breaking.
Wood shutters can be stained or painted to match existing paints and stains in your house. This is not possible with poly or vinyl. Some poly shutters probably could be repainted but it would not be cost effective. Typically you must settle for white, not as white, and ecru.
Poly and vinyl shutters are hard to beat in areas that get exposed to water and steam. A wood shutter over time could swell and shrink with exposure to water eventually causing the finish to crack and flake. We like to use poly or vinyl in small bathrooms and over kitchen sinks. They also work well in high humidity climates where the windows are opened a lot. Wood shutters are not warranted against water damage however if they do get damaged it is usually repairable. Just about any damage to a wood shutter is repairable. Most of what we sell is wood but we have done some very nice poly and vinyl jobs.
One industry myth that leads some potential wood customers astray is that poly and vinyl won't warp in the sun like wood. We sell thousands of wood shutters every year and I have yet to see a wood shutter warp. I have seen a wood shutter built with a warped piece of wood in which case the shutter never was right, but I have never seen a shutter warp in a customer's window after installation. The reason for this is the type and grade of wood used plus the strict use of kiln dried wood. Once wood is dried and finished it is also stabilized and will not warp. I have heard of companies using green or non-dried wood which could probably lead to all sorts of problems but we have never experienced it in our shop. The sun is not an enemy of wood shutters. The kiln is much hotter than you will ever get them and hot climates such as Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Phoenix Arizona have wood shutters everywhere due to their high insulation value and longevity in direct sunlight. Since poly and vinyl are man made they are usually straight but seem to be more susceptible to sagging (the whole panel sags instead of a louver).
On the other hand, I have seen some poly shutters turn yellow or brown. You will note that some companies do not mention this in their warranty. Poly, or plastic is an oil based product like enamel paint (which also turns yellow). Some poly shutters are actually painted in order to keep them from yellowing. I don't have a problem with this practice but it is kind of funny when they sell their product as easier to clean than painted wood when in fact their product has the same paint covering it. A well painted wood shutter with a high quality finish is as easy to clean as any poly or vinyl product, but avoid water. Look for poly and vinyl shutters that warrant against yellowing. The paint we use on our shutters has no oil and will not yellow.
Although most people think of poly and vinyl as being cheaper than wood, this is not necessarily so. Just as wood shutters come in a wide range of prices and quality levels, so do poly and vinyl. Poly shutters are generally made of solid material and vinyl are usually hollow. The poly usually looks more like real wood than the vinyl. Up close it is obvious that the vinyl is not wood.
Faux wood is a term that often covers a wide range of products that are anything but wood. It is a generalization that demands further questioning from the buyer. Faux just means fake so ask what the product is made from.
Mdf is medium density fiberboard (basically sawdust and glue) and typically is the cheapest of the cheap when it comes to shutters. Being neither light or sturdy I would just avoid them altogether. If you are going to spend the money on plantation shutters, but want mdf to save money, it is well worth the few extra dollars for the real thing.
Back to Plantation Shutters
