Compare wood and vinyl shutters

Wood Shutters vs. Vinyl Shutters

There are advantages and disadvantages to both wood and vinyl shutters. Some advantages of wood shutters are that they can be stained or painted in nearly any color. Wood shutters are very durable; however, some types of wood are more durable than others. A disadvantage is that they are more expensive than vinyl. Some advantages of vinyl shutters are that they are very durable in tropical, moist climates. Depending on your taste preference, you may find that vinyl shutters are not as attractive as wood shutters, and cannot be stained.

Wood shutters may be purchased in an assortment of shapes and sizes. They may be custom made to accommodate the shape you need, as well as the depth of the louver.

The dependability of wood shutters is based on the quality of wood you choose. Currently, pine, oak, basswood and poplar are among the most popular preferences. The softest wood is the pine, however, due to its softness it has a tendency to reveal all of the nicks and marks. For example, claw marks from an animal such as a cat would cause obvious scratches on the wood blinds, as would a gouge or scratch from a sharp object. The pine shutters are available in many retail stores, and are usually less expensive than most wooden shutters.

Wooden shutters made from poplar, oak and basswood are stronger than the pine shutters, and they are also more conducive to paint and stain. Many shutters made from these woods are readily available. Oak shutters are some of the more popular types, but also some of the more expensive. A drawback to using these shutters in your home is that they may not withstand humid climates or climate changes very well. Although, during the milling process there are steps that can be taken to ensure that the shutters will not warp,
crack, chip or peel. However, you may not discover if the necessary steps were taken in this regard until you hang the shutters in your home and experience humid days or inclimate weather.

A clear-cut advantage of wood shutters is that they can be stained or painted in almost any color. As for the grains of the wood, you may choose smooth or rough-sawn. Your choice would depend on the look you want to convey in your room. Another advantage is that both traditional and contemporary designs will be enhanced by the use of wood shutters.

Wood shutters have been popular for hundreds of years and they have withstood the test of time.

Vinyl shutters are durable and some are even made to look like real wood. In fact, with the better quality vinyl shutters, the wood grain finishes can appear like the actual wood versions. They have advantages over wood in that they can endure many types of weather conditions, including tropical climates and areas which experience high humidity.

Vinyl shutters are usually only offered in the most popular colors, even though they can be made in any color. Another drawback is that they cannot be stained or painted if you are trying to coordinate them with your furniture. Positive factors include: vinyl blinds require little care, are easy to clean and you do not need to refinish them.

If pricing is an issue, you may want to choose vinyl shutters since they are almost always less expensive than their wooden counterparts.

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Wood and vinyl shutters