The Best Material For Shutters

Plantation shutters have been a popular window furnishing choice for years. They are a long-term investment that add style and functionality to a home. Shutters are available in a range of different materials, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Given the variety of choices, it’s important to understand what material will work best for your home, lifestyle and budget.

Wood

Classic wooden shutters have been around for centuries and continue to be a popular choice of material for plantation shutters. Traditional woods used are basswood and polar due to their durability and stylistic appeal. Wooden shutters can be shaped, painted and stained in many different ways and add a timeless elegance to the home.

The downside of wooden shutters is that there are some areas of the home where they just won’t work. They cannot handle prolonged exposure to moisture as it damages and warps the material over time, making them unsuitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Wooden shutters can also crack and fade when exposed to the weather.

Aluminium

Aluminium shutters are suitable for both old and new style homes, offering long-term durability with very little maintenance required. They are extremely lightweight and can be installed both inside and outside of the home. The strength of the shutters doesn’t deteriorate over time as it can with wood, meaning that once installed, you do not have to worry about the quality of your fittings

Unfortunately, aluminium is a poor insulator due to its high thermal conductivity and high levels of energy can be lost through the shutters frame. It’s also important to note that oxidation naturally occurs over time with aluminium. This means that the material is susceptible to rust and corrosion if measures are not taken to stop electrolysis.

PVC

At the Shutters Department we use PVC to manufacture our shutters. It’s a hard wearing material that won’t experience cracking or fading over time. Unlike wood, PVC is completely water resistant meaning it is the perfect plantation shutter material in any part of the home.

PVC shutters offer a modern and sleek look, well suited to modern homes. We harness the benefits of other materials by utilising the strength of aluminium in the core of our shutters. This reinforces each shutter blade to ensure the highest durability.

Not only are PVC shutters aesthetically pleasing and resilient, they also provide optimum insulation. The material is constructed to trap sunlight and heat without increasing in temperature themselves. They keep the heat out and and ensure your home is comfortable.

PVC vs Aluminium

Both are durable plantation shutter materials however Aluminium alone is prone to corrosion and PVC will not rust or corrode, making it ideal for any room in the home. Both materials are good for temperature regulation, however Aluminium reflects sunlight to keep inner areas cool and is conductive meaning they will get warm to touch in summer and cold in winter. Whereas PVC has insulating properties because they are made from a thicker material that creates a tighter airspace stopping hot air from radiating inwards in summer and stopping it from radiating out in winter. PVC is also easier to keep clean. 

So what is the Best Material for Plantation Shutters

We believe the best material for plantation shutters will be PVC due to the above reasons.

If you would like to find out more about how PVC plantation shutters could work for your home, contact us today. 

We also offer custom DIY plantation shutter services in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as well.