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Faux Wood Shutter Questions Answered
During the 1990's wooden window shutters
became very popular is the United States, part of a widespread
increase in real wood window accessories. Wood shutters were however
relatively expensive, so alternatives soon appeared in the shape of
wood blinds. Now the trend has reversed and the ever popular wood
blind market has encouraged a resurgence in wood shutters, and in
particular faux wood shutters which give a wood effect but at much
less cost to the consumer. So why should you choose a faux wood
shutter over real wood?
Window shutters are designed to provide privacy and to shade your
room from the sun's rays, and have advantages over similarly priced
blinds in that the shutter can provide a more complete shade,
letting less light into the room. Faux wood shutter sets are
generally made from PVC or a composite material and are designed to
afford the buyer all the advantages and aesthetic attractions of
real wood without the inherent costs associated with natural wood.
15 or 20 years ago wood blinds were bought mostly by the wealthy,
however the development of the faux wood shutter has made shutters
more affordable, in fact forcing manufacturers to lower the relative
cost of real wood units to prevent an erosion of their sales. This
means real wood shutters are affordable for many more people, but
faux wood shutters are still the cheaper option. However this
narrowing of the price difference has meant that currently around
50% of custom blinds sold in the US are faux wood, and the
percentage for shutters is likely comparable.
One of the reasons consumers often choose a faux wood shutter is
concern for the environment, people are now aware of global problems
involving natural wood depletion and look for assurances that the
wood used is sustainable and is being replaced. This concern is not
an issue with faux wood shutters of course, however it could be
argued that wood is at least a biodegradable material where PVC and
composite materials can contribute to growing refuse disposal
problems in the future. In the minds of the majority of buyers these
issues tend to register less than price and aesthetics, but it is
something to be considered.
There are obvious advantages to faux wood shutters in terms of
strength and resistance to damage, a faux wood shutter will not warp
fade or crack like a wood shutter, and PVC will keep its shape and
texture much better than wood over long periods exposed to the sun.
The shutters themselves are available in many looks and textures,
replicating many real wood varieties, even common wood stains and
varnishes. It must be said that most people can very quickly tell
the difference when close to the shutters, however the purpose is
simply to convince the casual observer from a distance and help
create an expensive wood "look" to the home or room.
The question of which type of shutter to choose, either faux or
wood, can only be answered by the buyer. However for most people the
choice comes down to one simple question: how much are you prepared
to pay? You will find most real wood shutters are still expensive
and if you are buying them for every window in your home it can be a
significant outlay. Take a close look at the faux wood alternatives,
you may just find exactly what you are looking for, at significantly
lower cost.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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