Not All Plantation Shutters Are Created Equal

The material used in your plantation shutters can make a big difference in how long you get to enjoy them. Choose wisely and they will last a lifetime, not so wisely and they are a short term investment.

Decorator shutters are constructed of three materials:

1. composite - sawdust and resin(glue)
2. poly - vinyl
3. Many different types of hard woods

Composite shutters are made from OSB type boards. Basically they take sawdust and fine wood chips, mix them with a glue type resin and then mold them into boards, slats and other pieces needed for the construction of shutters.

The nice thing about the resulting boards is that they are straight and true. This type of board is used in the construction of cornice boards since it stays straight. Most types of plywood will warp in a heartbeat and make terrible cornice boards.

The down side to all the straightness is that composite boards love to soak up water. They should never be used in a bath room where you are going to have a shower running. They consider it their duty to suck up as much moisture as they can and then they just swell up and continue to swell untill the literally burst at the seams.

Once they swell up they won't fit right, won't open and close properly and are generally useless and worthless.

These composite plantation shutters are usually on display in the big box stores as do-it-yourself shutters. They are the lowest priced of any shutters.

There is not that much of a difference in cost though between the composite and the poly or solid wood to justify taking a chance with these shutters. At a price difference of only $4 to $5 a square foot I would not tempt fate and purchase this product.

The poly-vinyl plantation shutter is a different story. They have perfected this material to such an degree that it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a painted poly or painted wood shutter.

The neat thing about the poly shutters is that it's user friendly. Finger prints, smudges and reminders of the little ones at play just disappear with a damp cloth and a little Windex. Like any horizontal blinds they do collect dust but a couple of swipes with a swiffer and all is gone.

Every little detail is done to perfection with the poly shutter. All the individual parts are molded with an engineers perfection and then fitted together to give you a great looking shutter that will last and last.

With the poly shutter moisture is not a problem, as a matter of fact the poly rejects the moisture and it just rolls right off. That's something that all the other types of shutters are envious of.

The final type of plantation shutter is the wood shutter. I have said before that ever since God created wood man has had a love affair with wood and wood furniture.

You will notice in the section above about poly shutters I said painted shutters because it's hard to tell the difference between poly and wood in the painted colors.

Wood stained shutters are a completely different story. The rich wood graining and smooth finish give you a shutter to die for. As hard as they try the engineers and scientists just can't match God for that rich wood look.

The poly wood look shutters don't hold a candle to the real wood.

Now you can even get shutters made in exotic hard wood such as knotty alder. The knotty alder shutters even come with the knot holes in them. It's a big part of the beauty of the wood.

I wouldn't put wood shutters in a bath room because of the moisture problem. The real wood is not near as bad as the composite for soaking up water but they will swell a little if they get wet. So the best thing to do is not use them in places where you will have water and steam.

Plantation shutters are the ultimate window treatment. Used in combination with other window treatments or by themselves they give you the look of strength and character. They portray wealth and affluence like no other treatment. Place your shutters wisely and you'll have a great look for many years down the road.

• Not All Plantation Shutters Are Created Equal