Alternative Shutter Materials for Your Replacement Windows

Wood shutters are always classic and stylish. However, sometimes you want to go a different way to decorate and enhance the replacement windows on your San Jose, CA home. There are lots of other shutter materials that offer more durability, better affordability, less maintenance, and many more benefits over wood shutters, and therefore offer more benefits for your replacement windows and home.

If these benefits seem interesting, keep reading to learn more about alternate window shutter materials.

1. Laminate – Laminate shutters are made from thin slats of lumber that are glued together to make the desired shape. They are quite stable when made properly, and can be painted, stained, or wrapped. Laminate is a great alternative to wood, as they have similar properties. Laminate is also a lot more affordable than wood. However, this material does not hold up well to moisture and often deteriorates quickly when exposed to a wet environment.
2. MDF – MDF, or medium-density fiberboard, is sawdust mixed with glue, formed into whatever shape that’s desired. MDF shutters can be coated in many different materials including paint and vinyl wrap. MDF is very affordable but can be built to look just like more expensive wood shutters. MDF shutters are stable and are great at resistant warping. However, MDF doesn’t stand up well to moisture, and MDF shutters have been known to peel and swell when they get too wet. MDF also doesn’t respond well to staining.
3. PVC – PVC, or Polyvinyl Chloride, is a hollow vinyl material. It has a hollow extrusion or can be made with reinforced webbing on the interior. PVC is easily recognized by its lack of finish and the caps on the edges of the shutter blades for sealing. PVC is very affordable, but that’s because it’s cheaply made. PVC shutters often have a plastic appearance, can be yellow when exposed to too much direct sunlight, and can become brittle after years of use. PVC shutters cannot be stained, and only come in a few color options. However, their low-price tag is very attractive.
4. Foamed Synthetics – Foamed synthetic shutters are set apart by a reasonable price, water resistance, fire resistance, non-toxic construction, and superior insulation. Some kinds of foamed synthetic shutters are built with aluminum centers that reinforce the shutter to help prevent bowing and sagging. These shutters come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes, and often look very similar to wood. Of all the synthetic shutter materials, foamed synthetics are probably the best, even though they are not as stiff or light as wood, limiting the design options. Foamed synthetic shutters also cannot be stained, and usually aren’t built to be bigger than 80 to 96 inches.

These are just a few of the many kinds of materials you can choose for shutters to put on your replacement windows. If you want to learn more about window treatment options, or about San Jose, CA replacement windows, please contact California Custom Creations today.