What material is best for plantation shutters? PVC Vs. Wood Vs. Aluminium: Pros and cons to consider before you buy
If you’ve been giving some thought to having plantation shutters installed in your home, you are likely feeling overwhelmed by the number of materials available on the market today.
The good news is that we’re going to break it down for you, to help make the decision process easier.
While there are many different materials available, we choose to work with the following three:
PVC
Basswood
Aluminium
We use the above three materials when manufacturing our plantation shutters because we believe they are best suited to the application. However, which of the three materials is best suited to your needs and requirements?
In this article, we’ll compare the three, each with its own unique pros and cons, so that you can decide before going ahead and making any commitments. Here’s everything you need to know about PVC, basswood, and aluminium plantation shutters…
After a Quote from the local friendly professionals follow the link below.
PVC Vs. Basswood Vs. Aluminium: Which is the best material for plantation shutters?
OK, so which material is the best for making plantation shutters? PVC, basswood, or aluminium?
The fact is, all three materials are well-suited to plantation shutters, each material having its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s start by listing the pros and cons of each, with a summary at the end.
Let’s get stuck in!
Advantages and disadvantages of PVC plantation shutters
The pros of PVC plantation shutters are:
Affordable (cheapest material option)
Easy to install
Waterproof (ideal for kitchens and bathrooms)
Better scratch resistance than Basswood/Timber
Resistant to fading
High durability
UV resistant
No cracking or peeling
Energy efficient
Best insulation Properties of any other plantation shutter material
Great acoustic properties
Reinforced with aluminium throughout our components. (Stops the PVC from being able to bend/bow/warp)
They have a soft look to them not being finished in gloss paints like Aluminium. Making PVC a better interior product.
100% recyclable.
The cons of PVC plantation shutters are:
PVC weighs more than wood
Sometimes be limited by the product specifications, such as the limit in width and mid-rail requirements.
The shutters are pre-painted and fairly limited when it comes to style and design options when compared to wood or aluminium
PVC shutters need aluminium reinforcement to prevent sagging
They don’t quite have the same aesthetic charm as natural hard or softwood shutters
For non-standard shape windows (e.g., tri-angle or arch windows), PVC is unsuitable. (However, we are one of only a select hand that has the skills and machinery that can make specially shaped PVC shutters In Australia. So this con doesn't apply to us!)
As you can see PVC plantation shutters have many advantages that far outweigh the drawbacks. If you are looking to install plantation shutters throughout your entire home and you are working on a bit of a tight budget, PVC plantation shutters are without question, one of the most viable alternatives.
In addition to that, given their exceptional resistance to moisture, this material is arguably the best option for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
After a Quote from the local friendly professionals follow the link below.
Advantages and disadvantages of basswood plantation shutters
The pros of basswood plantation shutters are:
The most aesthetically stunning plantation shutter material
Can re-coat, paint, and stain as you see fit
Natural durability makes them sturdy and resistant to warping
Not easily affected by heat and moisture
Great insulation (keeps the hot air out and the cool air in or vis versa)
The flexibility of design (perfect for non-standard shapes)
Eco-friendly sustainably sourced wood.
Also, have a soft look to them due to not being finished in gloss paints like Aluminium. Making basswood a better interior product.
The cons of basswood plantation shutters are:
Timber plantation shutters are typically the most expensive
Wood requires more upkeep and maintenance with touch-ups and repainting
Unless stained and protected properly, wood/timber plantation shutters aren’t best suited to bathrooms and other rooms that experience a lot of moisture
Subject to fading from excessive UV exposure.
not easy to re-coat or stain
All in all, basswood plantation shutters (and timber shutters in general) have a number of attractive benefits, with a few manageable drawbacks.
While PVC and aluminium are strong contenders which have grown in popularity over recent years, timber plantation shutters still remain incredibly popular. This is largely down to their exceptional aesthetic appearance. It really is difficult to beat the charm of a natural gain.
These aren’t perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms – and nor are they ideal for outdoor use (although if you are happy to regularly stain and treat them, they can be), however, for indoor use throughout your home, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more attractive window covering option.
After a Quote from the local friendly professionals follow the link below.
The advantages and disadvantages of aluminium plantation shutters
The pros of aluminium plantation shutters are:
Powder coating or two-pack paints
Resistant to extreme weather conditions
Strong and durable material
A versatile material
Provides insulation
Highly resistant to extreme temperatures
They are resistant to rust
No peeling or cracking like some timbers
No warping out of shape like some timbers
UV Stable finishes not stain or discolour suitable for our Harsh summer conditions.
The cons of aluminium plantation shutters:
Aluminium shutters aren’t the best insulator out of the three materials and require the appropriate coating maintenance.
They’re not quite as attractive or aesthetically pleasing as natural wood plantation shutters
They can be quite expensive compared to other material choices.
Aluminium plantation shutters have a load of great benefits with only a few flaws, making them an excellent choice. While they are certainly quite expensive when compared to their PVC counterpart, their strength and rigidity all the more make up for it.
If you are looking for outdoor plantation shutters that can easily withstand the elements and remain in excellent condition for longer, aluminium plantation shutters are hard to beat.
While they aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing of material options, in terms of practicality, aluminium shutters are worth a look!
Follow this link to see some of the jobs we have done in Aluminium.
Conclusion
To recap:
PVC plantation shutters have many advantages. Given their affordability, they are an excellent choice for those who are fitting shutters throughout their entire home on a budget. That, and they are particularly excellent for rooms that have a load of moisture in the air, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Basswood and other timber plantation shutters have some brilliant advantages – namely their aesthetic superiority. The natural grain style is widely popular and provides a timeless appeal that many other materials struggle to compete with. Additionally, they’re well-suited to non-standard window applications.
Aluminium plantation shutters are a solid contender with many advantages and few drawbacks. Given how sturdy and weather-resistant they are, aluminium shutters are perfect for outdoor use, and indeed in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Ultimately, deciding on which material makes the best plantation shutter is very difficult, given how different they are. All you need to do is think carefully about your needs and requirements, your aesthetic tastes, and how much budget you have available.
If you are still struggling to decide which is best suited to your home, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We’ll gladly offer our unbiased advice and help you settle on the perfect material choice for you.