3 Ways Polywood Shutters Are Better Than Hollow Vinyl And Composite Shutters In MD
December 15, 2015
Plantation shutters in Baltimore come with different options. And when you are figuring out which non-wood shutter fits your home best, some differences may be tough to recognize. You can pick the wrong type without knowing and find yourself ordering low quality shutters. When it comes to solid polymer shutters, like our best-selling Polywood® shutters, are they a better investment than MDF (multi-density fiberboard) or hollow vinyl shutters? Here are three ways Polywood shutters are a better choice than composite shutters in MD .
1. Polywood vs Composite Shutters Durability
Polywood shutters are fashioned from a top grade solid polymer that leads to the most rigidity, color-retention, and durability than any other shutter on the market. With that, the shutter louvers will not chip as long as they’re on the window. In contrast, composite shutters are fabricated from a pressed-board core, enveloped in poly-vinyl. The vinyl enveloping the pressed board also peels away from the core element quickly. And this peeling is accelerated in humid, wet, and hot surroundings. Hollow vinyl shutters are another option for non-wood shutters. But they deteriorate the fastest due to the material.
Both forms of non-wood shutters are susceptible to deterioration and warping when exposed to the different environmental conditions in Baltimore. Polywood is manufactured with UV inhibitors that divert heat. And with heat being the biggest offender in splitting the shutter louvers, Polywood is without a doubt the most durable plantation shutter you can find.
2. Polywood vs Composite Shutters Color Fastness
Polywood shutters come in three superior white paints. These paint finishes are baked on each part at temperatures hotter than it will ever get in MD. The patented finishing process includes UV inhibitors to make sure the color doesn’t fade.
Other types of non-wood shutters are available in no or low quality paint finish. In the majority of cases, the vinyl covering is the all the color you get. Although it looks good when installed, this finish fades over time. And as to hollow vinyls, some are painted. But since the material conducts heat, this seriously impacts the finish over time.
3. Polywood vs Composite Shutters Energy Efficiency
Third party tests illustrate that Polywood shutters block up to 30° of temperature and reduce heat transfer by up to 45%. This means that Polywood insulates up to 70% better than a similar solid wood shutter.
It’s the heat blocking properties of the solid polymer material Polywood’s made of that make these plantation shutters so energy efficient. Yet what makes Polywood even more energy efficient than composite shutters is the weatherstripping on the louvers and panels. Simply interlock the weatherstripping pieces when closing the panels. This gives you the tightest seal possible against the effects of the weather outside. You won’t find all the energy savings that Polywood offers in any composite shutter.
Our Vegas Team Experiences The Durability Of Polywood Shutters First Hand
In 2004, Sunburst Shutters Las Vegas had Polywood shutters attached to the sides of their trucks as part of the graphics. These trucks were parked outside and withstood the climate Las Vegas is known for. We’re talking intense heat for more than five months a year!
The shutters had been fastened to our vehicles for more than 7 years. That’s when our team organized an investigation on the color retention value of Polywood. The team wiped down the dusty Polywood shutter installed on the vehicle. And we compared it side by side to a new Polywood. We found the color to be unchanged. There wasn’t any visible signs of fading or discoloration. It further validated for the team that the Sunburst paint finish is truly top quality!
And since Polywood can endure so much heat damage on the road for more than 7 years, it’s undoubtedly the most durable shutter for your house in MD.
