What Are The Best Shutters Made Of?
There are quite a few shutters out there made from “wood”, “engineered wood” and various combinations. In order to cut down on the confusion and level the playing field a bit, we present our rundown of some common shutter materials. Our PolyCore Shutters and Lexwood Shutters only use 100% Basswood or Aluminum reinforced PVC.
PRESSBOARD
Pressboard or particleboard is an engineered wood that is made by taking wood particles like wood chips, sawmill shavings and sawdust and combining them with synthetic resin (usually urea formaldehyde resin). The resultant material is pressed into sheets and heated to dry the glue.
There is a serious safety concern with particleboard. Formaldehyde (part of the glue) is classified by the WHO as a human carcinogen. Even though a large amount is removed when the glue dries, formaldehyde continues to be emitted throughout the life of the product as the resin decomposes. Particleboard will also disintegrate when exposed to moisture and Colorado’s extreme sun. Particleboard may visibly sag over time or snap near the fasteners.
FIBERBOARD / COMPOSITE
Since MDF and HDF are denser than Basswood, a shutter made out of these “woods” will be significantly heavier than a Basswood shutter. This means it will be more difficult to install. The increased weight will also place a heavier load on the hinges making sagging more likely.
Both MDF and HDF have a problem with water. They will absorb it like a sponge. These materials will absorb water out of the air and may warp or crack if not sealed. If you allow water to remain in contact with MDF or HDF the material will swell and break after a short time.
MDF and HDF also have special requirements as to where and how screws can be used. One of the more common problems seen on these types of shutters is screws stripping the material and pulling right out.
“HARDWOODS”
“Hardwood” is an intentionally vague name. Hardwood could be made out of any one of hundreds of different woods. You can bet it’s not Basswood since if you use the best wood for a shutter you are sure to tell people about it. All Hardwood means is that they bought the cheapest thing they could get away with using (very often Pine or Poplar).
ABS PLASTIC
The production of each of these chemicals carries it’s own environmental baggage and risks. This type of plastic tends to look very much like plastic with a high shine and a brittle feel.
POLYPROPYLENE
This type of plastic tends to look very much like plastic with a medium shine and a soft feel. Think of the top of a Tic Tacs box and you have a good example of this type of plastic.
PVC
High quality PVC shutters (PolyCore Shutters) have a smooth painted look that is often difficult to tell from a painted Basswood shutter. They have a co extruded aluminum core that allows for very wide panels and allows for screws to be used to assemble the shutters. This gives a much stronger joint. High quaity PVC shutters like PolyCore Shutters are moisture resistent and hold up to Colorado’s high altitude sun.
MIXED MATERIALS
So-called Mixed Materials shutters take a piece of MDF and dip it into a vat of molten PVC to coat it. This is an attempt to take the cheapest material possible (MDF) and protect it from water and give it the look of a high quality PVC shutter. You still have the weight issues of MDF and you gain none of the benefits of using aluminum reinforced PVC.
BASSWOOD
Basswood is lightweight but strong and stable and takes finishes and stains well. This is why Basswood is one of the best woods to use for shutters and blinds.
Our entire Lexwood shutter line is made from 100% premium kiln dried Basswood. No fillers, no sawdust, no composites, no plastic, no “engineered wood”, no unidentified “hardwood”.
Basswood’s combination of strength and light weight has long made it the preferred choice for shutters.
ALDER WOOD
Our line Alder and Knotty Alder Shutters are some the most strikingly beautiful stained plantation shutters you can put into your home.
GENERAL
Exposed to moisture or rot, Basswood components may resist decay for weeks or years. At the other end of the scale, exposed MDF panels will soak up moisture like a sponge.
REFERENCES
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/114286/hidden_danger_of_particle_board.html http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/725.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardwood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilia
Send us your measurements for a quick quote
Bring home the beauty of custom window coverings with a convenient on-site no pressure consultation from New View Blinds and Shutters. We will offer you low everyday honest pricing on a huge selection of shutters, shades, blinds and more. Take advantage of our decades of experience to find your perfect window coverings!