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Our wood shutters are made of basswood, a lightweight hardwood with a consistent color and a tight grain that naturally resists moisture and takes stain or paint well.
Polywood is a popular alternative to natural wood; it’s made of recyclable synthetics that are engineered and reinforced to be strong and stable. They are highly energy efficient. Because the surface is baked on, it is durable and won’t chip, crack, or warp. They come in standard white and off-white tones, or our premium poly shutters can be custom painted any color.
Depending upon the width, height, and number of consecutive windows, you will most likely have several options with how your shutter panels look and operate. From single-panel shutters to bi-fold and double-hung panels, there are several customizable options.
If your window is under 36″, you have the option of choosing a single or a double panel shutter. A single panel will offer the least obstruction if your priority is an outside view. Also, keep in mind, the bigger the louver, the better your view.
On smaller windows, 27” and smaller, a single panel is more desirable because the window itself is smaller. Adding an additional vertical line with two panels will crowd the window and make it look busy.
Covering windows with two panels offers a more traditional look. Because each panel swings outward to the left and right, a shutter with two panels is also easier to open.
Additionally, with two narrow panels, louvers lay against one another more tightly when the louvers are closed, blocking the maximum amount of light.
Café style refers to shutters built to cover the lower half of a window. This style offers a more informal appearance.
Double-hung shutters consist of separate panels that are hung one on top of the other. With double-hung plantation shutters, you can swing open the top portion of the shutter independently from the bottom. However, the things to consider with this option is that because these are actually separate panels, they are on separate hinge systems. There is also a gap between the top and bottom panels to allow for separate swinging, and because you have to have this gap, the top panel has nothing to rest on. So over time, the top panel will sag due to a lack of support. Another major issue to address with double hung is the significant light gap that occurs between the top and bottom shutter panels. This gap will vary over time, depending on the amount of sagging that occurs with the hinges on the top panel.
Shutters designed with a divider rail or in the double-hung fashion are a popular choice in bathrooms. They allow for the closure of the bottom louvers for privacy, while the top louvers can be left open for a view and light. It’s harder to get that kind of function with curtains, drapes, or wood blinds.
2 ½” louvers for plantation shutters were the choice for many consumers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Viewed as a traditional plantation shutter, it created a quality, finished window treatment.
The desire for cleaner looks had led to the 3 ½” louver plantation shutter dominating the market. Nearly 98% of all new shutter orders have the 3 ½” louver specified. Fewer louvers are necessary to build the shutter panel. When closed, they afford the same privacy as the 2 ½” louver. When opened, however, the additional space between the louvers creates a dramatic, clean look that affords a greater view while still being subtle on your window.
More popular on the West coast and some tropical regions, the 4 ½” louver screams a very contemporary style here in Houston. Not many residences elect a louver this large, but when you want a statement made with a plantation shutter, the 4 ½” does the job!
