What Are Faux Wood Shutters?

Material

• Faux wood shutters are made of a polyurethane material, which is a strong plastic. Man-made, it is a compressed material that is consistent from the core to the exterior. If a faux wood shutter needs to be cut somewhere, unlike painted or stained wood the edges will not need color or stain touchups.

Terms

• Decorative shutters--used interchangeably with "faux shutters," "decorative window shutters" and "decorative house shutters"--are solely for decorative purposes. They are non-functional. Fixed in place, the shutters don't open and close, and if they are louvered, the louvers don't move.

  While some faux wood shutters are only decorative, others are functional. Faux shutter hardware is reproduced to look like authentic wood hardware. Faux tilt rods reproduce the vertical operating poles in the center of faux louvered panels.

Types

• Faux wood shutters can be used outdoors to enhance the appearance of the house or indoors. Indoors, they can replace shades and curtains or create a backdrop for drapes. Because they are waterproof, faux wood shutters are especially useful in kitchens and bathrooms, the two rooms where most moisture collects and most construction dollars are spent.

Main Advantages

• Outdoor wooden shutters over time will likely expand, contract, warp or crack due to weather conditions. Eventually, repair or repainting will be necessary. Faux wood shutters are unaffected by weather elements. No color loss or fading will occur, and when they are washed with a mild detergent, the original brightness will be restored. Faux wood shutters are treated with a dust repellent, and, unlike wooden ones, dust particles will simply float past them.

Other Advantages

• The slats on louvered wooden shutters are stapled to the frames; in faux frames, they're attached by adhesives. Over time, louvers separate from their wooden frames, unlike faux shutters. Faux wood shutters are also available in many styles, ranging from old cottage to a modern look with bleach accents. Everything in these shutters is waterproof: slats, frames and mechanisms. Another big advantage is that faux wood shutters are much more affordable than genuine wood shutters.