There didn't used to be as many choices in building materials as there are today. Something was either made of wood, metal or stone. Materials had to be harvested or mined and then fashioned into whatever shape needed to construct the finished product. Today it is much different. New, synthetic and composite materials are cropping up everywhere and are proving to be not only a viable alternative to natural materials, but one that makes like a bit easier.
How Faux Wood is Made
Faux simply means that it is not genuine or real. When referring to wood, it means that although it is not real wood, it looks just like it. However, that is where the commonality ends. It may look just like real wood, which is of course the desired look, but it behaves very differently.
The faux wood used in shutters is actually a polyurethane material. In short it is a really strong plastic. This compressed, man-made material is consistent from the inside out. This has great significance when being used to make shutters.
Shutters are often cut to size in order to fit into specific window measurements. Because of this, a “raw” edge is left on the top or bottom. With real wood, the cut edge would need to be refinished – either painted or stained – to match the face of the shutter. With faux wood, the material is the same from the core out. When you cut the surface, it does not splinter and even better, it is the same colour throughout. There is no touch-up refinishing required!
The Advantages of Faux Wood
Real wood is very porous. It is greatly affected by moisture and temperature changes. Just take a look at how interior doors seem to not close quite right during the hot, humid summer months, but work just fine in the winter. That is because with heat and humidity – or moisture of any kind – wood will expand and warp. When the weather turns colder, the wood then condenses to its original size. Moisture can also cause warping that is not restored once the weather changes.
With faux wood, there is no change in size or shape just because of the weather. Faux wood also maintains a bright finished look without frequent painting. It can be washed with mild detergents and look as new as the day it was installed.
Wood shutters are constructed by stapling the slats with tiny staples to the frame of the shutter. This can cause a problem over time with the staples working their way out. Then the slats to the shutter start to fall out. The slats on faux wood shutters are able to be attached with strong adhesives that don't become detatched with time.
Many faux woods are treated with dust repellents too. This causes dust in the air to flutter on by instead of sticking to the shutter's surface. This makes housekeeping chores much lighter. Wood shutters can require very frequent dusting to keep them clean.
Faux wood shutters can be used inside and outside the window. They resist fading in the sunlight too. They can be used alone in interior decorating, or in place of a shade or sheers as a backdrop to draperies or valances.
Plantation Faux Wood Shutters
There can be very little in the way of style and elegance to compare to faux wood plantation shutters, they simply ooze style and sophistication, whilst at the same time, promoting an evocative atmosphere after the style of old colonial. Faux wood plantation shutters provide the most beautifully diffused light, combining privacy with a quick and easy opening and shutting mechanism.
Faux wood plantation shutters have advantages over real wood shutters. Since they are prone to hot and cold changes in temperature, and sometimes succumb to dampness, real wood shutters can warp, stretching and contracting over time according to the heat being received. This warping can lead to the fit of the shutters becoming less exact over time, and in severe circumstances can prevent the shutters from closing fully or opening in the way they should. This, of course, can make the appearance look less than desirable, and if the shutters don't close properly, then possibly your privacy is at stake.
The other problem with some wooden shutters is that they can fade over time. Wood, like any other natural material, is affected by the sunlight. Over time, the wood can be dried, faded and the overall affect lost.
Faux wood plantation shutters, on the other hand, are made of PVC and both colored and textured to give the appearance of a wide range of natural looking woods. Yet whilst the appearance is not lost, the long term durability is far more sustainable. Faux wood plantation shutters do not fade or warp, so the long term appearance of the product is guaranteed far longer.
Another advantage of faux wood plantation shutters compared to real wood shutters is cost. There is no doubt that real wood can be hugely expensive, yet the PVC construction of faux wood plantation shutters makes them very affordable indeed. If you're saving money by purchasing faux wood plantation shutters ? why not invest in some complimentary decorations to set them off?
The natural wood look of faux wood plantation shutters means that they will be able to compliment any style of d'cor which a room takes. From the crisp, clean white of a bathroom or a colonial style bedroom, to the warmer tones of beech to a classic oak, there is no doubt that faux wood plantation shutters can provide the matching look for a cost which will be very surprising.
Many people are keen to use the style of plantation shutters in areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and even spas. In these areas, moisture can be such a problem that wood shutters would simply warp, crack and peel, losing their appeal and style very quickly. Considering the cost of wooden shutters, this represents both a poor choice, the investment simply not justifying itself after only a very short period of time. By fitting faux wood plantation shutters, all of these moisture problems are solved in one fell stroke. Faux wood plantation shutters will simply not peel or crack or warp, the lower cost of initial investment returning its long term advantages to you time and time again.
Today, many people recognize the advantage of 'curb appeal' in selling their houses, and the appeal is continued inside the property when visitors and prospective buyers step inside and see the exquisite style and practicality of wood plantation shutters. Indeed, the value of a property can be significantly enhanced through the addition and installation of suitably chosen, d'cor-complimenting wood plantation shutters. The advantage of fitting faux wood plantation shutters is not just because of the style they add, but the investment they represent. Almost certainly the value they represent in terms of style adds to your property, whether for your own pleasure or as part of a move to sell your property at a good price, will be far in excess of the cost to purchase and install them yourself. Faux wood plantation shutters are a feature which will help to sell your property even before the buyer has stepped in the door.
So, if style is your aim, and cost your gain, then there is no doubt at all that, from the point of view of style, longevity and cost, faux wood plantation shutters represent a remarkably low cost yet evocative and stylish addition to the house which likes to call itself a home.
Both Ken Morris & Judith Persit are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ken Morris has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Home Management and Air Purifier Cleaners. Ken Morris reveals frequently for an source of information. The writer is publishing about. Ken Morris's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.
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