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.

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!

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.