Home DecorShutters
By Gerry Vi Kon
If you’re looking for an alternative to run-of-the-mill venetian blinds, consider getting plantation shutters. Plantation shutters offer a variety of benefits over venetians including effective insulation, aesthetic appeal and complete privacy.
With so many advantages on the table, it’s hard not to ditch your old your blinds. Once you decide to upgrade to plantation shutters, however, the question becomes: what kind of plantation shutters should you get?
To make the selection process easier for you, we’re going to boil it down to three of the most popular options: timber, aluminium and PVC. In this blog, we’re going to look at each of these materials and discuss their pros and cons. Hopefully, this guide will help you decide which material is right for you.
Wooden plantation shutters will give your property a homely yet stylish look. Depending on the wood, you can get a variety of different shades and aesthetics. The natural grain of bare timber creates those beautiful organic patterns on the surface. You can even get the timber stained and varnished if you want those rich brown hues to really stand out.
If you’re not into the organic look of timber, you can paint it for a more uniform and solid look. When it comes to paint, there’s no shortage of colour options. You can have clean white shutters or bright blue ones. After a while, if you feel that the colour isn’t right, you can simply repaint it.
Basswood and poplar are two of the most popular types of timber for plantation shutters. If you want, you can even use MDF or other types of composite wood. Regardless of what you choose, wooden plantation shutters are generally very light and durable.
One of their major downsides, however, is that they are prone to moisture damage. This makes them less suited to outdoor use than the alternatives.
Aluminium is incredibly lightweight and strong. Quality aluminium blinds will be finished with an aluminium oxide surface layer that protects the metal from rust, even in an environment that’s prone to moisture. Given proper maintenance and care, your aluminium plantation shutters will last you for many years to come.
In terms of aesthetics, aluminium has a sleek and shiny look that will fit most contemporary home decors. As a bare metal, aluminium has that silvery hue. However, you can also apply a powder coating to the surface for some colour. The powder coating will also act as an additional protective layer that lasts for about 10 to 15 years.
With the right type of coating, aluminium can also withstand a good amount of heat. If you live in the hotter parts of Australia, powder-coated aluminium is the ideal material for your outdoor plantation shutters. If you keep the shutters closed during the summer, they can also help your property stay nice and cool.
Compared to other metals, aluminium is relatively affordable. Compared to the other materials on this list, however, aluminium tends to be the more expensive option.
PVC is cheaper than both aluminium and timber shutters. Despite its price, PVC is extremely durable and easy to maintain. PVC plantation shutters can resist minor scratches, dents and nicks. Unlike timber, PVC is also moisture resistant. You won’t have to worry about it warping or corroding under wet conditions.
In terms of colour, PVC can be pre-manufactured in a range of colours. Unfortunately, since plastics aren’t porous, regular paint won’t be able to stick to the surface. This means that once your PVC shutters are manufactured with a certain colour, you’re essentially stuck with that hue.
Additionally, PVC is extremely light and can be easily transported and installed. However, because it’s lightweight, it won’t be able to support itself across a long distance. As a result, PVC plantation shutters are rarely used for larger windows.
There you have it, the three major types of plantation shutters. As you can probably tell, one type isn’t necessarily better than another. What you need to do is think about your particular situation and see which one of these materials is more suitable. Are you going to be using the shutters in a place that’s prone to moisture build up? How important is aesthetics to you? How much are you willing to spend? All these factors should be considered before committing to a product. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact a plantation shutter manufacturer near you.
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