Faux Wood vs Real Wood

MDF
(Medium Density Fiber)
shutters are also called “hybrid”, “Woodlore” and “composite” along with some other trade names. All of these window coverings are made from MDF as the base material. MDF is basically sawdust mixed with glue and formed in the shape required. The coatings range from a vinyl wrap to a painted finish. Advantages are cost to manufacture and cost to the consumer. They deceivingly look very much like more expensive wood shutters. They are stable in smaller sizes and resist warping. The disadvantages are their inherent inability to stand up to water, they have the habit of swelling and the finish peeling when exposed to too much moisture. The material is brittle and can easily break under impact. The material is very heavy and it will eventually sag under stress over a long period of time. This material is rapidly becoming a major part of the window covering market due to its low cost and the lack of consumer knowledge.
MDF
(Medium Density Fiber)
shutters are also called “hybrid”, “Woodlore” and “composite” along with some other trade names. All of these window coverings are made from MDF as the base material. MDF is basically sawdust mixed with glue and formed in the shape required. The coatings range from a vinyl wrap to a painted finish. Advantages are cost to manufacture and cost to the consumer. They deceivingly look very much like more expensive wood shutters. They are stable in smaller sizes and resist warping. The disadvantages are their inherent inability to stand up to water, they have the habit of swelling and the finish peeling when exposed to too much moisture. The material is brittle and can easily break under impact. The material is very heavy and it will eventually sag under stress over a long period of time. This material is rapidly becoming a major part of the window covering market due to its low cost and the lack of consumer knowledge.

At Elite Shutters
We have always been innovators and are in fact responsible for many of the shutter designs available within our industry today. Even though we’ve tried to keep an open mind when it comes to alternative materials offered for shutter construction, we do feel that the plantation shutter industry was far less confusing for consumers before the onset of faux wood materials introduced in the mid to late 1990’s. In this section, we share our 20+ years of experience (pros & cons) in working with various different types of faux-wood shutters

The enduring beauty of Elite’s authentic hardwood shutters (featured here) cannot be replaced by any faux material.
At Elite Shutters
We have always been innovators and are in fact responsible for many of the shutter designs available within our industry today. Even though we’ve tried to keep an open mind when it comes to alternative materials offered for shutter construction, we do feel that the plantation shutter industry was far less confusing for consumers before the onset of faux wood materials introduced in the mid to late 1990’s. In this section, we share our 20+ years of experience (pros & cons) in working with various different types of faux-wood shutters


The enduring beauty of Elite’s authentic hardwood shutters (featured above) cannot be replaced by any faux material.
faux wood fades

While many consumers of faux-wood shutters may initially have a good experience, they often find that over the years the extruded color of the material can in fact fade, yellow or discolor, scratch, and even stain on certain occasions. In fact, most faux-wood shutters now have to be painted with a finish coat to keep them from discoloration.
Today, most faux-wood products are sold by franchise operators & big box retailers. These companies often exist on volume selling by undercutting the wood prices in order to maintain a presence in the market place. Sadly, all too often their primary motivator is to achieve the highest profit margin, not by the legacy of their brand.
faux wood fades

While many consumers of faux-wood shutters may initially have a good experience, they often find that over the years the extruded color of the material can in fact fade, yellow or discolor, scratch, and even stain on certain occasions. In fact, most faux-wood shutters now have to be painted with a finish coat to keep them from discoloration.
Today, most faux-wood products are sold by franchise operators & big box retailers. These companies often exist on volume selling by undercutting the wood prices in order to maintain a presence in the market place. Sadly, all too often their primary motivator is to achieve the highest profit margin, not by the legacy of their brand.
our experience
Over the years, we have seen it all and experienced first hand the outcome of some of these products. There are a few applications we find appropriate for a faux wood shutter such as if there is a window to be shuttered inside the shower (yes, it happens!) or inside garages or attics. We put a custom color finish coat on our faux line to keep it from yellowing in the window. We only offer a solid polymer extruded shutter (never MDF) and we must limit it’s warranty to 10 years as compared to the Lifetime Warranty offered on our wood shutters. At the end of the day, authentic real wood shutters, when made with the highest quality wood grades and finished with premium paints or stains, are still today and will always be the preferred and superior material of choice for true custom interior shutters. The premium North American Hardwood we use for our plantation shutters is sourced from sustainable and responsibly managed forests and is finished with completely non-toxic finishes. Learn more about our wood shutters here >>
our experience
our experience
Over the years, we have seen it all and experienced first hand the outcome of some of these products. There are a few applications we find appropriate for a faux wood shutter such as if there is a window to be shuttered inside the shower (yes, it happens!) or inside garages or attics. We put a custom color finish coat on our faux line to keep it from yellowing in the window. We only offer a solid polymer extruded shutter (never MDF) and we must limit it’s warranty to 10 years as compared to the Lifetime Warranty offered on our wood shutters. At the end of the day, authentic real wood shutters, when made with the highest quality wood grades and finished with premium paints or stains, are still today and will always be the preferred and superior material of choice for true custom interior shutters. The premium North American Hardwood we use for our plantation shutters is sourced from sustainable and responsibly managed forests and is finished with completely non-toxic finishes. Learn more about our wood shutters here >>
Manufacturing
(Medium Density Fiber)
One way to tell if a faux-wood shutter is an import is by the price. Because the synthetic material has to be created in a manufacturing process, formed, milled, cut, assembled and finished like a wood shutter, the cost is sometimes higher than wood. Most likely, the lower-cost faux products are not made in America. Many companies also import the components and assemble them in the USA. The foreign companies also hide under different company names that sound American. All too often consumers who buy these products have no idea their products are from China or other from sources outside the USA. If you have a project where faux-wood is needed due to the environment the shutter will be subjected to then we do offer an American made Polymer Shutter that will work well as an alternative to our woods.
Manufacturing
(Medium Density Fiber)
One way to tell if a faux-wood shutter is an import is by the price. Because the synthetic material has to be created in a manufacturing process, formed, milled, cut, assembled and finished like a wood shutter, the cost is sometimes higher than wood. Most likely, the lower-cost faux products are not made in America. Many companies also import the components and assemble them in the USA. The foreign companies also hide under different company names that sound American. All too often consumers who buy these products have no idea their products are from China or other from sources outside the USA. If you have a project where faux-wood is needed due to the environment the shutter will be subjected to then we do offer an American made Polymer Shutter that will work well as an alternative to our woods.
Awards & Certificates
Best of Houzz 2014 – 2019 – Customer Service. We were rated at the highest level for customer service by the Houzz community six years running 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019.




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