The idea behind window shutters is to give a room privacy and protection from the sun’s rays. Shutters give a better protection for both privacy and light than shades. The shutters made to look like wood today are usually made of PVC that imitates the color and texture of wood, but at a fraction of the cost.

Because of this expense of wooden shutters, most of the time the homes that had them belonged to the wealthy. Today’s advances in the designs of faux wooden shutters makes them accessible to everyone. In fact, since the shutters made of PVC to look like wood have become so popular, the manufacturers of real wood shutters have had to lower their prices in order to compete. But wood is still more expensive than PVC, so about half of the market for shutters is for real wood, and half for faux wood shutters.

Anyone who wants to protect the environment and save trees might consider substitute shutters rather than using wood and further depleting the forests. There is another side to this argument, however. Even though faux wood shutters do not destroy any trees, using wood can be said to be more environmentally friendly since wood products are biodegradable. PVC and other materials made from plastic composites do not biodegrade, and therefore stay in landfills forever. Most people consider the price of goods they purchase more than the ecological impact, but it is an issue to think about.

Faux wood shutters do have some advantages over wood, however. They are very strong and resist damage since they do not warp or crack and are not subject to moisture damage. They retain their shape and texture when they are exposed to the sun, which is the idea behind the shutters. Wooden shutters fade in the sun and need to be re-stained from time to time. The look of faux wooden shutters can be incredibly realistic, especially from a distance, and they create the desired sun and privacy protection while giving the soft ambiance of wood, which is the look most people want to create in the room.

Internal wooden shutters are a stunning addition to any home. Now, with The Shutter Store you have cost effective alternative way to dress your windows for less! They represent a genuinely new way to purchase award winning plantation shutters for your home. The Shutter Store Inc is a US Corporation based in Las Vegas, Nevada. They are an American company and are affiliated to Europe’s leading online shutter retailer, The California Shutter & Blind Company. Their background in shutters extends back many years, and The Shutter Store has opened for business, here in the USA, in response to demand our European company has had for our high quality plantation shutters.