Like picking out jewelry for a fancy outfit, selecting exterior shutters is a kind of grand finale for a home improvement project. When you get to this point in the process, you can already see the “After” picture coming together in your mind’s eye, and the finished look is a real head-turner!
Before you can stand back and admire your home’s amazing curb appeal, though, you have to spend some time shopping around for your shutters. Your first big decision: Which shutter material is right for your home and budget?
Maybe you love the look of real wood, but you’ve heard intriguing things about composite wood shutters. Now, it’s time to do a little research. To help you weigh the benefits of composite wood vs. wood shutters, we’ve outlined five reasons why composite shutters might indeed be your ideal choice.
Beauty
With its inviting warmth and intriguing texture, composite wood offers the same visual appeal and stylistic versatility of natural wood. It’s also a significant upgrade from vinyl. Composite shutters come in a variety of styles, from panel to louver to board and batten to combination shutters that offer a mix of panel and louver styles. So, whether you’re going for a more rustic or sophisticated look, composite wood shutters will deliver your desired aesthetic while providing many additional benefits, as listed below.
Durability
Not only do composite wood shutters look fantastic, they’re incredibly strong! They’re built for superior outdoor performance, standing up to the elements even better than natural wood or vinyl shutters. Composite wood shutters resist water damage, rot and even termites. Unlike vinyl shutters, they won’t warp due to prolonged weather exposure. That means you can count on them to beautify your home for years to come, with very little maintenance!
Longevity
When we say “years to come,” we really mean “decades.” Composite wood shutters can last as long as 20 years, providing plenty of enjoyment for you and your family — and adding significant curb-appeal value to your home, should you ever choose to sell.
Customization
Composite wood is an easy material to work with, so if you’re looking to add some adorable personalized cutouts to your shutters, you can shoot for the moon (literally). Cutouts are available in a variety of charming shapes. You can choose to have your shutters painted any color on the spectrum, even matching them to your front door or other decorative trim. Then, there’s the option of functional hardware for a fully authentic look that really sets your home apart from others on the block.
Value
Composite wood shutters typically cost between $300 and $500 per pair, on average. Cost will vary based on the size, shape, style and level of customization you choose.
Considering all the benefits we outlined above, from the elevated look to the minimal maintenance to the extended life expectancy, composite shutters certainly seem like a great investment. Just imagine all the additional enjoyment you’ll get out of your house and the extra pride you’ll feel when arriving home — not to mention all the compliments from your neighbors — once your new shutters are installed!
