A big part of what makes our range of wood shutters unique is the premium materials used to create them.

Here, we’ll take a detailed look under the surface of our made-to-measure wooden shutters, explaining more about the natural wood used, why different materials are used on different shutter styles, and some of the benefits wooden plantation shutters will bring to your space.

Creating wooden shutters

Although every wooden shutter we provide is created in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, plenty of traditional joinery skills still go into your plantation shutters.

From the kiln-drying of the raw materials through to the mortice and tenon joints used when your panels come together, these tried-and-tested methods are an essential part of what makes quality wooden shutters attractive, rugged, and long-lasting.

Selecting the best materials for your wood shutters

You’ll see a series of different woods and materials talked about as you explore our range of plantation shutters.

Here, you can take a look at each in more detail:

• Ayous wood
• Paulownia
• High-quality hardwood
• High-grade MDF and hardwood
• Coated high-grade MDF

Ayous wood

Ayous is a versatile wood that’s native to West and Central Africa. In technical terms, Ayous has ‘high dimensional stability – which means it is resistant to expansion or contraction when exposed to heat or humidity.

The stability of the wood means that even when different sections of the shutter are joined, it’s extremely unlikely that there will be any separation or splitting.

This is essential to ensure a painted finish maintains its quality for a long time in your home.

The Ayous wood used for our shutters is ethically sourced from a sustainable plantation in the Solomon Islands.

Paulownia

Paulownia wood might not be a name you immediately recognise – but it’s the world’s fasted growing hardwood.

Since the Paulownia tree grows quickly, the wood is light – but as a hardwood, it’s incredibly resistant to warping, making it ideal for plantation-style shutters.

Paulownia wood is used in our Fiji range when you choose a wood stain finish.

Since it’s a lighter wood, it’s perfect for larger windows, patio doors or if you require window coverings under roof spaces.

Like other hardwoods we use across our range, Paulownia is sustainable and ethically sourced.

What’s more, it has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios on the market – contributing to a lowered carbon footprint when the materials are transported.

High-quality hardwood

If you explore our Fiji range, you’ll see our shutters are created using ‘high-quality hardwoods‘, which means we carefully select from a range of hardwood options when constructing each element of your shutters.

This is especially important when manufacturing painted shutters. By choosing the correct wood with the required properties, we can ensure that any expansion or contraction is minimised – so your painted shutters look outstanding throughout their life in your home.

By combining hardwoods, we also ensure our shutters boast a ‘low thermal conductivity’.

This means that wood types with excellent heat resistance can be combined – keeping your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

High-grade MDF and hardwood

By carefully combining quality medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and natural hardwood, we create our Cuba range – outstanding wood shutters that benefit from the qualities of high-grade MDF and hardwood.

Blending hardwood and MDF creates a lighter-weight shutter. This means more oversized windows and wider expanses can be covered with ease.

This lower-weight blend of materials also means that four panels can be hinged together – rather than just 2 with other, heavier shutter styles.

This is even possible with full-height shutters in large windows and café style shutters that span vast spaces.

Our MDF and hardwood shutters stand out against other similar products thanks to the quality of the MDF we use.

Lower-grade MDF often reacts badly to moisture – but we use a specially formulated high moisture-resistant MDF sourced sustainably in Australia.

We’d suggest looking at a different, more waterproof material if you plan to fit your shutters in a steamy bathroom or a high-moisture area surrounding a hot tub or pool.

Coated high-grade MDF

Our Antigua range is created using premium MDF covered in an extruded polypropylene coating.

Again, sourced sustainably in Australia, our MDF is the highest-quality, boasting properties that make it many customers’ first choice.

The reduced manufacturing costs of MDF mean your shutters are more affordable – but without compromising on robustness, finish quality, or ease of operation.

What’s more, MDF is tough, making it the ideal material for use in a busy family home.

If you’re looking for shutters, room dividers or wardrobe doors that will stand up to the knocks, bumps, and scuffs inevitable in high-traffic areas, a coated MDF shutter might be ideal.

The benefits of made-to-measure wood shutters

Whichever style or material you decide is right for your home; you can be confident that your shutters come with a host of impressive benefits:

• Added insulation
• Improved privacy
• Outstanding light control
• Kerb appeal
• Easy maintenance
• No trapped dust or allergens

Added insulation

Energy prices are never far from the headlines – and adding insulation to your home can help to keep heating costs down.

Adding a layer of hardwood or MDF to your windows will help deflect the surrounding air and keep it where it should be.

In winter, your wood shutters will help trap warm air inside. In summer, this additional insulation means hot, stuffy days are kept outside, and your living space is comfortable.

Improved privacy

Other properties, pavements or roads overlook virtually all homes in the UK.

Fabric window dressings have to be closed completely to offer privacy – but wood shutters do not.

With a quick adjustment of the louvres on your plantation shutters, you can make sure passers-by can’t see into your house – but the daylight can still flood in.

Outstanding light control

Wooden shutters don’t guarantee that the sun will shine – but they will help you control the light when it does!

Rather than constantly adjusting blinds and curtains to account for the moving sun, made-to-measure shutters can be quickly adjusted to keep the sun out of your eyes throughout the day.

If you decide you’d like to dull the lights, closing the shutters offers impressive room-darkening results too.

Kerb appeal

Shutters are the only window treatment that looks as attractive from the outside as they do from the inside.

As such, wood shutters in your home vastly improve your property’s kerb appeal – making your house look neat and beautifully finished.

Easy maintenance

Wood shutters are an efficient option if you’re looking for a window dressing for your home.

The weekly maintenance will usually involve a brush from a feather duster.

Of course, spills and splashes happen, but when they do, a quick wipe with a damp cloth will make your wooden shutters look as good as new.

No trapped dust or allergens

Fabric window coverings are notorious for trapping dust and allergens – which can be bad news for the quality of the air your breath.

Shutters avoid this problem almost entirely. Wood will not trap dust particles – making it easy to keep your room fresh.

Also, when the time comes to clean your plantation shutters, you don’t have to worry about expensive trips to the dry cleaners.

Are wood shutters right for your property?

If the shutter styles and high-quality natural wood materials we’ve discussed here sound ideal for your home, getting in touch with our team should be your next step.

You’ll be talking with one of our shutter design team when you do. The person you speak to will be more than happy to answer all your questions and give you as much information as you need – so you can decide for yourself whether wood shutters are perfect for your home.