Types of plantation shutters

Easy reading

The Standard plantation shutters are made from MDF and suit most requirements, making this the preferred customer choice with outstanding design and function. These are cost-effective and have a tough durable finish.

The Standard plus is for customers who want a budget hardwood. A smaller range of colours and styles than Elite, but very cost-effective allowing you to upgrade from MDF to wood at an affordable price.

The Elite is a very lightweight hardwood with a wider choice of colours and options for your windows, such as shaped, track mounted, multiple bi-folds and custom colours.

The Shaped option allows you to order angles or curves available in Elite, Basswood or Cedar.

The Track mounted option allows you to order for wide openings.  Available in Elite, Basswood and Cedar.

Solid Shaker panels are available in Basswood.  These Victorian style shutter panels have the same folding and colour options as the louvred basswood.

Specialist Plantation Shutters

Basswood is one of the best materials for shutter manufacturing.  These are top of the range and come in a full spectrum of colour, stain, shape and track options.

Cedar is available in an oiled finish for a lovely natural appearance. A good looking lightweight hardwood.

ABS is very hard wearing. These have a timber core which is then encapsulated in ABS plastic. Suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, playrooms, hotels, restaurants and sea front properties.

Technical stuff

Standard plantation shutters are made from MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard), which consists of a centre core of hardwood, surrounded by laminate MDF, finished with a tough water-resistant poly-coating. Standard is an extremely stable shutter which will resist warping, shrinking, swelling, scuffing, chipping, peeling, cracking or staining. A special UV inhibitor is incorporated to prevent colour fading.

Standard plus are made from Basswood panels with MDF outer frames.  Costs are kept low by using material that is not suitable for staining.  The colour options and style are reduced due to the MDF outer frames.  The stiles are engineered to create a super strong structure, with 7 layer spray paint finish for extra durability on each shutter panel.  The stiles are plain in style, unlike the other products which have a thin bead running down each side.  So if you are mixing materials you will need to bear this in mind.

Elite is made from a very light hardwood, currently Paulownia.    As they are very light weight this material is ideal for large openings where multiple panels are required. The Elite hardwood provides a highly professional finish for all styles of windows, from basic designs to unique shapes.  They are very strong and stable because of the engineered stiles, making them stand out from the rest of the market place.  Finished in a high quality 7 layer spray paint system with built in UV inhibiter.

Shaped are custom-made to fit your window.  From circles, triangles, curves or awkward angles, anything is possible.  Shaped can be made from any of the high quality hardwood ranges.  Please upload photos of your window so Sam can advise on measuring or the making of paper templates if required.  To choose how you would like your panels to open, select Shape under the folding option on the order form and then enter your folding requirements in the notes box at the bottom of the order form.

Track is supplied in a pre-moulded 3 sided frame, 2 side battens and a top header batten that houses the track.  The track option is available in the hardwood range.  Please enter your folding requirements into the notes box at the bottom of the order form.  When you order more than two bi-folding shutter doors the control rod will be offset 7mm from the centre to allow the doors to fold together neatly.

Solid shaker panels are available in all the same options and colours as louvered Basswood.  A simple shaker design allows the panel to blend with existing moulding.  The side stiles and top and bottom rails measure 28.6mm x 41.3mm with a 9mm centre panel.  These are made using quality engineered stiles for strength.  Finished with a high quality spray paint which is a 7 layer spray paint system for durability with built in UV inhibiter.

Specialist

Basswood in my opinion is the best material to make plantation shutters from, as it is very strong, durable, light and warp resistant.  It is smooth grained allowing a fantastic spray paint finish.  This is the best of the best, engineered stiles and rails, traditional morticed and tennoned joints, 7 layer spray paint system with staining options.  Available with all the features and options, louvre sizes and frames making this a very popular high quality hardwood shutter.

Oiled Cedar boasts a beautiful grain and colour structure.  Lightweight and strong providing all the strength you would expect without the need for engineered stiles.  These panels are solid Cedar throughout allowing for an oiled finish for outstanding looks.

Shapes and track products can be made in Cedar, and our exterior products are also available in cedar.

ABS* look and fit in the same way as the other products supplied.  ABS have some added advantages due to its toughness and strength.  With a wipe-able finish, these are ideal for wet rooms, bathrooms, kitchen or utility rooms, children’s play areas, hotels, restaurants, B&B, or lettings.

Built with a centre core of hardwood for strength they are then encapsulated in ABS plastic. 

NB: *ABS stands for ‘Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene’ - a common thermoplastic used to make rigid lightweight moulded products such as telephone handsets, computer cases, office equipment housings, lawn mower covers, safety helmets, luggage shells, pipes, fittings and toys like LEGO Bricks.   ABS is very tough, strong with good temperature resistance and a high quality surface finish.

Benefits

Confused about the different types of shutter and why they differ in cost.  Well, Sam has chosen his range for one good reason, quality.  When buying from the internet its difficult to know what you are buying, many customers search around for the lowest prices but forget to think about why they might be cheaper, how long they will last, will they warp in the sun, how are they made, how strong are the hinges and so on.

Along with the customer service and advice Sam provides, the reason he is still in business is because we don’t get any complaints about the quality of the product or service.

Look at the list of benefits below, add that to the expert advice provided by Sam to ensure your measuring and design is spot on and all at an affordable price.

•  28.6mm thick side styles for extra strength.
•  Warp resistant engineered stiles
•  Stronger profiled louvre blade design
•  High strength stainless steel staples
•  7 layers of spray paint with a UV inhibiter
•  All in one outer frame system
•  Powerful built in magnets
•  Built in light stop
•  Hidden fixing insert.
•  Blackout options
•  Kiln dried Grade A select material.
•  Quality control photographed check system

Sams tips

Standard is my best selling DIY product!  They provide a similar appearance to Elite, at a reduced cost. If you want a budget product that looks great, choose Standard.

Standard plus, for customers who want a painted hardwood at a low cost.  These are great for simple window designs.  Remember these have a plain side style so if you are mixing different materials these will look slightly different from other materials.

Elite provides added benefits such as shapes, custom colours and custom style designs, with this lightweight option wide openings can have up to 4 multiple folding panels each side.

Basswood is what I have chosen for my own home. I like the smooth grain and durability they provide, with young kids I wanted a strong shutter that could take a knock or two and still look the business.  I have the remote option in the lounge with the blackout option in the bedrooms and they still look as good as new.

Oiled Cedar really does look fantastic for a natural look, if you are matching an old pine floor or fire place, then these are the best plantation shutters to choose.

ABS is a great, tough material, when used in the right place.

Solid Victorian panels are a good alternative to louvred.  Choosing a simple shaker look does not detract from existing moulding you may have in your house.