Shutter BoysUpdated
The short answer: composite is a family of materials, not one. Some are hollow plastic, some are foam-filled, some are fibreboard (MDF) under a coating, and some mix real wood with composite parts. Ask what’s inside, and read what the warranty says about water.
What “composite” means
Bloomin’ Blinds describes composite shutters as made from “engineered wood, PVC, or polymer materials rather than solid hardwood”, and says most are “hollow or foam-filled”[1]. Hunter Douglas describes its NewStyle hybrid shutters as combining “the look of genuine wood with the durability of composite materials”[2]. Neither description tells you what’s at the core of a louver, and that’s the part that matters.
Composite and water
Composite is often sold as the moisture-proof option. The makers’ own fine print is more careful:
- Norman says its Woodlore Plus composite can handle high-moisture rooms “When equipped with the optional waterproof finish”[3]. The waterproof version is an add-on.
- Blinds Chalet’s warranty excludes “deterioration from sunlight or moisture”[4]. That warranty covers its window coverings generally, but it shows how sellers treat moisture.
So composite isn’t a free pass for a shower window. If a window gets wet, look for a product sold as waterproof, with a warranty that says so.
| Feature | Solid wood (poplar) | Composite |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | One hardwood throughout | Varies: fibre, foam, PVC, or wood plus composite |
| Sand to fit | Yes | Usually not: it can cut through the coating |
| Repaint later | Yes | Depends on the coating |
| Shower spray | No | Only with a waterproof version |
| Colours | Any paint or stain | Factory colours |
Questions to ask about MDF and composite shutters
- What is the louver core? Fibreboard, foam, hollow plastic or wood.
- How are the edges and screw holes sealed? A coating protects a fibre core only where it’s intact.
- What does the warranty exclude? Look for moisture, sun and fading.
- Can it be trimmed if the opening is out of square? Wood can be lightly sanded; most coated cores can’t.
- Can I repaint it in ten years? Ask what primer and paint the maker approves, if any.
Why we only use solid wood
Every Shutter Boys shutter is American poplar, a hardwood that’s been used for painted moulding, trim and interior doors for generations; Purdue University notes it “is easily painted and tends to hold paint well”[5]. Solid wood is the same all the way through, so a scuff can be sanded and touched up, and the whole shutter can be repainted.
Wood isn’t perfect. It takes on and loses moisture with the seasons; in heated buildings, the National Research Council of Canada puts it at about “6% in winter to 12% in summer”[6]. Paint slows that, and a dry, ventilated room keeps it in check. That’s why we say no to shower windows and yes to nearly everything else. Our wood shutters
Common questions
What are composite shutters made of?
It depends on the maker. Sellers describe them as engineered wood, PVC or polymer, often hollow or foam-filled, and some combine real wood with composite parts. Ask what the core is.
Are MDF shutters any good?
MDF (medium-density fibreboard) takes paint well while its surface is sealed. The questions are what protects the edges and screw holes, and whether the warranty covers moisture. If a seller won’t say, assume it doesn’t.
Are composite shutters waterproof?
Not as a rule. Norman offers a separate waterproof option on its Woodlore Plus composite for high-moisture rooms, which tells you the standard version isn’t sold for them.
Is composite cheaper than wood?
Usually, which is the main reason it exists. Compare the price with the panel construction and the warranty exclusions, not just the name.
Sources
- Composite shutters, Bloomin’ Blinds (retailer’s own claim)
- NewStyle hybrid shutters, Hunter Douglas (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Bathroom window treatments (Woodlore Plus), Norman (manufacturer’s own claim)
- Composite shutters guide and warranty, Blinds Chalet (retailer’s own claim)
- Yellow-poplar (FNR-293-W), Purdue University Extension (university extension)
- Canadian Building Digest 244: Moisture content of wood, National Research Council Canada (government)