Shutter BoysVinyl shutters in Mobile: vinyl or wood?
Mobile's weather and homes
In Mobile, August averages a high of 91.9°F and January a low of 42.5°F, about 73 days a year reach 90°F, 15 nights fall at or below freezing, and 68.4 inches of precipitation falls in a typical year. That's more hot days than 69% of the 881 US cities we have climate figures for.
61% of homes were built before 1980, and owners live in 54% of them.
Pensacola, 57 miles away, has much the same number of days a year at 90°F or more (68).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Daylight and sun height: calculated from the city’s latitude.
Where vinyl does win
In a wet climate, vinyl's real advantage is water: it's waterproof and wood isn't. For a window inside a shower, vinyl is the right product. For every other room, a ventilated painted wood shutter does better.
Uneven openings
In older homes, openings are rarely square. Wood can be lightly sanded to fit at install; vinyl can't be sanded at all.
Heat and vinyl
73 days a year reach 90°F. Vinyl makers are careful about heat: Hunter Douglas advises against its vinyl shutters in skylights, where it says the frame and louvers may warp. On a hot, sunny glass wall here, solid wood is the safer choice.
| Feature | Solid poplar (ours) | Vinyl / PVC | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand to fit an uneven opening | Yes | No | Usually not |
| Repaint later | Yes | Not recommended | Depends on the coating |
| Colours | Any paint or stain | Mostly whites | Factory colours |
| Shower spray | Keep it away | Waterproof | Only with a waterproof option |
| Skylights and hot glass | Doesn’t soften in heat | Makers advise against skylights | Ask the maker |
Where our shutters fit
Every Shutter Boys shutter is made from solid American poplar to the measurements you take, then shipped to Mobile for you to fit. We make solid poplar only, because it is the better shutter in every room that stays dry.
The designer shows the price of each window as you add it, in US dollars.
Need vinyl for a shower window as well? We can supply it alongside your wood shutters. Ask about vinyl
More about shutters in Mobile
Price your windows
Pick your look once, add every window, and see each one drawn and priced. Send it to us and we reply with your quote.