Shutter BoysVinyl shutters in Fort Smith: vinyl or wood?
Fort Smith's weather and homes
In Fort Smith, July averages a high of 94.1°F and January a low of 29.6°F, about 78 days a year reach 90°F, 63 nights fall at or below freezing, and 47.4 inches of precipitation falls in a typical year. That's more hot days than 71% of the 881 US cities we have climate figures for.
56% of homes were built before 1980, and owners live in 53% of them.
Fayetteville, 51 miles away, has 38 days a year at 90°F or more, fewer than Fort Smith's 78.
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.
Heat and vinyl
78 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.
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.
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.
| 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 Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith
Vinyl shutters near Fort Smith
- Fayetteville 51 mi
- Springdale 60 mi
- Rogers 68 mi
- Bentonville 70 mi
- Broken Arrow 93 mi
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.