Vinyl shutters in Paradise: vinyl or wood?

Vinyl is cheaper and waterproof; solid wood can be sanded, repainted and made in any colour. Which suits Paradise's weather and homes, room by room.
Arched window, level 3 moulding, paint stage 2.

Paradise's weather and homes

In Paradise, July averages a high of 21.3 °C and February a low of −7.7 °C, about 0 days a year reach 30 °C, 154 nights fall at or below 0 °C, and 1,381 mm of precipitation falls in a typical year. That's fewer hot days than 98% of the 160 Canadian cities we have climate figures for.

10% of homes were built in 1980 or earlier, and owners live in 78% of them.

Mount Pearl, 6 km away, has much the same number of days a year at 30 °C or more (0).

Sources: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian 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.

Bathroom shutters

Dry winters

Here's a fair point for vinyl: it doesn't take on or give off moisture, so dry heated winters don't move it. Wood moves a little with the seasons; paint and a sensible indoor humidity keep it small.

Why poplar

How the choices compare in Paradise
FeatureSolid poplar (ours)Vinyl / PVCComposite
Sand to fit an uneven openingYesNoUsually not
Repaint laterYesNot recommendedDepends on the coating
ColoursAny paint or stainMostly whitesFactory colours
Shower sprayKeep it awayWaterproofOnly with a waterproof option
Skylights and hot glassDoesn’t soften in heatMakers advise against skylightsAsk the maker

Where our shutters fit

Every Shutter Boys shutter is made from solid American poplar to the measurements you take, then shipped to Paradise 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 Canadian dollars.

Need vinyl for a shower window as well? We can supply it alongside your wood shutters. Ask about vinyl

Price your windows

Choose Canada in the designer, enter millimetres or inches, and we reply with your quote in Canadian dollars.

Design your shutters