Vinyl shutters in Brant: vinyl or wood?

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

Brant's weather and homes

In Brant, July averages a high of 27.5 °C and January a low of −8.9 °C, about 15 days a year reach 30 °C, 140 nights fall at or below 0 °C, and 965 mm of precipitation falls in a typical year. That's more hot days than 78% of the 160 Canadian cities we have climate figures for.

50% of homes were built in 1980 or earlier, and owners live in 88% of them.

Brantford, 8 km away, has much the same number of days a year at 30 °C or more (13).

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.

Heat and vinyl

15 days a year reach 30 °C. 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.

Wood vs vinyl, with sources

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

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.

How to measure

How the choices compare in Brant
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 Brant 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