Toronto and the GTACall (647) 975-0936

Vinyl shutters in Richmond Hill: vinyl or wood?

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

Richmond Hill's weather and homes

In Richmond Hill, July averages a high of 27.3 °C and January a low of −10.1 °C, about 18 days a year reach 30 °C, 145 nights fall at or below 0 °C, and 863 mm of precipitation falls in a typical year. That's more hot days than 86% of the 160 Canadian cities we have climate figures for.

15% of homes were built in 1980 or earlier, and owners live in 78% of them.

Vaughan, 8 km away, has much the same number of days a year at 30 °C or more (18).

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

18 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

How the choices compare in Richmond Hill
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 Richmond Hill 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

Talk to your rep in Richmond Hill

Call the Shutter Boys GTA line, or book a free design consultation by video or phone: we go through your windows, the style and colour, and how to measure them.

Shutter Boys on GoogleShutter Boys on Google (second listing)

Call (647) 975-0936

Price your windows

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

Design your shutters