Wood shutters in Richmond

What real wood offers over vinyl and composite in Richmond's homes and weather, and how our made-to-measure poplar shutters fit in.
Level 1 (flat) moulding, paint stage 1, 3½-inch louvers, tilting open and closed.

Richmond homes and weather, for wood

In Richmond, July averages a high of 89.5°F and January a low of 28.8°F, about 45 days a year reach 90°F, 74 nights fall at or below freezing, and 47.2 inches of precipitation falls in a typical year.

71% of homes were built before 1980 and 17% in 2000 or later; 44% are detached houses.

In Newport News, 61 miles away, 51% of homes are built before 1980, 20 points fewer than here.

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.

Older, out-of-square openings

In a city where 71% of homes are decades old, openings are rarely perfectly square. Wood can be lightly sanded to fit at install; vinyl and most coated composites can't.

How to measure

Dry, heated winters

With 74 freezing nights a year, homes here run the heat for months, and heated air is dry. Wood gives up a little moisture over the winter and takes it back in summer; paint slows that but doesn't stop it. A humidifier set to a moderate level keeps the movement small, and it's kinder to the rest of the house's woodwork too.

Why poplar

A wet climate

47.2 inches of rain a year means humid spells indoors too. Painted wood handles humidity in a ventilated room; what it can't take is water landing on it. Keep wood out of shower spray, and run the bathroom fan.

Bathroom shutters

How the choices compare in Richmond
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 for you to fit. One wood, painted in any colour or stained, with nothing hollow inside.

The designer shows the price of each window as you add it, in US dollars.

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.

Design your shutters