Shutter shopping usually starts with louvre size and colour — but the material you pick decides how the shutter looks in ten years, how it handles humidity, and how much you pay. Blinds Concept private-label plantation shutters ship in two materials: engineered composite and North American basswood . Here's how to choose.
Read our plantation shutters vs. big-box shutters guide for the build-quality comparison, or the broader shutters vs. blinds vs. shades comparison if you're still choosing a treatment type. Ready to configure? Start on the plantation shutters hub .
Yes — composite shutters use an engineered polymer core wrapped in a PVC or ABS skin that resists warping, cracking, and moisture. They're actually stronger than basswood in humid rooms and rated for large louvre panels up to 36" wide.
They can. Basswood is dimensionally stable for a hardwood, but sustained humidity above 65% will eventually cause warping. For bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms we recommend composite.
Composite is roughly 40% heavier per square foot. That matters for large bifold or bypass installations — very wide composite panels need reinforced hinges, while basswood keeps things lighter and easier to swing.
Basswood typically runs 25–45% more than composite for the same window size. The premium buys you real wood grain, lighter weight, and a wider paint/stain palette.
Composite ships in pre-finished paint colours only (no stain). Basswood accepts both paint and stain, so it's the only choice when you need a wood-grain finish or a custom colour match.