In a marketplace crowded with “engineered wood” and “poly-composite” claims, it’s easy to forget what real craftsmanship feels like. True shutters — the kind that hold their color, resist warping, and move silently decades after installation — begin with one thing: the right material.
At Elizabeth Shutters, we’ve built our reputation as California’s best shutter company by staying faithful to the material that defines premium shutters worldwide: whole, solid basswood.
Basswood is a fine-grained hardwood native to North America, prized for its light weight, dimensional stability, and smooth finish. It’s dense enough to hold joinery yet soft enough for precise milling. These qualities make it the wood of choice for high-end furniture, musical instruments — and for more than 30 years, every Elizabeth Shutters panel.
Unlike MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or polymer composites, basswood isn’t manufactured. It’s grown — and every board tells a story of natural resilience, refined through careful drying, cutting, and finishing in our Colton, California facility.
Polymer or “poly-composite” shutters are often marketed as moisture-resistant and low maintenance. In reality, they’re plastic extrusions reinforced with fillers or aluminum cores, and they come with trade-offs that affect both aesthetics and performance.
Key limitations:
Warping under heat: Polymer expands and contracts with temperature, creating gaps over time.
Weight: Polymer is significantly heavier than wood, which strains hinges and can cause panels to sag.
Surface feel: Plastic lacks the depth and texture of real wood grain; paint adhesion is limited, so the finish appears flat or glossy instead of rich and matte.
Environmental impact: Polymer production involves petrochemicals and nonrenewable materials — a stark contrast to responsibly sourced hardwood.
For quick mass production, polymer makes sense. For architecture, longevity, and design integrity, it does not.
Basswood expands and contracts far less than polymer in temperature swings. In California’s climate — from coastal humidity to inland heat — that means your shutters stay square, aligned, and whisper-quiet on their hinges year after year.
Despite being a hardwood, basswood’s cellular structure gives it a high strength-to-weight ratio. Panels feel substantial but not heavy, so hinges, frames, and tilt rods operate effortlessly.
Because of its uniform grain, basswood takes paint and stain flawlessly. The surface remains smooth with no bubbling, pitting, or streaking — the hallmark of high-end shutters. Polymer finishes, by contrast, are sprayed coatings that can discolor or peel under UV exposure.
Basswood can be sanded, refinished, or repainted to match future renovations. Polymer shutters cannot — once scratched or cracked, they must be replaced entirely. Many of our original basswood installations from the 1990s still look new after refinishing.
There’s an unmistakable sound when a solid-wood louver closes — quiet, solid, final. Polymer shutters feel hollow and resonate like plastic because they are. For homeowners who value tactile quality, the difference is immediate.
Basswood is sustainably harvested and renewable, and Elizabeth Shutters uses water-based finishes and low-VOC paints. Polymer, derived from petroleum, is non-biodegradable and energy-intensive to manufacture.
At our Colton facility, basswood boards are kiln-dried to precise moisture content, ensuring stability. We then machine each component using digital calibration tools, but every joint, pin, and louver is still hand-fitted and inspected by artisans.
That human precision — knowing how each piece of wood should feel, flex, and settle — is what transforms raw material into something architectural.
Polymer shutters may mimic the appearance of wood, but they can’t replicate that integrity. As one of our long-time installers likes to say: “You can tell the difference by sound, touch, and time.”
In luxury interiors, materials speak first. Basswood shutters don’t just block light — they enhance architecture. The natural density absorbs paint evenly, creating a soft satin finish that matches trim and cabinetry, not plastic sheen.
They also age gracefully, acquiring the subtle depth that only real wood achieves.
Homeowners and designers alike choose Elizabeth Shutters because basswood creates continuity between windows, millwork, and furnishings. It turns a utility product into part of the home’s design language.
When comparing price alone, polymer often looks cheaper at checkout. But when you account for:
The replacement cycle of polymer shutters (usually 5–10 years),
The energy efficiency and durability of wood,
And the increased resale value of architectural-grade finishes,
basswood becomes the clear long-term investment.
A single set of Elizabeth Shutters can last 20–30 years or more — easily twice the lifespan of polymer. Over time, it’s not just a better material; it’s a smarter financial decision.
Every set of Elizabeth Shutters is handcrafted in Colton, CA, not mass-produced overseas.
Local production means shorter lead times, better fit, and finishes engineered for our state’s intense sunlight and coastal air. It also supports local jobs and sustainable business practices — a point of pride for the brand and our customers alike.
In the end, materials reveal intent.
Polymer shutters are made to look like wood; basswood shutters are made to last like wood.
For homeowners seeking authentic craftsmanship, natural warmth, and architectural permanence, there’s simply no comparison.
That’s why Elizabeth Shutters — builder of 100 % solid-basswood shutters — continues to be recognized as the best shutter company in California.