Do plantation shutters hold up in Florida humidity?

Why some shutters fail here

Florida homes run at high humidity year-round, and bathrooms and kitchens spike well above that. Wood shutters with a thin paint finish take on moisture at the joints and end grain, swell, bind in the frame, and eventually crack the paint. The product was fine in Connecticut; it was the wrong product for Stuart.

What we install instead

Our shutters are a humidity-resistant composite with a baked finish. They do not take on water, so they stay square, the louvers keep moving freely and the finish holds. They are made in Florida, which keeps lead times to a few weeks instead of a few months, and every panel is sized to the opening.

Where shutters make the most sense

Front-of-house windows (they look as good from the street as from inside), bathrooms and over tubs, kitchens, bedrooms where you want privacy with light, and arched or specialty windows where a shade would leave a gap. We build arches, rakes and tall panels to the exact shape.

Where a shade is the better choice

Very wide sliders, where shutter panels stack deep and block the opening; windows you want to disappear completely when open; and rooms where a soft fabric look suits the decor better. We will tell you if we think a shade fits better.

Louver size and frame style

Most Florida homes look right with 3.5 or 4.5 inch louvers; larger louvers mean fewer slats and a clearer view when open. Frame style depends on your trim and whether the window is inside- or outside-mounted; we bring samples so you can see it on the wall.