PVC Shutters vs Timber Shutters on the Garden Route
You want shutters that look beautiful the day they go in — and still look that way five years from now, without sanding, sealing, or repainting. On the coast, the material you choose decides whether that happens.
Should I choose PVC or timber shutters for a coastal South African home?
- PVC shutters resist moisture, salt air, and humidity — making them the preferred material for coastal and bathroom installations in South Africa
- Timber shutters offer a natural grain and warmth but require regular sealing and repainting to prevent warping, swelling, and rot in humid conditions
- Over 10 years, PVC shutters cost significantly less to maintain — timber requires refinishing every 2–3 years at the coast
- Custom Blinds manufactures Custom Lifestyle Shutters™ in PVC specifically engineered for Garden Route conditions including salt exposure, UV, and humidity
- PVC is the better choice for bathrooms, kitchens, holiday homes, and any window facing prevailing weather
- Timber can work well in dry, inland, low-humidity rooms where aesthetics are the priority and ongoing maintenance is acceptable
- The right shutter material depends on your window’s exposure — a site assessment identifies which material suits each room
Need expert advice? Call Duncan on 079 523 5407 for a free site assessment across the Garden Route.
For coastal South African homes, PVC shutters outperform timber on durability, moisture resistance, and long-term cost. Timber looks beautiful but demands ongoing maintenance that the coast punishes. Custom Blinds recommends PVC for most Garden Route installations and can assess your specific windows to confirm the right material for each room.
The morning after installation
You tilt the louvres open on a Saturday morning. Light floods the bedroom. The shutters are cool to the touch, clean, white. No flaking paint. No swollen panels. No sticky hinges. Just calm, controlled light — exactly as they were the day they were fitted.
That is what the right shutter material gives you. Not just a look, but a feeling that lasts. The wrong material gives you a project — sanding, sealing, repainting, worrying about the bathroom steam or the salt air coming off the lagoon.
Shutters are one of the most visible decisions you make in a home. They frame every window. They catch every visitor’s eye. They sit in direct contact with moisture, sunlight, and temperature shifts every single day. The material has to hold up under that pressure, quietly, without asking anything of you.
Moisture resistance
Salt air is the single biggest threat to window fittings on the Garden Route. It is invisible, persistent, and it does not care how much your shutters cost. It penetrates timber grain, accelerates corrosion of metal hardware, and breaks down sealants faster than any inland climate.
PVC is a non-porous synthetic. It does not absorb moisture. It does not swell. It does not rot. In a bathroom filled with steam, a kitchen above the stove, or a bedroom window facing Knysna Lagoon — PVC holds its shape and finish year after year.
Timber absorbs moisture by nature. Even kiln-dried, sealed hardwood will eventually respond to the sustained humidity of a coastal environment. Swelling louvres. Sticky panels. Cracked paint. These are not defects — they are timber doing what timber does when exposed to moisture over time.
This is why Custom Blinds recommends PVC for the majority of indoor shutter installations along the coast. It is not about cost or convenience. It is about what works here.
Maintenance over 10 years
The purchase price of shutters is only part of the story. The real cost is what happens after installation — and this is where PVC and timber diverge sharply.
PVC shutters: Wipe down with a damp cloth. That is it. No sanding, no sealing, no repainting. The finish is integral to the material, not a coating applied on top. Over a decade, your total maintenance cost is effectively zero.
Timber shutters: Require sanding and resealing every 2–3 years in coastal conditions. Paint or stain needs refreshing. Hardware may need replacing as moisture affects the timber around screw holes. Budget for a professional refinish at least three times over a 10-year period — or accept the time cost of doing it yourself.
For holiday homes and rental properties where maintenance schedules are inconsistent, PVC is the obvious choice. The shutters look after themselves between visits.
PVC vs timber shutters: side-by-side
| Feature | PVC | Timber |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture resistance | Non-porous, fully waterproof | Absorbs moisture, swells in humidity |
| Salt air performance | Unaffected by salt exposure | Salt penetrates grain, accelerates decay |
| UV stability | UV-stabilised, no yellowing | Requires UV sealant, reapplied regularly |
| Maintenance | Wipe with damp cloth only | Sand, seal, repaint every 2–3 years |
| 10-year maintenance cost | Near zero | Multiple refinishing cycles |
| Bathroom and kitchen | Ideal — no moisture risk | Not recommended without heavy sealing |
| Natural wood aesthetic | Clean, consistent finish | Natural grain, stainable, warm |
| Weight | Heavier — may limit panel width | Lighter, suits larger openings |
| Termite resistance | Immune | Vulnerable without treatment |
| Warranty (typical) | 10–25 years | 5–10 years (maintenance dependent) |
| Best suited for | Coastal, wet rooms, low-maintenance | Dry inland rooms, heritage, design |
What the Garden Route demands
The Garden Route is not an ordinary climate. Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, and Mossel Bay each sit within a narrow coastal band where humidity, salt, UV, and temperature variation combine to test every building material you install.
Timber performs well inland. In Johannesburg or Pretoria, where humidity is seasonal and salt air is absent, hardwood shutters can last beautifully for decades with moderate care. That is not the Garden Route.
Here, the prevailing south-easterly drives salt-laden moisture directly into window openings. Bathrooms stay humid longer. Mornings bring condensation. The UV index punishes anything left unprotected. These are not extreme conditions — they are daily conditions. And they favour a material that does not respond to moisture.
This is why over 90% of the shutters Custom Blinds installs across Knysna, George, and Plettenberg Bay are PVC. It is not a preference. It is what the environment selects for.
When timber shutters are the right choice
This is not a one-material-fits-all recommendation. Timber has qualities that PVC cannot replicate — and in the right conditions, it is a beautiful choice.
If you live inland, in a dry climate with low humidity, timber shutters can last decades with only occasional maintenance. The natural grain, the warmth of real wood, the ability to stain them to match existing joinery — these are genuine advantages for the right home.
On the Garden Route, timber can still work in specific rooms. A north-facing study that stays dry. An interior passage where moisture is never an issue. A heritage property where the architectural brief demands natural materials. In these cases, timber delivers something PVC does not: character that comes from the material itself.
The key is knowing which rooms can support timber and which cannot. That is what a site assessment determines — examining each window for exposure, humidity, ventilation, and the condition of the surrounding wall and frame.
Questions
Are PVC shutters better than timber for coastal homes in South Africa?
Yes. PVC is non-porous and unaffected by salt air, humidity, and moisture — the three factors that damage timber shutters fastest on the coast. Custom Blinds recommends PVC for the majority of Garden Route installations. More on coastal durability.
How long do PVC shutters last compared to timber?
Quality PVC shutters last 20–25 years with no maintenance. Timber can last similarly but requires refinishing every 2–3 years at the coast. Without that maintenance, timber degrades significantly within 5–7 years in humid conditions.
Do PVC shutters look as good as timber?
Modern PVC shutters have a clean, consistent finish that suits contemporary and coastal interiors. They do not replicate natural wood grain, but many homeowners prefer the crisp, uniform look. For a natural aesthetic in dry rooms, timber remains the stronger option.
Can I use timber shutters in my bathroom?
Not recommended on the Garden Route. Bathrooms generate sustained humidity that timber absorbs, leading to swelling, warping, and paint failure. PVC is the standard for wet rooms. PVC vs aluminium options.
What do PVC shutters cost in South Africa?
Pricing depends on window size, configuration, and panel count. Contact Custom Blinds on 079 523 5407 for a free measure and quote based on your specific windows.
Does Custom Blinds install shutters across the whole Garden Route?
Yes. Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, Wilderness, and surrounding areas. Duncan conducts all site assessments and oversees every installation.
What is the difference between PVC and aluminium shutters?
Both are moisture-resistant, but serve different purposes. PVC is the standard for interior shutters. Aluminium is for security shutters and exterior applications. Custom Blinds manufactures both. Full comparison.
Not sure which material suits your windows?
Duncan will assess every window for exposure, humidity, and ventilation — then recommend the right shutter material for each room. Free, no obligation.
About Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings
Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings is an independent, owner-managed business based on the Garden Route. Founded in 2010, the company supplies and installs shutters, blinds, awnings, shadeports and security screens across Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay and surrounding areas.
PVC shutters are custom manufactured by an accredited specialist using high-density polyvinyl chloride engineered for coastal conditions. Every installation is measured, supplied and fitted by the same team. No subcontractors. The company is a BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas representative. Installations are covered by Sanlam and Garden Route Insurance Brokers.
Custom Lifestyle Shutters™ is the company’s proprietary PVC shutter range, designed specifically for the moisture, UV and salt exposure common along the Southern Cape coast. The material is guaranteed against warping, fading and discolouration.
For shutter enquiries across the Garden Route, contact Duncan on 079 523 5407 or WhatsApp. Site visits are free and without obligation.
Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings is a registered trademark. All shutters are custom manufactured and quoted individually. Prices may vary. Images are representative.
