Faux Wood Blinds vs. Wood Blinds. Which One Wins?

A Closer Look At Real Wood Blinds

• This is a very popular type of blind made out of natural materials (e.g. basswood, pine, knotted pine).
• It's a relatively inexpensive natural wood product as compared to custom-made indoor wood shutters that can be as much as 60% higher priced.
• They will fit to almost any home décor.
• The wood slats are stainable or paintable in an array of colors (they come completely pre-finished).
• “Woods “are good insulators (when in a closed position). 
• The design allows for light control by the built-in tilting mechanism (your choice of wand or cord control)
• Wood slats can be ordered in different widths (e.g.2 1/2", 2” or 1”, etc.); wider slats allow for better views than narrower ones  (because they are farther apart from each other on the support ladders, giving you wider open spaces to look out when the slats are tilted open – horizontal). 
• Control draw cords move slats up (stack) and down (Note: real wood blinds are much lighter than faux wood blinds).
• When stacked up, they take more view away (inside-mount application). Example: A 70" height stacks up to about 8 – 9" at the top.

2" Real Wood Blinds – with the detail of 2 support string ladders and draw cords running through the rout holes

 

• You can choose support cord or cloth tape ladders (they hold the blind slats parallel to each other from top to bottom and allow for tilting)
• Due to manufacturing width restrictions you may need to order two or more blinds for the same if excessive width is the case (you can still order a continuous valance that attaches to the individual headrails and gives the top a one-blind pleasing look; you get to
  operate each blind independently) 
• There is also an option to order two or three wood blinds on ONE headrail for ease of operation and independent control.
• Because of their nature, a wood slat or two may warp (this is rare in quality products).
• Slats are easily changeable (if warping or damage occurs); replacing the whole blind in this case is unnecessary. 

 

Two Wood Blinds Installed In A Large Window

 

A Closer Look At Faux (Imitation) Wood Blinds

• Cost less than real wood blinds (as much as 30% less).
• From a distance, it's hard to tell faux wood blinds are an imitation wood product.
• Withstand more abuse than woods (suitable for high-traffic areas). 
• Made out of vinyl or a combination vinyl/wood composite (roughly 10-15% lighter than 100% PVC Faux Woods)
• Limited choices of color (with improving technologies, the choices of colors are becoming more plentiful)

• Resistant to humidity or temperature changes better than real wood blinds
• Slats don’t warp
• Slats are less rigid than real wood and therefore faux woods may require extra support ladders for wider windows.
• As with real wood blinds, slats are easily changeable
• Take more view away when stacked up (inside-mount application); especially with the choice of cloth tape ladders
• Custom-made faux wood blinds are heavier than classic real wood blinds; usually stay down and only the tilt feature is used if the size of the blind is quite large.
  If you have a single large window with three window panes, in this case, consider ordering three separate blinds instead of one big & heavy mother of all blinds ; you'll be able to operate them independently (up, down and tilt) AND protect the clutch mechanism and draw cords from excessive wear.

Two-On-One-Headrail Wood Blinds with a continuous valance at the top.

 

• TIP:
  This helpful note applies to both real and faux wood blinds. You may think that the blind is broken because it doesn't want to unstack from the top headrail while pulling on the cords straight down.When you are ready to lower the stack of slats (especially with a larger blind), it's important to draw the lift cords towards the middle of the window with one hand AND, at the same time, help the clutch mechanism to disengage by gently pushing the whole stack up with the other hand. The clutch roller thus lets go off the cords, falls into a no-catch position and lets them easily slide through. Whenever you are ready to stop the stack at any height, simply move the strings outward, towards the wall. The clutch engages and locks the draw cords right there.