Comparing Real Wood Blinds to Faux Wood Blinds

Everybody always asks, "What is the difference between wood blinds and faux wood blinds?"  Here is a simple run down of the stuff that matters.

First, pay attention to the overall quality of either type of blind.  If the price is very low there is probably a reason.  Stick with a retailer / contractor with enough experience to offer the value product lines.  The comparison does not matter, if we are not comparing apples to apples.  So, with the understanding that we are talking about products that are the best quality for the best price, we are positioned to learn the difference between wood blinds and faux wood blinds.

Faux wood blinds are a vinyl or composite material that is formed to shape.  The blinds are either painted some shade of white or are wrapped with a laminate stain look.  The primary advantages are that they resist moisture well, they are less expensive then wood, and they are difficult to damage.  The disadvantages are that they do not have the warmth of real wood, there are limited color choices, there are size constraints and size limitations, and they are heavier than wood.

Wood blinds are a real wood material that can be either painted or stained.  While they are less perfect looking then faux wood, it is these real wood imperfections that give them there charm.  They are lighter than faux wood blinds, but do cost more.  Wood blinds come in more color and stain options - just like anything made from wood - like your dining room table.

So what is the bottom line:

• If wanting basic white blinds - go with a faux wood blind - it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a white faux wood blind and a white real wood blind when looking at them side by side.
• If wanting basic white blinds on windows over 72" in either direction - go with a real wood blind - the lighter weight makes the real wood blind work better and last longer.
• If wanting a blind in a shower or area where you expect the blind to get wet or very moist - go with a faux wood - it will not absorb the water and will last a lot longer in wet windows.
• If wanting a stain look for your blind - go with a real wood blind - while the faux wood blinds do look very nice - the extra cost for stained wood turns out to be well worth it, because, side by side, the rich texture and look is painfully obvious - in a major way.

With any luck, this article will give you a quick guide for making a good purchasing decision, as relates to faux wood blinds verses wood blinds.

We would love to help you with your faux wood blind or real wood blind project.  Also, we have a developed an online wood and faux wood blind cost calculator to help you budget your project.