Materials Guide
How to choose the right
shutter material
We offer six shutter ranges across four material types. Each one is designed for a specific purpose. The right choice depends on the room, your budget, and how long you want them to last. Here is an honest comparison to help you decide.
The quick guide
Six ranges, four materials, one goal: the right shutter for every window in your home. Prices shown are per window based on a standard bathroom window (approximately 850mm wide by 1,900mm tall, two panels), including measurement, supply, and installation with VAT.
Engineered MDF
Antigua
From £544 per window
Best for standard rectangular windows on a budget. Solid MDF construction that looks beautiful and is built to last.
MDF frame, ABS louvres
Bermuda
From £608 per window
Durability with value. The ABS louvres resist wear better than standard MDF, making this a smart upgrade from Antigua.
Hardwood panels, MDF frame
Cuba
From £646 per window
Real wood feel without full hardwood pricing. The most popular choice across Scotland for customers who want quality and value.
100% premium hardwood
Fiji
From £768 per window
Any shape, 54 colours, can be sanded and refinished. The premium choice for customers who want the absolute best.
100% waterproof ABS
Java
From £844 per window
The only choice for bathrooms, wet rooms, and kitchens. Completely waterproof. Will never warp or swell.
Architectural aluminium
Portchester
From £1,592 per window
Security with a lock and key. Genuine protection alongside light and privacy control for ground floor windows and patio doors.
Premium Hardwood
Timber shutters (Fiji range)
Fiji is our premium range, manufactured from 100% Paulownia hardwood. Paulownia is prized in shutter manufacturing because it is lightweight, dimensionally stable, and takes paint and stain finishes beautifully. Every component, from the frame to the louvres to the stiles, is solid hardwood.
The colour options are extensive. You can choose from 30 paint colours, 24 stain finishes that let the natural wood grain show through, or full custom colour matching to any RAL or Farrow and Ball shade. This makes Fiji the only range where you can achieve an exact match with your existing interior scheme.
Because Fiji is solid hardwood, it can be shaped for arched windows, circular portholes, triangular gable ends, and any other non rectangular window. It is also the only range that can be sanded and refinished decades later. If you want to change colour in fifteen years, you can. That is not possible with any other material.
The lifespan is 50 years or more with normal care. A simple wipe with a damp cloth is all the maintenance required. Fiji is the best choice for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, period properties, and customers who simply want the finest quality available.
Honest downside
Fiji is our most expensive timber range. It is not suitable for wet rooms or bathrooms. Lead times are longer than other ranges because the shutters are imported from specialist factories overseas.
Best Seller
Composite shutters (Cuba range)
Cuba is the most popular shutter range we sell across Scotland. It combines real hardwood louvre panels with an engineered MDF frame. The louvres are the parts you see and touch most often, so using real hardwood where it matters most gives Cuba a genuine timber feel at a lower price than full hardwood.
The finish is excellent. When installed, most people cannot tell the difference between Cuba and our premium Fiji range without close inspection. The paint finish is smooth, consistent, and durable. Cuba is available in twelve colour options that cover the most popular whites, creams, and contemporary shades.
Cuba is the right choice for customers who want quality without stretching to full hardwood pricing. It works beautifully in living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms. It is especially popular for whole house installations where the cost saving across eight or ten windows adds up significantly.
Honest downside
Fewer colour options than Fiji (12 versus 54). Cannot be sanded and refinished. Not suitable for wet rooms or bathrooms. Limited to standard window shapes.
Entry Level
Engineered shutters (Antigua and Bermuda)
Antigua and Bermuda are our entry level ranges, and they represent genuine quality at an accessible price. Antigua is constructed from solid engineered MDF throughout. Bermuda uses the same MDF frame but upgrades the louvres to ABS, which offers better resistance to everyday wear and tear.
Both ranges look beautiful when installed. The paint finishes are smooth and consistent, and from normal viewing distance they are indistinguishable from more expensive ranges. They are designed for standard rectangular windows and are built to last for decades with normal care.
These ranges are the right choice for rental properties, spare bedrooms, home offices, or whole house projects where budget is the primary consideration. Many customers choose Antigua or Bermuda for secondary rooms and Cuba or Fiji for the main living spaces.
Honest downside
Limited to rectangular window shapes only. Fewer colour options than Cuba or Fiji. Cannot be sanded and refinished. Not suitable for wet rooms or bathrooms.
Waterproof
Waterproof shutters (Java range)
Java is constructed entirely from ABS, a high grade polymer that is 100% waterproof. It will never warp, swell, crack, or deteriorate in humid conditions. This makes Java the only shutter range we recommend for bathrooms, shower rooms, wet rooms, kitchens, and swimming pool areas.
Modern ABS shutters are significantly better than the PVC products of a decade ago. The finish is smooth and consistent, the louvre mechanisms are precise, and the overall appearance is clean and contemporary. They are also lightweight, which makes them easy to operate even on larger windows.
Java is the right choice for any room where moisture is present. In a Scottish bathroom with daily showers and limited ventilation, timber or composite shutters would eventually suffer. Java will not. It is also a practical choice for kitchens where steam and splashes are part of daily life.
Honest downside
More expensive than timber. Limited colour range compared to Fiji. The material has a different feel to real wood, though modern ABS is much better than older PVC products. Cannot be refinished.
Security
Aluminium security shutters (Portchester range)
Portchester is our architectural aluminium range with a built in lock and key mechanism. These shutters provide genuine physical security alongside the light control and privacy benefits of any interior shutter. When locked, the panels cannot be opened from the outside.
The powder coated aluminium finish is durable, scratch resistant, and completely maintenance free. It will not fade, peel, or deteriorate over time. Portchester shutters are popular for ground floor windows, patio doors, bi fold doors, and commercial premises where security is a consideration.
Despite the security function, Portchester shutters look elegant. The louvres tilt to control light and airflow just like any other shutter, and the locking mechanism is discreet. They suit modern homes and period properties equally well.
Honest downside
Significantly more expensive than all other ranges. Longer lead time. Not available in as many styles or configurations as the timber and composite ranges.
Which material for which room
Living room
Cuba or Fiji. This is the room you spend the most time in, so it is worth investing in real hardwood. Cuba gives you excellent quality at a sensible price. Fiji gives you the widest colour palette and the option of stain finishes that show the natural grain.
Bedroom
Cuba or Fiji for the master bedroom. Antigua or Bermuda for spare rooms and children's rooms. All ranges provide excellent light control for sleeping, so the choice is about aesthetics and budget rather than function.
Bathroom and wet rooms
Java only. No timber or composite shutter should be installed in a room with regular moisture exposure. Java is purpose built for this environment and will never be affected by humidity.
Kitchen
Java for windows near the sink, hob, or dishwasher where steam is frequent. Cuba or Fiji for kitchen windows that are further from moisture sources. We will advise during your consultation based on the layout of your kitchen.
Ground floor and patio doors
Portchester aluminium if security is a priority. Otherwise, Cuba or Fiji for a classic look. Bi fold shutter configurations work well on patio and bi fold doors in any of the timber and composite ranges.
What we recommend
For most customers, Cuba is the right starting point. It offers the best balance of quality, colour options, and value. The real hardwood louvres give it a genuine timber feel, and the price makes it realistic for whole house projects.
If budget allows, Fiji is the premium choice. The ability to choose from 54 colours, do shaped windows, and refinish the shutters decades from now makes it a genuinely long term investment. For customers who plan to stay in their home, Fiji pays for itself over time.
For wet rooms and bathrooms, Java is the only option. There is no debate on this point. Putting timber or composite shutters in a bathroom is a mistake that will cost you more in the long run.
For security, Portchester aluminium is the answer. No other interior shutter provides a lock and key mechanism. If you need physical security alongside light and privacy control, this is the range.
Material questions
Which shutter material is best for bathrooms?
Java is the only range we recommend for bathrooms, wet rooms, and shower rooms. It is made from 100% waterproof ABS and will never warp, swell, or deteriorate in humidity. Timber and composite shutters are not suitable for rooms with regular moisture exposure.
Can composite shutters be refinished or repainted?
No. Composite shutters like our Cuba range have a factory applied paint finish that cannot be sanded and refinished the way solid hardwood can. If you want the option to change colour or refresh the finish decades from now, choose the Fiji range in 100% hardwood.
What is the difference between Cuba and Fiji?
Cuba uses hardwood louvre panels on an engineered MDF frame. Fiji is 100% premium hardwood throughout. The practical differences are colour choice (12 options for Cuba versus 54 for Fiji), the ability to do shaped windows (Fiji only), and the option to sand and refinish (Fiji only). Cuba offers excellent quality at a lower price. Fiji is the premium choice with maximum flexibility.
Are engineered MDF shutters any good?
Yes. Our Antigua and Bermuda ranges are well made, durable products that look beautiful in the home. They are manufactured to the same quality standards as our premium ranges. The trade off is fewer colour options, a limitation to rectangular window shapes, and the inability to refinish them. For standard windows where budget is a priority, they are an excellent choice.
Do aluminium shutters look industrial?
Not at all. The Portchester range uses architectural grade aluminium with a powder coated finish that looks clean and contemporary. They are popular in modern homes and period properties alike. The main reason people choose them is the security element, with a built in lock and key mechanism, but they also provide excellent light and privacy control.
How long do shutters last?
It depends on the material. Our Fiji hardwood shutters have a lifespan of 50 years or more and can be sanded and refinished to look new again. Composite and engineered ranges typically last 20 to 30 years with normal use. Waterproof Java shutters are extremely durable in wet environments. Aluminium Portchester shutters are essentially maintenance free and will last the lifetime of the building.
Can I mix different materials in different rooms?
Absolutely, and many of our customers do exactly that. A common approach is Fiji or Cuba for the living room and bedrooms, Java for the bathroom, and Antigua or Bermuda for spare rooms or home offices. We help you plan the best combination during your consultation.
Why are the prices different from other shutter companies?
Our prices include professional measurement, manufacture, delivery, and installation by our own BBSA certified team. We do not quote supply only prices that leave you to find a fitter. The price you see is the price you pay, with no hidden extras. Some companies quote lower headline figures but add on for fitting, delivery, or frame finishing.
Start with our brochure
52 pages of ideas, product details, and real installations from homes across Scotland. Request your copy and take the first step.