Material Guide
Hardwood vs MDF vs ABS Plantation Shutters
The single biggest cost variable on a shutter quote is material choice. Here's what each material actually is, where each one belongs, and where you should never use one.
MDF (Antigua)
Best value, dry rooms
Hardwood (Basswood)
Premium, all rooms
ABS Waterproof
Bathrooms, kitchens
Cost Spread
MDF → +55% hardwood
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The three materials in plain English
MDF. Engineered fibreboard with a wrapped polypropylene finish (we call it 'Antigua range'). Stable, smooth, paint-only finishes, no visible grain. Around 35–55% cheaper than hardwood for the same panel size.
Hardwood. Solid timber — usually basswood (lighter, easier to stain) or paulownia (very light, dimensionally stable). Real grain, takes stain finishes, the only choice for natural wood looks. Most expensive option.
ABS waterproof. Engineered polymer — not wood at all. Looks identical to a painted shutter from a foot away. Completely waterproof, won't warp, won't go yellow. Mandatory in bathrooms.
Where each material belongs
MDF Antigua range: Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms — any dry, climate-controlled space. Best value-for-money option on a whole-house quote. Don't use in any room with a sink, bath or shower.
Hardwood: Period properties where the louvre detail visually matters (Victorian and Edwardian streets in Stockton Heath, Lymm, Knutsford), large feature windows over 1.8m, and any project where you want a stained natural-wood finish.
ABS waterproof: Bathrooms, en-suites, kitchen windows over the sink, utility rooms, and any window with regular condensation issues. Also our default for ground-floor bay windows on properties close to the Mersey or canal — the higher ambient humidity makes a difference over 20 years.
What goes wrong if you choose the wrong material
We get called out 4–6 times a year to fix shutters that other fitters specified wrong. The two most common failures:
- MDF in bathrooms. Within 18–24 months the louvres swell at the ends and stop tilting cleanly. Frames around the cill discolour and lift. Not repairable — replacement is the only fix.
- Hardwood without acclimatisation. Hardwood louvres fitted into a new-build that hasn't dried out can cup or twist over the first 12 months. We always acclimatise hardwood on-site for at least 48 hours before fitting and avoid hardwood in first-year new builds.
Cost spread on a typical Warrington bay window
Three-section splay bay, around 2.4m wide × 1.4m tall:
- MDF Antigua: £950–£1,100 fitted
- ABS waterproof: £1,050–£1,200 fitted
- Hardwood basswood: £1,300–£1,500 fitted
- Hardwood with stain finish: £1,400–£1,650 fitted
Real quotes vary with louvre size, hinge spec and any shape work — these are typical ranges based on jobs we've fitted in the last 12 months.
Common Questions
Frequently asked
What's the price difference between hardwood and MDF shutters?
Hardwood is typically 35–55% more expensive than MDF on the same window. A bay window that costs £950 in MDF would be roughly £1,350 in hardwood. ABS waterproof sits between the two — closer to MDF pricing.
Is MDF strong enough for large shutter panels?
Yes up to a point. We use MDF panels up to roughly 900mm wide and 1.8m tall. Above that the louvre weight can cause sag over a decade — we move to hardwood or engineered timber for very large windows.
Will MDF shutters warp in a bathroom?
Standard MDF will. That's why bathrooms always go in ABS waterproof — it's a completely different material engineered for wet environments. Don't let anyone fit MDF in a shower-room.
Can you stain MDF shutters to look like hardwood?
No — MDF is painted with a poly-wrap finish, not stained. Real wood grain only comes from hardwood (basswood or paulownia). If a stained look matters, go hardwood.
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