[toddao]

We're thinking of getting plantation shutters for the house and would like some feedback on your experience with local vendors/installers, wood vs poly, width of louvers, cost etc. and any other information that would help us make the purchase.

[MightyDog]

I don't have an installer recommendation for you but, you asked for opinions/feedback so, here are mine.
-- In your evaluation, consider plantation blinds as well as shutters. You might decide (as I have) that you prefer the flexibility of blinds. They can be pulled halfway up or all the way, if desired. That cannot be done with shutters as they are fixed and if installed in a bank of windows they can't even be opened because each shutter would be hanging into the room. Some people don't care about that but, I love looking out windows so, shutters don't work for me.

-- My preference is 2 inch slats, they seem to look the nicest and most classic.

-- I've had the poly slats and they were fine. But, the wood is nice too....more expensive, no doubt. If you have a dog(s), you may want to factor that into potential damage and what it would cost to replace a few slats, etc.(maybe, repeatedly). In the home where I had 2 inch poly slat blinds, I just kept them pulled up about 8 inches from the lower sill so my terrier could look out to the world and not wreck some slats trying to do so. He would have trashed shutters. Terriers!

-- If you have standard size windows, you probably know that Lowe's and Home Depot carry 2 inch poly slat blinds in stock at their stores. They also have wood versions that they can have made to your dimensions and shipped to you. All featured on their websites. In either of these cases, you can find a handyman recommendations on TOTV for installation at a rate probably better than having the the big box stores do it.

[Triker]

Originally Posted by toddao

We're thinking of getting plantation shutters for the house and would like some feedback on your experience with local vendors/installers, wood vs poly, width of louvers, cost etc. and any other information that would help us make the purchase.

Highly recommend Joe Fetters with Florida Blind Co.
We have the poly shutters and they are fantastic! So easy to use, clean and they look great. They also come with a lifetime warranty.

floridablindcompany.com