FAQs

Here we have put together some questions frequently asked by customers when choosing shutters:

• What are Plantation Shutters?
• What are solid shutters?
• Can I fit the shutters myself?
• Can shutters be installed on any window?
• How do I measure my windows and doors?
• How many shutter panels do I need in my window opening?
• I feel shutters may be expensive, how do you justify the price?
• What louvre size should I choose?
• How long from order will it take to get my shutters?
• What wood do you use and is it eco-friendly?
• Does wood warp, shrink, change colour or age in any way?
• What colours and stains are available?
• How can I maintain my shutters?
• What are the benefits of shutters?

What are Plantation Shutters?

Plantation shutters for windows are louvred panels fixed either inside or outside windows and doors. They originated in America and the West Indies and date back to before the American Civil War.  They enable you to control light and privacy for your room.

What are solid shutters?

These are panels that have no louvers. They were originally installed in reveal boxes in pre-Edwardian houses and were used a couple of times a year only, when the owners de-camped for the season. They were not designed to be opened and shut daily like our present designs and that is why so few remain today.

Can I fit the shutters myself?

We recommend that you use our experienced installation team.

Can shutters be installed on any window?

Shutters can be installed on virtually any window, French door or sliding patio doors. They can also be used effectively as room dividers fitted on tracks. If the window/door opens inwards they can always be mounted outside of the reveal. Bi-pass tracking allows for shutters to slide past each other and is used where there are overhangs preventing the panels from swinging out.

How do I measure my windows and doors?

For a quick quote just measure the width and height of the opening in millimetres and either telephone or email us.

How many shutter panels do I need in my window opening?

Our smallest panel width is 200mm and the widest is 750mm. With larger louver panels we do sometimes go wider, but void the warp warranty with your permission. Generally a window looks best with 4 panels, two opening as pairs either way. A 3 window bay, however, will usually have 2 panels on the smaller side windows and 4 in the centre. All panels will open away from the middle.

Each window is different and we can advise you of what will work best for you.

There are as many exceptions as there are norms. For instance, a long window with 3 panes of glass, i.e. 1800mm wide x 1000mm high, would have 6 panels – three folding either way, or if you are only going to open them to clean the windows you could easily have just 3 panels. The Americans never open the shutters, only the louvers, so they design with large panels.

A lot of the time you will have to consider where the panels are going to fold back to and if there is enough room for this to happen. This is also true where you are fitting inside the reveal next to the window and you will not want the shutters, when open, to protrude into the room too much.

For partitioning or for large windows where tracking is needed at the top to suspend the panels, you will really need an even number of panels or they will look odd and not hang from the track properly. Ideally 8 panels or 12 panels for very large openings is best, although quite often it is wise to hang even 6 panels from tracking if they are quite large. With the heavier Seattle MDF shutter this is clearly an option to be considered.

In summary, the window will normally dictate the number of panels. If the window is split into two halves you would either have 2 or 4 panels and it follows that if it is three panes, then three or six panels will suffice. The vertical dividers of the windows are where the vertical stiles of the shutters should ideally be located.

I feel shutters may be expensive, how do you justify the price?

Shutters are now a lot more affordable, especially with our Seattle and Boston ranges.

A shutter panel may look like a door or kitchen unit panel but it has to live in a totally different environment. Normally a shutter panel fixed inside a window will have to endure some quite extreme variations in heat and humidity. Quite often it may have a radiator underneath it too.

The Phoenix range is made from Paulownia timber. It is a light hardwood. Our engineered Seattle Range is made from a composite of many materials and is maintenance free. The Bathroom shutter is made of ABS and stiffened with a Cedar core.

All the shutter ranges are laminated in some way in construction, this is actually more expensive to make than solid timbers. We do this to make a better product. 

All the finishes are carefully developed to be UV resistant and long lasting. 

What louvre size should I choose?

When making your louvre choice, consider the size of the window and the desired effect. Generally larger windows command a larger louvre size. Also if you have for example leaded light windows you may prefer to opt for our 76mm louvre size and the hidden tilt option to achieve a slightly cleaner look.

The larger the louvre the more light, but the less privacy.

In the USA most shutters are made with 89mm  or 114mm louvres but here in the UK we tend to generally choose slightly smaller louvres such as 63mm or 76mm.  

How long from order will it take to get my shutters?

Shutters are custom manufactured to fit individual openings and are ready for installation in approximately 10-12 weeks from the date of the order and receipt of the deposit. 

What wood do you use and is it eco-friendly?

The Phoenix Range is made from a laminated constructed Paulownia wood. It grows in sub-tropical areas of the southern states of the USA, China and Japan. It is a very fast growing tree reaching full height in about 15 years. Ideal for farming.

It is a hardwood but very light. We treat it with a special secret process to make it that light but it still has a very hard skin. 

The MDF Range is our most eco-friendly product because no trees at all have been cut down to make this product. Made from a laminated veneered lumber core (Basswood or other strong frame materials strips that are off-cuts not usable elsewhere, laminated together with epoxy making a light, strong core), with LDF laid bulk and polymer sealed outer coating.

Does wood warp, shrink, change colour or age in any way?

Yes it can do all those things as wood is a natural material and with its inconsistencies it delivers pleasure. Also over time it may age with use as any wood furniture would do.

Our shutters have reinforced, engineered stiles with multiple layers of wood bonded together to achieve maximum stability in the core of the stile and ensure a strong and durable shutter. 

What colours and stains are available?

Please view the colours section of this site for a full list of painted finishes and stains that are available for each shutter range.

How can I maintain my shutters?

Shutters are easily cleaned using a feather duster, damp sponge/soft cloth or by running a vacuum cleaner over them. The finish shouldn’t need repainting for many years, indeed the Seattle MDF shutters are totally maintenance free and cannot be repainted anyway.

What are the benefits of shutters?

Shutters have long been the window treatment of choice because they are incredibly functional and can provide great kerb appeal. Shutters with adjustable louvers offer so much more in terms of privacy, insulation, ventilation and light control than most other solutions. What’s more, they are low maintenance and unlike curtains won’t harbour dust – so good for allergy sufferers too!