Do shutters damage the window frame?
No. We fix them with small, discreet screws, and the holes they leave are easy to fill if you take the shutters down later.
Measure up, tilt and keep them clean
Everything from the first measurement to dusting the finished shutter. Have a go on the panel first: tilt the louvres, swap the louvre size or the tilt rod, and see what happens to the light.
- Louvre sizes47 to 114 mm
- Tilt options3
- Time per window30 min to 2 hours
Have a go45° Daylight 50%
To scale. Drag the slider, or the panel itself.Finishing touch
Six steps from first measure to final dust
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Step 1 of 6
Measuring for an inside fit
Use a metal tape measure and keep a pen and paper handy. A spirit level helps you spot a wall or frame that isn't true. Work in millimetres every time, and don't round any figure up or down.
- Take the width across the top, the middle and the bottom of the recess.
- Take the height down the left side, through the centre and down the right.
- Use whichever width and height comes out smallest, so the shutters sit neatly in the recess.
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Step 2 of 6
Or fit them outside the recess
A shallow recess or an uneven wall is the place for outside-mounted shutters. Their frame fixes to the wall round the window.
- Take the full width of the area the shutters need to cover.
- Take the height from the top down to the bottom.
- If you want less light creeping round the edges, add some extra coverage.
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Step 3 of 6
Let us measure bays and shapes
Bays, arches, circles and angled windows can be measured by you, but they are harder to get right. For these we recommend a professional survey, and ours costs nothing.
- Measurements you can rely on, with each curve and angle checked in several places.
- A frame chosen to suit your window.
- Help with the style and how the panels are laid out.
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Step 4 of 6
The day we fit
The fitters make a last check of the measurements, fix the frames and hang the panels. Then they adjust the hinges and louvres until every panel opens and shuts without catching. Small, discreet screws hold the frames, so should you ever take the shutters down, you only have little marks to fill.
- A small window: about 30 to 45 minutes.
- A larger window or a bay: 1 to 2 hours.
- For a whole house, allow half a day to a day.
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Step 5 of 6
Using your shutters
Tilt the louvres to choose how much light comes in. Fold the panels right back when you want every bit of daylight, and shut them for privacy and warmth. There are three ways to tilt the louvres.
- A tilt rod down the middle of the panel.
- An offset tilt rod, set to one side.
- Easy tilt, with no rod: move one louvre up or down and the others move with it.
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Step 6 of 6
Cleaning them
Shutters ask very little of you, and that is half of why people buy them.
- Run a duster or a soft cloth over them often.
- When they need more than a dust, use a cloth that is just damp.
- Keep harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners off them.
Keeping shutters like new
Spend a few minutes on them every so often and they will still look as they did the day we fitted them.
Do
- Go over them often with a soft cloth or duster.
- Wipe them with a cloth that is just damp when they need a proper clean.
- For the most daylight, fold the panels right back.
- Keep a room cool in a heatwave by shutting the louvres.
Don’t
- Reach for harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners.
- Polish them with furniture polish.
- Soak wooden shutters, as too much water can spoil their finish and their shape.
- Fit real wood in a bathroom full of steam. Pick a water-resistant range for that room.
Worth knowing before you buy
What customers ask us while we stand at their windows, and what we tell them.
See every FAQ
What if my walls aren't straight?
The shutters will still fit. Because we make them to measure, they allow for small imperfections, and our fitters fine-tune each one as they put it up.
Can I have shutters in a bathroom or kitchen?
You can. A water-resistant range such as our Hollywood shutters in ABS copes with humid rooms and won't warp or peel.
Will shutters keep my home warmer?
They will. Shutters add a layer of insulation, so you lose less heat in winter and gain less in summer. In tests, shutters cut heat loss through windows by as much as 36%.
Do shutters block out noise?
They help, most of all with the panels shut, but no shutter will make a room soundproof.
Is a professional survey worth it?
Yes. Before you order, a survey gets you measurements you can trust, the right frame, and advice on the style and the layout, and it removes the risk of an expensive mistake.
Where the heat loss figure comes from (quoted in our brochure): BBSA product tests at the University of Salford’s Energy House Laboratory, 2023.
Want us to do the measuring?
At a free design visit we take every measurement ourselves, show you samples from each range and follow up with a clear quote. There is no pressure and no obligation.
- Call us08707 545 300
- OpenOpen 7 days, 9am to 6pm
- WhereOssett in West Yorkshire, and we fit UK-wide
Tell us what you need
We'll phone you back and book a time that works for you.