Plantation Shutters: Styles, Survey and Installation

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Plantation Shutters: Styles, Survey and Installation

Louvre size, tier styles, the home survey and why fitting matters

Shutters are a fitted joinery product rather than a soft furnishing, and the installation determines how they look and work more than the shutters themselves do.

Louvre size sets the character

Wider louvres, around 63 to 89 millimetres, give a clearer view when open and a more contemporary look. Narrower louvres suit period properties and smaller windows.

Fewer, larger louvres also mean less to dust and a cleaner appearance from outside.

The tier styles

Full height covers the whole window in one panel. Tier on tier splits into two independently opening sections, so the lower half stays closed for privacy while the top lets light in.

Café style covers only the lower portion, which suits a ground floor room facing a street. Solid panels block light almost entirely.

Take the home survey

A surveyor measures the opening, checks it is square, identifies obstructions and specifies the frame type. Older houses are rarely square, and this is where a good installation is decided.

Made-to-measure shutters are not returnable, so a professional survey is worth it even where self-measurement is offered.

Materials

Hardwood is light, strong and suits large panels. Engineered wood with a coating is more stable. Vinyl and composite tolerate humidity and suit bathrooms and kitchens, where real wood warps.

What they do well

Light control by angle, privacy without darkness, insulation from the still air they trap, and they collect far less dust than fabric. They are also cordless, which removes the child safety concern blinds carry.

Cost and value

Shutters cost considerably more than blinds and last decades, and they generally stay with the house. Compare cost per year rather than price at purchase, and confirm whether fitting is included.

Cleaning and maintenance

Dust the louvres with a soft brush or a dry cloth, and wipe painted shutters with a barely damp cloth rather than a wet one. Check hinges and magnets annually and tighten anything that has worked loose.

Avoid solvent cleaners, since they strip painted and lacquered finishes permanently.

Measuring yourself

If you are measuring yourself, use a steel tape rather than fabric, work in millimetres, and take the width and the height at three points each, recording the smallest width and the largest height.

Compared with blinds and curtains

Blinds are cheaper and quicker to fit and are replaced every few years. Curtains insulate well, block light completely and collect dust.

Shutters sit between, and the cordless design is a genuine safety advantage in any home with young children.

Period properties

Listed buildings and conservation areas may restrict what can be fitted to a window. Check before ordering.

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