What are the principal benefits of shutters?
They combine functionality with stunning looks .The adjustable louvres allow excellent control of both privacy and sound/thermal insulation. This ability to adjust the louvres also provides unrivalled control of ventilation and light. On a more practical level, shutters are low maintenance and have a longevity not afforded by curtains or standard blinds.
Can any window be installed with shutters?
Shutters are versatile in their potential fitting opportunities. Most windows and doors will have an appropriate installation system by which the shutters can be fitted. Historically they have also been utilised as room dividers where they are typically fitted on a tracking system. Where you have an inward opening window, they can either be flush or surface mounted outside the reveal.
Before having a shutter survey what should I check?
Are the walls around the window opening complete e.g is the plastering complete? Is the windowsill fitted ? Are dado rails, architraves or tiles in place ? Measurements of the shutters can be affected by all these types of factors.
How many shutter panels are required for my window?
The rules governing this issue are not cast in stone; as often there is more than one option for a particular window opening. In general, it is often sensible to follow the existing window layout i.e matching up the shutters vertical stiles with the window mullions. There are restrictions on panel widths with a maximum of 750 mm and a minimum of 152 mm. When these present a problem you can consider covering a larger opening with multiple panels.
Where surface or flush fitting is required, you will need to have an idea as to where the panels will fold back to, taking into account any obstacles which may prevent this from happening. Where rebate fitting is to be used you may not want the shutters to protrude into the room too much (in which case reducing the individual panel sizes will minimise this).
It is easy to become pre-occupied with how the shutters open and where they fold away. Whilst it is important to have a good understanding of these aspects, our experience is, that once installed, customers tend to keep the shutters in position most of the time and adjust the privacy/daylight by operating the louvres, often only properly folding the shutters to clean the windows.
Where larger openings are being covered (over 2200mm wide) tracking is needed at the top to suspend the panels. Generally, when using tracking, panels would need to be an even number to look right. In summary, it is normally the window itself which will lend itself to a certain number of panels being used. If the window is split into 2 halves then 2 or 4 panels are often used. Should there be 3 window panels then 3 or 6 shutter panels are often the appropriate installation.
What louvre size is considered most appropriate?
The louvre size is generally determined to appear in proportion to the size of the shutter. Other important considerations can be that the larger the louvre size then the more daylight can come through but also that less privacy will be afforded when open. When fitting shutters to small window panels then it can be advisable to use larger louvres or the windows could end up with quite a busy look.
What maintenance is required?
Shutters benefit greatly from being so easy to clean and maintain. You can simply use a damp sponge, cloth or feather duster to wipe clean. Re-painting of the finish will not be required for many years. Should you have an absolute disaster and seriously damage a louvre or panel we use ISO 9002 recorded manufacturing process so we can normally make a replacement from these records.
Do the shutters come with a guarantee?
The guarantee comprehensively covers against manufacturing and installation defects for three years.
How eco friendly are the materials?
We are fully aware of the importance of having products which are responsibly made with proper regard for the environment. Our ranges have been sourced with this important consideration in mind.
Our red cedar wood range “Vancouver” is supplied by the Western Red Cedar Association in Canada.
It is either taken from designated managed forest areas or is replanted cedar. Cedar is one of the worlds most used timbers and as a consequence is farmed in well managed forests.
The “Phoenix” wood range is grown in sub-tropical areas of the southern U.S.A, China and Japan. It is a fast growing hardwood with a tree reaching its full height in approximately 15 years, making it an ideal wood to be farmed in managed plantations.
The “Seattle” range is amongst our most eco friendly products as no trees are actually cut down to make them. Construction is from laminated veneered lumber core (Basswood strips are commonly used and are off cuts which are not suitable for use elsewhere). These are then laminated together resulting in a light strong core surrounded by LDF and sealed in a polymer outer coating.
