DIY Measure & Installation Options for Painted & Stained Shutters

Custom Made to your Measurements.

Fitting shutters to an opening is an exacting procedure, and to ensure proper fitting, exact measurements must be obtained. A good quality steel tape measure would be a minimum requirement.

Please note: all measurements must be supplied in millimetres (mm). As with all window furnishings please supply the width first and then the drop. Eg. 1800 wide x 1200 drop.

Before measuring it is always important to have an idea of the application type, as this will dictate the measurements taken. You will also need to decide on options such as blade size, divider rails, inside or face mounting etc. before proceeding.

ShutterKits staff will gladly offer their professional help in any installation enquiries that you have. Because of the plethora of options available it maybe just easier to email us your opening sizes and we will by return email send an itemised quote to you with recommended installation options to best suit the opening inserted in the quote. Attached pdf drawing(s) will often accompany the quotation with further options.

Things that you can do to help us get it right:

• Choose a product & blade size.
• Send measurements and mark them as width x drop eg. 900w x 1200d
• 90% of windows divide by 2 or 4 panels - if different let us know.
• If you have an idea in mind what you would like - let us know.
• Unsure where to start? Send photos.
• Send photos anyway.

 

Hinged Panels

Hinged panels are the most popular form of shutter installation used. They are primarily used to cover windows, but may be used for doorways depending on the application of each individual opening. It is popular to hinge a panel directly onto another panel (Timber Shutters only). The maximum recommended window/door width for this type of installation is 2400mm wide x 2100mm drop. It is not recommended to hinge more than 2 panels together unless they are supported by a tracking system. The most popular options are below but there are many variations of a theme and with over 30 years experience we have pretty much seen it all - so please contact us if you have any questions.

Hinge Straight on to your Reveals

Hinging straight on to your timber reveals is a popular way of installing shutters. The adjustable hinges will pre-installed on your shutters so all you will have to do is unpack the shutter and start installing. Shutterkits will provide installation instructions plus a few fitters tricks to make it even easier! Packed with the shutters (among other bits & pieces) will be hinge packers that slip behind the hinge for those times when you need to lift or drop one side of the shutter to fit the opening if needed.

 

Hinging Shutters in Frames

Why use frames? Because you are installing a square product in not necessarily a square hole and frames in a lot of cases is the quickest way to install your shutters. Half the hinge will will be attached to the frame with the other half attached to the shutter and all you need to do is install the frame and drop the hinge pins into the hinges. The magnets to hold the shutters in place across your window will be pre-installed in the shutter with the striker plate attached to the frame. 

Reveal fitting L Frames

 

Reveal fitting L Frames is the most popular installation – can be used in most situations when there is enough depthof reveal. Very helpful when windows are very wide and used in conjunction with T frames. Many different reveal fitting L frame options. Shutterkits will insert installation layouts in the itemised quotes and instructions for reveal fitting L frame shutters will be included with delivery of your shutters. Contact us for more information.

Reveal fitting Z Frames

Reveal fitting Z Frames is also a popular installation – can be used in situations when there is sometimes not quite enough depth of window reveal by bringing the shutters forward into the room so that the larger blade sizes can fully open. Also used where windows are "square set" and covers all those ugly gaps also very helpful when windows are very wide and used in conjunction with T frames. Many different reveal fitting Z frame options. Shutterkits will insert installation layouts in the itemised quotes and instructions for reveal fitting Z frame shutters will be included with delivery of your shutters. Contact us for more information.

Face fitting L Frames

Face fitting L Frames are used in most situations when there is not enough depth of reveal. The face fitting L frames have a cover strip built into the frames that will cover your screw heads for a very clean look. Very helpful when windows are very wide and used in conjunction with T frames. Many different face fitting L frame options. Shutterkits will insert installation layouts in the itemised quotes and instructions for face fitting L frame shutters will be included with delivery of your shutters. Contact us for more information.

 

Sliding Panels

Sliding panels are generally used to cover a doorway. Their main attraction is their ease of use, and less intrusion into the room when operated than bifold shutters. It is very rare that there is enough room inside a window opening to accommodate 2 sets of tracks and still be able to open the blades so therefore sliding panels are not generally applied to a window opening. Sliding doors use a double tracking system to allow a panel to slide past the panel next to it. Overlapped panels slide in behind one another, similar to a sliding door. When opened, there will always be at least half the doorway covered by panels, which should be taken into account you are looking for an unobstructed view when the doors are open. In such cases the bifold option is possibly the better choice. The entire layout should mimic the layout of the door opening.

There are two options available to open & close sliding shutter doors:

Sliding with the blades in the open position – The panels may pass each other regardless of whether the blades are open or closed. When both sets of blades are open you are able to view through both sets of blades. However, with this option the tracks must be placed further apart. This means that the panels will intrude further into the room.

Sliding with the blades in the closed position - An option is provided for sliding with the blades closed. The panels will not intrude as far into the room, but the blades of the panel must be closed when it passes the adjacent panel, so no view is possible. Suitable for doorways not often used or when space is severly restricted.

ShutterKits Staff will help you wherever we can. If you are unsure about something please don't hesitate to ask!