Frequently asked questions
What are Plantation Shutters?
Plantation shutters are louvered 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. The term Ante Bellum means pre war and is used to describe a style of plantation shutters. The louvre shutters offered by Shutter Master are Ante Bellum.
What are solid panels?
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. See solid panels
Can plantation shutters be installed on any window?
Shutters can be installed on virtually any window, French door or patio sliding doors. They can also be used effectively as room dividers fitted on tracks. They usually cannot be fitted where there is a false ceiling or fixed pelmet that prohibits the shutter from being opened. If the window/door opens inwards they can always be mounted outside of the reveal. If in doubt Tel: 01942 676 722
Do you offer in home measuring and installation services?
Yes.
We offer a complete measuring / installation service throughout Gtr Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and the Northwest of England. We will travel to most areas so if in doubt please Tel 01942 676 722
How do I measure my windows and doors myself?
Simply measure the width and the height of the window opening in millimeters.
If you don't have a metric tape measure use inches and we will convert it to
millimeters when you call 01942 676 722 or email the measurements to info@shuttermaster.co.uk
Checkout our measuring guide
For a quick quote just measure the width and height of the opening then click here for a Quick Price Quote. Alternatively call us on 01942 676 722 We will then give you a price over the phone.
What colours and stains are available?
View the colours section of this site for a full list of colours and stains that are available for each shutter range.
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 for your plantation shutters.
In the USA most shutters are made with 3.5 (89mm) louvre's or larger but here in Europe we tend to generally choose smaller louvre's such as 47mm or 64mm. 32mm is used a lot in bathrooms but also looks very good when painted white and used on café style installations in living room windows where the street maybe very close by.
How many plantation shutter panels do I need in my window opening?
Our smallest panel width is 200mm and widest is 550mm, although with larger louvre panels we do sometimes go wider but void 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 center. All panels will open away from the middle.
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 Craftwood shutter this is clearly an option to be considered. We do not charge for tracking, it comes in the square metre price for the opening.
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 be ideally.
How long from order will it take to get my plantation shutters?
Every Shutter Master Shutter is custom manufactured to the nearest millimeter to fit individual openings and are ready for installation in 6 weeks from the date of the order and receipt of the deposit. Special shapes and custom colours will take approx 7 days longer.
How much do plantation shutters cost?
Our Basswood Range retails for £305 per square metre exactly. The Craftwood range retails for £215 per metre exactly. And the Poplar Range retails for £265 per metre exactly. All includes fitting and delivery. No hidden extras.
To get an exact price go to our Quick Price Quote or call us on 01942 676 722
OK I want some plantation shutters. How do I order?
Simply Telephone 01942 676 722
OR
Use our Quick Price Quote and enter your name and address.
We will then call you to arrange a suitable time to visit you.
OR
E mail info@shuttermaster.co.uk
We will call you back ASAP Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Saturdays 9am - 1pm
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