How to fit window shutters

Inspired by a helpful UK fitting guide. This walk-through draws on the popular video "How I saved ££££'s fitting my own window shutters", in which a UK homeowner documents their shutter-fitting project from start to finish. The video is candid about what trips people up — particularly the measuring — and watching it before you order is genuinely worth half an hour of your time.

1. Measure the recess — three times

Measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the window recess, and take the smallest figure. Do the same for the height on both sides and in the middle. Use the smallest measurement each time. Plantation shutters are made to order, so an error here is an expensive mistake.

If the recess is out of square by more than a few millimetres, note that when ordering — some suppliers can compensate for a slight lean. A quick diagonal measurement from corner to corner will tell you how out of square you are dealing with.

2. Decide on the frame type

Most UK shutters use an L-shaped or Z-shaped frame that sits inside the window recess. The L-frame is simpler; the Z-frame covers the reveal more neatly and is better if the recess is a bit uneven. Your supplier will normally ask which you need when you place the order.

For uPVC double-glazed windows, check whether there is enough depth in the recess to fit the frame and still have the handle accessible. Bay windows and shaped windows need specific frame types — worth confirming before you order.

3. Order and check the delivery

Once ordered, lead times vary from a few days to several weeks depending on the supplier. When they arrive, open all the packaging and check everything against the order — frame pieces, shutter panels, tilt rods, hinges, and fixings. Check for damage before signing anything off.

Lay the panels flat for a day or two before fitting if they have been rolled or packaged on edge. Plantation shutters can settle slightly, and you want any movement to happen before rather than after fitting.

4. Fix the frame into the recess

Offer up the frame pieces dry first to check the fit. Most frames are fixed using screws through the timber into the window reveal. Use a spirit level on the vertical pieces — a frame that is even slightly off will make the panels look crooked when hung.

Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the frame timber. If the reveal is plasterboard rather than masonry, use toggle fixings or fit a timber batten first. Pack out any gaps between the frame and the reveal with small hardwood wedges before screwing off.

5. Hang the shutter panels

Most plantation shutters use butt hinges or a dedicated shutter hinge that clips onto the frame. Hold each panel in place, mark the hinge positions, and fix the hinges to the panel first, then to the frame. Get a helper to hold the panel while you work — they are awkward to hold and screw at the same time.

Check each panel closes flush and sits level before moving on to the next. Most hinges have some adjustment built in, but it is much easier to get it right on the first go than to faff about afterwards.

6. Fit the tilt rod and check the louvres

The tilt rod is the vertical bar that runs down the face of the panel and tilts all the louvres together when you push or pull it. It slots into small staple connectors on each louvre. Once fitted, run through the full range of movement to check all the louvres move freely and consistently.

Some panels come with a hidden tilt mechanism built into the stile (the vertical edge of the panel) instead of a visible rod — that is a matter of personal preference and has no effect on how well the shutters work.

7. Fine-tune and finish

Open and close each panel several times to check the action is smooth. Adjust hinge screws if anything is catching or sitting proud. Trim any frame covers or beading that came with the kit, and press them into place to cover the screw heads and tidy the junction between frame and reveal.

That is largely it. Plantation shutters need very little maintenance — an occasional wipe-down with a slightly damp cloth is all most need. Avoid oil-based polishes on painted shutters.

When to call a handyman

Call Richard if you are dealing with an awkward bay, a shaped or arched window, or you simply do not want to risk the measurement stage on an expensive set of shutters. A professional fitting also tends to produce a cleaner finish on older properties where the reveals are not quite square.