Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to the most popular questions often asked by our customers when selecting interior shutters and wooden blinds.

What are plantation shutters?
Plantation shutters is a generalised term to describe shutter panels fixed either inside or outside windows and doors. They originated in America 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. In the South East of England they are usually described as interior louvre shutters or window shutters.

What wood is used for making UK window shutters?
The Wellington Range is hand crafted from Western Red Cedar wood. Generally acknowledged to be the finest timber for window products, it is a long-lasting wood and in its natural state is not adversely affected by rain or sun. It readily accepts oil and water based paints and stains and has a straight, interesting grain. Cedar is an inherently resilient timber which allows for fine milling and is a material so durable that it can be used outside without protection making it perfect for producing beautiful, high quality internal window shutters for the UK.

Lifestyle Shutters also design and fit the Taunton Range wood shutters. This is made from a less expensive poplar wood and is between the Wellingon and Dorchester ranges in quality and price. However, plantation window shutters in both louvre and solid options are only offered as a painted finish.

Do you manufacture mdf shutters?
Yes. The lower cost Dorchester Range is made from timber stripped, MDF coated, polymer sealed composite. Often referred to as MDF shutters or plastic shutters in the UK, it is made to look exactly like the Wellington (Red Cedar wood) product in dimensions but has a finish that cannot be painted. It is cheaper to make and this is saving is passed on to the customer. In some instances, we may not be able to use the Dorchester Range for technical reasons, normally because the shutters would be too heavy for the design. Please be aware of this.

Can you fit plantation shutters to UPVC windows?
Yes of course. With experience of over 3000 window surveys our surveyors can design shutters to almost all UPVC window types. These can be fitted with or without fixing into your windows, whether they’re for square bays, 3, 4 or even 5 or 6 sided bays. UPVC installations can be particularly customised, but we use the very latest in frame and batten options to ensure shutters can be accommodated. We have even fitted interior shuttters to UPVC windows that open inwards! Tricky, but it can be done.
However, there are some considerations. For instance on some window installations the UPVC handles may restrict the size of the louvres that can be accommodated. But our surveyors will outline any implications at time of measurement survey.

What is the difference between Red Cedar and other woods such as Basswood?
Western Red Cedar, or “Tree of Life” as the Canadian West Coast’s earliest inhabitants knew it, was one of their main sources of roofing, walls and even clothing. Today's Western Red Cedar is a wood of exceptional beauty. In its natural, unfinished state it has a richly textured grain and coloured with warm, mellow tones ranging from light amber to a deeper honey brown. Its low density and unique cellular structure creates interior air spaces that give it an insulation value higher than most other woods. It is also a dimensionally stable wood which lies and stays flat so when properly finished, it will age gracefully over many years. Cedar also contains natural oils that act as preservatives to help the wood resist insect attack and decay. Basswood and Poplar are cheap furniture framing timbers which have a much less noticeable grain. Many wood slat blinds are manufactured from basswood and stained to suit. Take a look at what Red Cedar wood blinds cost in comparison. Although Red Cedar is very expensive, stable and problem free, it is a false economy to make shutters in Basswood, Maple or Oak. Due to the manufacturing process, we are able to offer this premium timber at a similar price level as the conventional Basswoods often used by other internal shutter companies.

Do interior wood shutters warp and chip easily?
Red Cedar wood will not warp or shrink. The Dorchester Shutter Range is incredibly tough and due to the polymer seal, it is perfect for high moisture environments such as kitchens and bathrooms. Should wooden plantation shutters be chipped or scratched, they are easy to touch up with the “touch up” pots are supplied with your shutters. As with all wooden furniture, Lifestyle Shutters advise that when moving your custom shutters, care should be taken when opening/moving to avoid unnecessary scratching.

How much light do shutters block out when closed?
Both our louvre and solid panel shutters are manufactured with rebated edges to minimise light lines around the perimeter of the shutters making the shutters ideal for bedrooms. However, a 100% light block out is not possible with the louvre shutters as the nature of the louvres is to allow light through. Even so, when closed, less light is visible than a blind due to the styles and framework surrounding the shutters. In addition we use specialist frame options to block out the light further.

How much do interior plantation shutters cost?
The Wellington Range (Red Cedar wood) retails for £265 per square metre plus fitting. The Taunton Range (poplar wood) retails for £225 per square metre plus fitting. The Dorchester Range (engineered wood) retails for £190 per square metre plus fitting. Interior solid shutters are only available in wood and vary in price according to the style used. A shaker style panel costs less to make than a raised panel in the Victorian or Regency style.

How much do traditional solid panel shutters cost?
Traditional solid shutters are available in the Wellington range for painted and stained shutters and the Taunton range for painted finish only. Available in three styles, Solid Raised, Solid Moulded and Solid Shaker. Solid panel shutters are priced the same as louvre shutters. £265.00 per metre squared for the Wellington range including VAT plus fitting. £215.00 per metre squared for the Taunton range including VAT plus fitting. However, the Solid Shaker style is discounted by 10 per cent. To obtain a quote for shutters in your home, please use our online quotation form

How do you justify this shutter price?
Normally interior shutters which are fixed inside a window will be subject to extreme variations in heat and humidity. Often internal plantation shutters have a radiator under them. The Wellington range is made of Western Red Cedar which is naturally durable and stable. It is often used as the outbuild wood on American timber framed buildings. Our Wellington wooden shutters could be used as outside exterior shutters and left untreated would last for years. We do not have to laminate these shutters. Unlike our competitors, the finishes are carefully developed to be UV resistant and long lasting and also contain a polyurethane sheen to protect the wood making cleaning shutters easier. Regular domestic paints are not used as if they were, all internal shutters would have to be re-painted and varnished every couple of years. (These materials inevitably cost more.) In conventional internal solid shutters, MDF will often be used and a wood veneer laid over the top. This stops the shutter panel splitting when it dries out in the sun or the humidity changes.

There are many shutter louvre sizes. Which one should I choose?
When making your louvre choice, consider the size of the window and the desired effect. Generally larger windows require larger louvre sizes. Adjustable louver shutters are available in 32, 47, 64 and 89mm louvre sizes, the larger the louvre the more light but the less privacy from the outside. In the USA, most wooden plantation shutters are made with 89mm (3.5") louvres or larger but interior window shutters in the UK tend to be manufactured in smaller louvres such as the 32, 47 or 64mm. Lifestyle Shutters have found that in the South East of England, 32mm or 47mm louvres are often used in bathrooms but these also look very good when painted white and used on café style installations in living room windows where a street may be very near.

Can interior shutters be fitted to patio doors?
The growth of the uPVC and conservatory industry has led to many patio and French door installations and these are often over 2 metres in length. Internal shutters hanging off side battens will inevitably be too heavy. To eliminate the weight problem we usually mount these room divides or partitions on a top tracking system. 8 panels or 12 panels are best for very large openings although sometimes it is better to hang 6 shutters off the track if they are very large. When a shutter survey is carried out, our surveyor will advise if your opening requires top tracking and which way the shutters will open.

How many internal shutters do I need in my window opening?
When we design internal louvre shutters, our primary aim is to match existing window frames or dividers to maximise the light which can be absorbed through the window. Generally a window looks best with 4 shutter panels with two opening as pairs either way. On 3 bay sash windows, commonly found throughout London, interior plantation shutters will usually have 2 shutter panels on the smaller side windows and 4 in the centre. All panels will open away from the middle.

There are, of course, many exceptions. For instance, a long window with 3 panes of glass, i.e. 2000mm wide and 1000mm high, would have 6 shutter panels, 3 folding either way. Consideration will need to be given as to where the panels are going to fold back and whether there is enough room for this. Where fitting inside the reveal next to the window, you would not want the shutters, when open, to protrude into the room too much. Lifestyle Shutters would not recommend hanging more than 3 shutter panels from a single batten hinged together unless they were not going to be opened except for window cleaning or were resting on the window sill or door step. As the maximum recommended width of our shutter panels is 525mm, this equates to 3212mm maximum width but it is almost impossible for a batten to hold shutters of this width and weight without sagging occurring at a later date. Common sense is needed to achieve a good installation and the window will normally dictate the number of internal window shutters.

What colours and wood stains are available?
Standard colours & stains are available including Pure White, Silk White, Pearl and Bisque as standard and further stains include Golden Oak, Walnut, Medium Mahogany, Medium Cherry, Pecan, Cherry, Dark Teak, Golden Oak Natural, Medium Natural, Rosewood and Black Walnut, all at the same price. Any of 3,500 Dulux Trade or Farrow & Ball colours can also be matched at an additional cost.

Can interior louvre shutters be installed on any window in the UK?
Custom made interior shutters can be installed on most windows, French or patio sliding doors. They can also be used effectively as room dividers fitted on tracks. They cannot usually be fitted where there is a false ceiling or fixed pelmet that prohibits interior shutters from being opened. If the window/door opens inwards, they can be mounted outside of the reveal. Where we need to mount into the framework of UPVC windows it can often restrict the louvre options available to you as sufficient clearance is required to accomodate the window handles.

What about shutter maintenance and cleaning shutters?
You can use a feather duster, damp sponge/soft cloth to clean all interior wooden, plastic or mdf shutters without harming the satin finish. A vacuum cleaner can also be on the engineered wood range. The finish should not need repainting for many years. The Dorchester range of shutters carries a 5-year guarantee.

From order, when will my custom made shutters be ready for installation?
Both the louvre and solid shutters are custom made to the nearest millimetre in both width and height to fit individual openings and are ready for installation in 6 – 8 weeks from the date of the order and receipt of the deposit. For special shaped shutters, please allow 8 - 10 weeks from date of order.

What is a shutter divider (Mid) rail?
When full height interior window shutters are manufactured and their overall height exceed 1.3 metres, a horizontal divider rail (or mid-rail) is required to provide additional strength to the shutter panel. This allows separate operation of the louvres above and below the divider rail. They are placed where a natural divide on the window or door exists. Usually it is advisable to place the mid-rails where the handles protrude.

Can I fit interior window shutters myself?
Yes. A 20% DIY discount is available. Lifestyle Shutters will deliver your interior window shutters to anywhere within London, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire and Middlesex. Couriered deliveries will be arranged outside these areas. Many customers have fitted very complex installations themselves. However, windows are seldom square and planing and packing of the hanging batten is often required to ensure both louvre and solid shutters are housed perfectly. For DIY installations, a fairly competent level of carpentry skills and some practical common sense is necessary. Comprehensive fitting instructions are included and we are available on the phone should you need help. Please be aware that for self-fitting you will need to provide us with your own measurements, although we can guide you through the measurement process over the phone.

Because shutters are manufactured to the nearest millimetre in both width and height, there are often numerous ways to fit the window shutters together. Please take a look at our DIY Measuring & Fitting Guides.

Where do you offer on site measuring and installation services?
We offer a complete shutter design, survey and installation service for both internal louvre plantation shutters and solid wooden window shutters from Brighton to London and throughout the South East of England including Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire, Essex and Middlesex. Contact us for a free site survey.

However, prior to visiting you to survey/measure for your interior window shutters, we would like you to have an idea of pricing. Please take a look at our price comparison chart, request a quotation or view our online shutter quote to get an idea of costs.

During our design survey, our surveyor will outline all possible shutter options available to you and together decide which will be the most practical and aesthetically pleasing design for your lifestyle. Our surveyor will then take your order and deposit at the end of his/her visit and 6 - 8 weeks later, Lifestyle Shutters will expertly fit your internal plantation shutters.

What if my windows are not square?
No window is perfectly square. The side battens are 25mm thick and can be scribed to square off the window. There is about 20mm of play. If the window slants, the window shutters will emphasise this as the shutters are square and we do not advise trimming them lengthwise as when opened they will look very odd. An optimum position will always be found for the shutters that look right. If they look right, they are right!

What if interior shutters cannot be fitted?
In very occasional circumstances where interior shutters cannot be fitted, we offer an extensive range of quality custom made wood slat blinds. A host of colours and stains in many different slat sizes are available.

Do you/Can I fit internal wooden blinds?
Yes. We will design and install wood slat Venetian blinds. Please check our Fitting & DIY page to see where. We can also supply cheap wood slat blinds for your own installation. Take a look at our low cost Economy Range where CUSTOM MADE wooden blinds are available at an express 10 day turnaround with FREE UK Delivery. Fitting instructions are included with your order.

Are your wood blinds easy to fit?
Yes, Especially into wood. Masonry installations are a little harder. Most fitting problems arise from trying to support very large blinds. We always recommend working with a colleague when installing larger wood slat blinds.

Can wood slat blinds be used in bathrooms and Kitchens?
Yes. Water splashes and steam will not harm your wood blind, although constant contact with water will.

How do I clean wooden blinds?
Close your wooden blinds and clean with a feather duster or cloth. If you haven't cleaned your blinds for a while, please close the blind and wipe each slat with a damp cloth.

How do I order my wood slat Venetian blinds?
Carefully record the exact blind size required to fit your window/opening. Take a look at our measuring guide to see how to measure your blinds. Choose the slat size and colour/stain for your blind and email, telephone or fill in our online Economy Blind Order Form. We will then call back to confirm order details and take payment for your blinds.

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If you have a number of windows or would like a detailed quotation for shutters, please email the measurements (preferably metric) to us at info@lifestyleshutters.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as possible.

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