Shutters and sliding sash windows

Wooden shutters are very much on trend, and we love them too!  They not only look great but are also functional and depending on the type of look you want to achieve, shutters can either create a modern contemporary look or an old world plantation feel to any room.

We often get asked by our customers if we supply shutters too, and the short answer is… we don’t.  There are various reason for this, but mostly because our workshop is designed to create windows and doors, and the cost to change our production lines to make wood shutters would mean we could not compete with the big players.  So instead we make stick to what we’re good at (making beautiful windows at a beautiful price) and we’re happy to make recommendations on shutter suppliers. We really like California Shutters.  Don’t be deceived by the name, they are a British company based in Hove, and they sell shutters online.  They provide easy to follow guides on how to measure, you can then design your own shutters online and a few weeks later they’ll be delivered to your door.

Of course, there are other Shutter providers out there, and it’s important to say we like California Shutters because of the high quality and great price. While California Shutters is a supply only company, there are other providers that will fit shutters for you, this of course takes away the hassle – but obviously it’s more expensive to do this.

If you choose the DIY route then here are some important tips to remember with measuring and fitting shutters onto sliding sash windows.

1)  If you have decided to install shutters on your new sash windows then you don’t need to have architraving or an internal window board.  Make sure not to add this to your order when ordering with Sashed or any other sliding sash window supplier.  This adds little to the overall look of your shutters.  Take a look at this sliding sash window & shutters, the shutters have been fitted to the full width of the sash box frame without any architrave or window board,

Fitting the shutters the full width and height of the sash box frame creates a neat and modern finish between the internal wall and the shutters, which we think makes the angles more pleasing to the eye.

However, in the end, it comes down to personal preference, you may decide that you prefer your shutters to fit inside of architraving, or you may have existing architraving which you don’t want to remove – there is no right or wrong way.
Check out this picture, from California Shutters customer photos, where the shutters have been fitted inside the architraving:

2)  Make sure to order “L” frames for the shutters which allow for any protrusions from the sash windows such as sash lifts.  You should allow 20mm clearance for the sash lifts (17mm is the min) between the open louvre (moveable slat) and the sash lift.  This will allow the louvre to move freely without hitting the sash lifts.

3)  When fitting the shutter frame to the sash box frame make sure that the screws do not insert into the wood more than 18mm at the sides of the frame.  This is because long screws will stop the sash weights inside the sash box frame from moving freely and your windows will not open or close as designed.  There are no weights or moving parts at the top and the bottom of the sash box frame, here you can use longer screws to compensate for the need to use shortened screws at the side.  This picture uses a red arrow to depict how a long screw in the side of the sash box frame can disrupt free movement of the weights:

Sashed can provide a shutter fitting service when you order windows or doors from us.  Please contact us for more details on this service.

Thanks for reading, we hope you find this useful and as always just get in touch if need more help or advice on fitting shutters to sash windows.