Summary: Learn how to fit shutters, fit interior shutters, fix separate hinges and install exterior shutters.
Shutters can be used externally to increase the security of your home and protect window frames from weathering, or internally, replacing curtains as a means of insulating the room and providing privacy. Shutters can be made from a range of materials including timber, aluminium and UPVC. It is worth remembering that timber shutters will require the most frequent maintenance.
Both internal and external shutters are available in a variety of traditional or modern styles and materials: fixed panel shutters, adjustable louvre shutters and half shutters, which cover the bottom section of window allowing the desired volume of light into the room. Shutter kits can be purchased with pre-cut, pre-drilled, pre-painted sections with instructions for easy assembly.
There are two methods of fitting shutters: fixing to the window frame with hinges; or fixing to a frame positioned around the window frame or in the window recess. The frame-fixing method is the easiest and is explained below.
Use dowels to hold the frame together at the corners.
Check the frame is square and use wedges if required.
After aligning the hinge sections, check that the shutters open and close smoothly.
Thin moulding can be used to cover the fixing points around the frame.
Exterior shutters often come with a three-sided frame with no frame section running along the bottom of the window. This allows water to be channelled away from the sill, preventing problems with damp. The process for fitting the sections of mounting frame is very similar to the method employed in fitting interior shutters except that the holes in the frame sections are pre-drilled.
Once you have positioned the frame in the recess, check it is square and use packing if necessary.
Use masonry screws to secure the frame in place.
Slide the hinge pins into the hinge sections and check the shutters open and close smoothly.
Ensure the tie-backs are fitted in the correct position and can be easily released from inside.
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