Buying Guide

Most plantation shutter purchases follow the same shape. (1) Initial enquiry by phone or contact form, with a brief description of the windows and the rooms involved. (2) Free home survey where the installer measures every window and talks through styles and materials. (3) Written quotation, valid for 30 days, no obligation. (4) Confirmation with deposit, after which the shutters are manufactured to your specifications. (5) Installation day, followed by aftercare and the start of the warranty period.

On the Express range the process usually takes around 2 to 3 weeks from survey to fitted installation, all made in the UK. Plan & Save is made overseas to the same spec and takes around 8 to 9 weeks at the lower Plan & Save rate. Either way, the bulk of that time is manufacturing; visits and decision-making typically take a week or two on top.

Where are the shutters manufactured? UK manufacture means shorter lead times and easier quality control. Overseas manufacture is not bad but introduces shipping delays and harder warranty enforcement.

Who will actually fit them? Some national companies subcontract fitting to whoever is available. Ask whether the installer you meet at the survey is the one who returns on fitting day.

What is the warranty, and what does it actually cover? "Lifetime warranty" claims often have heavy exclusions. A clear 5 or 10 year manufacturer warranty plus a workmanship guarantee from the installer is more honest than vague long-term promises.

Say so during the survey. Plantation shutters can help a room feel less exposed by adding a fitted layer between the room and the glass, especially on older sash windows and bay windows where cold glass and draughts are more noticeable.

Polycomposite is our strongest practical recommendation when thermal insulation, noise reduction, and stability matter. Hardwood is still a good dry-room choice when real timber character is the main reason for the purchase.

Shutters are not a repair for failed glazing or rotten frames. If the window itself is broken, fix the window first. If the window is sound but the room feels cold, overlooked, or unfinished, fitted shutters are worth considering before a bigger window project.

Shutters are not the same as double glazing, but they can be a practical alternative when replacing the windows is not possible, not affordable, or not desirable. This is common in period homes where the existing windows are part of the character of the room.

The main benefit is an internal fitted barrier that also improves privacy and light control. That makes shutters useful where the problem is day-to-day comfort rather than a failed sealed glass unit.

Ask the surveyor to separate the window problem from the room problem. Failed glass, water ingress, and structural draughts point toward window repair. Privacy, glare, cold glass, and an unfinished look often point toward shutters.

Plan & Save is priced the same for both materials, while Express Hardwood is priced higher than Express Polycomposite. The choice should still start with room conditions and performance, not just the cheapest route.

Polycomposite is waterproof, reinforced, lower maintenance, and better for thermal and noise insulation. Hardwood is real basswood and suits dry rooms where real timber character is the priority.

A good whole-house specification may use Polycomposite in bathrooms, kitchens, conservatories, and colder rooms, then Hardwood in selected dry rooms where the customer specifically wants real timber character.

Pressure to sign on the day. A reputable installer leaves you with the written quotation and waits for you to come back when you are ready. "This price is only valid today" is a tactic, not a discount.

Vague answers about who manufactures the shutters and where. If the company cannot tell you, they probably do not control the supply chain themselves.

A deposit greater than 50%, or a request for full payment up front. The standard pattern is 50% on order, 50% on completion after the walkthrough.