Hardwood (basswood)
Premium painted finish on the panels. Note: weight per panel matters on a sliding track, so we confirm hardwood is suitable at the survey based on panel size.
Tracked Door Shutters
Plantation shutters for bi-fold and patio doors. Panels mounted on a top track that slide and fold along the opening rather than hinging from a side frame.
The right solution for wide modern openings where standard hinged shutters cannot reach across or where the doors need to fold fully out of the way.
The style explained
What are tracked-door shutters?
Tracked configurations replace the hinge-from-the-frame mechanism with a ceiling-mounted (or head-mounted) sliding track. Panels suspend from the track and slide along it, folding flat at one end when fully open.
This is the only shutter style designed for very wide openings, particularly bi-fold doors and large patio openings where a single hinged frame cannot span the distance.
Best for
Wide patio doors, sliding doors, and large rear openings
Main benefit
Panels slide on a track instead of swinging into the room
Survey check
Head fixing, stack space, handles, thresholds, and opening width
Not ideal when
The window is narrow enough for a normal hinged shutter
Where it works best
The rooms and situations this style suits
Bi-fold doors onto the garden
The classic application. Bi-folds want maximum glass and minimum frame in the open position, and tracked shutters can mirror that by folding flat against the wall when retracted.
Wide patio doors
Sliding patio doors of 2 metres or wider exceed the practical width of hinged shutters. A tracked system spans the full opening cleanly.
Open-plan rooms with wide glazing
Modern kitchen-diners with floor-to-ceiling glass benefit from a treatment that retracts completely. Tracked shutters give that retracted state without the bulk of curtains.
How to choose
When this style is the right answer
Choose tracked when hinged panels would be awkward
Wide openings need the panels to slide and stack instead of swinging into the room like a normal shutter.
The stack matters as much as the closed look
A tracked shutter has to look good closed and sit somewhere sensible when open, so we plan the stack around the room layout.
The survey decides the fixing detail
The important checks are head fixing, door handles, thresholds, return walls, and whether a bottom guide is needed.
Materials
Available in both our materials
Polycomposite
Lighter per panel than hardwood, which can make it the more practical choice on very wide configurations. 10-year manufacturer guarantee on defects.
Common configurations
How tracked door shutters are typically laid out
- Single-track, single-stack
- All panels stack to one end when retracted. Suits openings where there is wall space on one side to receive the stacked panels.
- Single-track, bi-parting
- Panels stack to both ends when open, with a single seam in the centre when closed. Useful when the wall space is equal on both sides.
- Double-track for very wide openings
- Two parallel tracks with panels on each, allowing panels to pass each other. Used on openings beyond about 4 metres wide.
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Contact Information
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0777 612 3386Email Us
info@shuttersdesign.co.ukAddress
20 Wittering CloseKingston upon ThamesKT2 5GAOpening Hours
Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
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Inspiration
See real installations across Surrey
Real shutters fitted in real homes. Victorian bay windows in Kingston, kitchen fronts in Twickenham, full-height living rooms in Richmond.
Full Height, Living Room
Richmond
Full height shutters fitted to a wide bay. Louvres set to diffuse afternoon light while keeping the room private from the street.
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Service Areas
Areas We Cover
We install plantation shutters across Surrey and South West London, measured and fitted by our own family-run team. The full list lives on the areas page; a dozen of our most-covered towns are below.
View all 50+ areasFAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Up to about 6 metres reliably. Beyond that the panel count and track length start to compromise smoothness. We confirm the maximum at the survey based on the actual opening, fixing position, and stack space.
Typically into a structural head above the opening (lintel, ceiling joist, or reinforced soffit). The track itself is slim and almost invisible from below once the panels are hung. We check the structural support at the survey.
Optional. For shorter panels the top track alone is enough. For taller doors a discreet bottom channel keeps the panels from swinging. The bottom guide is shallow and can be flush-mounted into the floor where appropriate.
Tracked shutters are not a security barrier. They are a window/door treatment. If security or weatherproofing is the goal, the bi-fold door itself needs to handle that, with the shutters providing privacy and light control inside.
Quiet on a properly fitted track. The panels run on small wheels designed for low noise. Heavier panels move more slowly but still smoothly. We test every track at fitting day to confirm the action is right.
Recommended next
Other styles to consider
If this style is close but not quite right, these are the nearest alternatives.