A buyers guide to interior window shutters

In previous blogs we have talked about how difficult it is for consumers to decide which plantation shutters are right for them. In this blog we go into a bit more detail.

It all starts with the company you choose to use. We were the UKs first Trading Standard compliant shutter company, and we are a member of the Buy with Confidence scheme. We are very proud of both these accolades and, of course, we think you should use us!

Once you have settled on a company to use the fun bit starts, you get to decide what shutters are going to make your window look amazing.

To help you decide, here are a few questions we suggest asking....

What type of wood is being used to make the shutters?  

There are many types of timbers, mdf and exotic sounding names for which both plantation louvre shutters and solid panel shutters are made from. Who’s to say which timber is best for you. You may prefer shutters with a deep grain visible through a white finish. You may prefer the durability of an engineered shutter or the beautiful grain of the premium Red Cedar wood. However, what is important to note is that some types of shutter materials/timbers may more suitable for specific windows and room environments. E.g. A heavy basswood shutter may not be particularly suitable for a large tier on tier opening window where you may wish 3 shutters to fold left and 3 shutters to open to the right. They can be fitted but would they be too heavy for that design?

How are the shutters constructed?

Quite possibly the most important question, although one that is often overlooked. The way a shutter panel is manufactured can have a bearing on the quality, longevity and cost of your purchase. For instance, a shutter that is simply glued together or has thinner profiles (less wood used in making it) is going to be cheaper than one that has reinforced vertical styles to protect from warping or one that is strengthened with mortice and tenon joints. However, with cheaper versions, there is a risk of breakage under the weight of hanging.

How are the shutters secured to the wall/fitted?

From our experience of over 10,000 design surveys there may be any number of ways your shutters can be fitted. The approach taken will depend on your window type, the height, existing openers and the window handles etc. However, there are other elements to take into consideration too, for example:

• How often are the shutters to be opened away from the window?
• How many shutters are needed per window?
• What louvre size do you prefer?
• Where should the shutters be mounted for best fixing
• Which material/timber are the shutters to be made from. 

It is important to make sure all these considerations are discussed in detail before finalising your shutter choice and the method of fixing.

Hopefully you have found our advice useful.  If you would like to discuss your own requirements in more detail, do contact us on: info@lifestyleshutters.co.uk or visit us at http://www.lifestyleshutters.co.uk/ 

Lifestyle Shutters 1st Trading Standards Compliant Interior Shutter Company

Twitter: Shutter_Tweets

Choosing the right Shutter Company to install shutters in your home can be an extremely difficult decision to make with many of the companies seemingly offering the same service or product.

At Lifestyle Shutters we understand that our customers will want evidence of quality through industry accreditation so they feel confident using our services. In our continued efforts to prove our quality of our services and products, we have sought every accreditation that is available to us.

A scheme that we are extremely delighted to be signed with is the Trading Standards Buy with confidence scheme. The Trading Standards scheme is run in partnership with local authorities such as East Sussex and Kent County Council. The scheme was introduced in response to tackle rogue traders and inform customers of professional companies that have a proven track record of quality and secured guarantees.

Lifestyle Shutters is the first and only shutter company with the Trading Standards buy with confidence accreditation.      

How does the scheme work?

The Buy with confidence scheme puts customers in contact with approved traders who have proven to apply to the highest standards of customer service.

How does a trader join the scheme? 

Membership of the scheme is not given likely as applicants have to pass a series of stringent checks. This involves each applicant having their complaint history reviewed and being visited by a Trading Standards officer. Additional requirements are references from previous customers and criminal records Bureau clearance.

The scheme covers three key topics 

• Ensure staff are properly trained for work
• Respond to any customer enquiries/complaints promptly
• Criminal Records Bureau clearance for all staff that carry out work in peoples home

What this means to you?

The approval process was both thorough and extensive and took a significant amount of time and work to go through, very few companies are unwilling to go through the process and that is why to date we are the only trading compliant Shutter Company throughout London and Sussex, Kent and the rest of the South East.

This means that when you and other customers research diligently the right Shutter Company for your property you will be satisfied that at Lifestyle Shutters we consistently work to the highest levels of quality as required by Local Authorities and Trade Standards officers.

If you have any further enquiries about the Buy with confidence scheme run by Trading Standards then please leave a comment. Or alternatively contact us directly where we will be more than happy to explain our accreditations and quality shutter range.

Case Study 1 - Plantation Shutters for a Kent country home

At Lifestyle Shutters we are always delighted to receive positive feedback from customers. At our new website we have a dedicated section where we can share this positive feedback. This blog post is one case study that is now available to view.

Case Study

Mr & Mrs Bilson were living in Haywards Heath and were moving to a new build house on the outskirts of Hythe, Kent. They arranged to visit our Uckfield showroom to get a feel for initial costs and the wooden plantation shutters themselves. Once the windows were in place in their new home a detailed design survey was arranged.

It was suggested 63mm louvres throughout the house with Half and half shutters to frame the windows and to match the window framework and help improve their insulation. The 89mm larger louvers were suggested for the Kitchen / sunroom to allow more light through during the summer

Comments about internal shutters for an ideal home

"My wife and I were looking for some indoor plantation style shutters to give our new home a contemporary look and came across the Lifestyle Shutters website. It was clear from the website that they were the sort of thing we were looking for and therefore we decided to visit their showroom in Uckfield to get a clearer indication of options and prices.

We met Nathan at the showroom, who gave us his full attention to explain the various materials, designs, and colours available and tips on the best options for our requirements. We also at that point had a fair indication of costs. Nathan suggested a site visit to our house to discuss in more detail the most appropriate design options regarding panel configuration and louvre dimensions and where to fit the internal wood shutters to the windows.

We both felt that our initial showroom visit and subsequent site survey were handled in a clear concise and professional manner and at no time did we feel under pressure to proceed with an order. We subsequently placed our order to have the entire house fitted out and were given a detailed sales order confirmation and an estimated delivery and fitting date.

Delivery was on cue with fitting completed in one day during the advised week given at time of initial order placement.

We are delighted with the results. The precision of the fitting was excellent, and the aesthetics of the shutter configurations suggested by Nathan are very pleasing to the eye. We also noted that the shutters have improved the insulation properties of the house, a benefit that we were not fully expecting.

We were also impressed with the after sales service. As a few minor fitting adjustments were required which were carried out promptly and efficiently. We have no hesitation in recommending this Shutter Company for the quality of it's product and service level."

Geoff and Wendy Bilson. Hythe. Kent.

Plantation Shutters opens up solutions for your home

Window Shutters are very popular around the world in millions of homes, especially in countries such as the USA and France.  

In the United Kingdom with the increasing popularity of home interior television shows that promote new and innovative products, plantation shutters have become an increasingly popular choice to improve the aesthetic of your rooms.

At Lifestyle Shutters we have witnessed this trend and with the relationships we have built up with our customers fully understand the reasons why people are turning to plantation shutters from dated net curtains.

For many of our clients having increased privacy is essential for them, especially if they have other properties over looking their home. Plantation shutters are an obvious solution to this problem, but furthermore they can offer greater security. 
 
Additional reasons that contribute towards people deciding that plantation shutters are a great solution to their household needs include the reason that they can provide great insulation during the winter. For many of our customers they have found that the installation of shutters has been an investment that has paid for itself several times over as they have reduced their energy bills.

The efficiency saving that can be gained can often be the deciding factor when people choose plantation shutters. Yet, there are even more reasons why people choose plantation shutters from the reduction of outside noise to light control.

If you want to find out further, about the specific benefits of plantation shutters you can visit our new website that has a full listing of high quality plantation shutters that have been installed in premier homes and businesses. Alternatively you can visit our showrooms in Uckfield to further discuss the range of plantation shutters available and have a cup of tea.   

Lifestyle Shutters launch new website

About the Website

Lifestyle Shutters are the South East of England’s premier Shutter Company. We install high quality wooden shutters into luxury homes and prime commercial properties. 

Our new website will help us to communicate our dedication, professionalism and quality of service to you, so you can be satisfied we are the best people for your project.

The site includes thorough descriptions of our work and products, testimonies from existing customers, images from our work portfolio and new upcoming products.

On the new site, and in line with our policy to provide a first class service, you can order a comprehensive shutter survey for your home, view our full range of products, request samples, download our brochure or register to join our mailing list.

 
About Lifestyle Shutters

Lifestyle Shutters has been designing and installing durable, high quality wooden shutters and blinds for over 5 years. We offer investment in the latest technology, a highly skilled and specialist workforce alongside a highly motivated and energetic management team. Our reputation is built on a first class customer service, reliability and a real understanding of all wooden window dressing solutions.  

For a superb choice of plantation shutters and wooden blinds to complement your home please visit the NEW Lifestyle Shutters website.

Lifestyle Shutters launch New Blog

At Lifestyle Shutters we are delighted to launch our new blog and social media sites. Since Lifestyle shutters was established in 2005, we have built up a strong reputation for our work across Sussex and the South East of England.  

During this time the relationship that we have forged with our customers has meant that we are often recommended or asked back for future projects. This blog gives our customers the opportunity to follow us and to keep up to date with our latest products, projects and news.