Frame Type
A shutter frame is used for hinging the shutter panels to and generally surrounds the panels on three or four sides. The type of recess you have around your window will determine which frame is going to work best for you. If your window has a standard recess of 100 to 150mm then you can fit the shutters within the reveal using either the Beaded L frame or one of the three Z frames. If your windows are almost flush with the face of the wall, then you have little or no recess on which to attach a frame so you would mount the shutters outside the reveal using the camber frame. This frame is also used where windows tilt or open inwards.
Beaded L Frame
Large Beaded L Frame*
Large Insert L Frame*
Insert L Frame*
Large Z Frame
Choose any one of the Z frames if you want to mount the shutters at the front of the reveal. The Z frame gives an architrave-type finish to the window.
Small Z Frame
Medium Z Frame
Camber Frame
To decide which is the best option, ask yourself how often you are likely to open the panels back. Shutters mounted next the window using the L frame with open at a 90° angle to the window and protrude into the room whereas shutters mounted at the front of the reveal using the Z frame or outside mount frame will fold back 180 degrees flush against the wall. For bay windows choose the inside mount L fame. If you have a deep reveal, the inside mount with L frame may work best, for example a four feet wide window, with four x 1 foot panels,and one foot deep reveals would allow two shutter panels to bi-fold back neatly to left and two to the right, into the one foot of reveal space. For bay windows choose the inside mount L frame.
Choosing one of the three Z frame will help to hide any imperfections in your plastering around the recess corners. Also if as is the case with most openings, the width is slightly different at the top than at the bottom, the Z frame will disguise this and in effect square your window for you.
How Many Sides?
Z frames are generally only fitted to three sides of the window; left top and right as a protruding window cill will prevent it from fitting along the bottom. On sash windows it is often possible to fit a small Z frame around the beaded casing right next to the sliding sash. This gives a nice built in look when used on four sides however you may have to remove the window pulls. L frames mounted within the recess are generally four sided.
If you have a deep reveal complete with window board, very often the window board can slope upwards towards the front of the reveal and catch the underside of panels that are opened out. By using a four sided frame, ie the frame continues across the bottom, the panels are raised up 18mm and so avoid any uneven cills. This is particularly the case with many bay windows. Outside mount L frames are generally four sided as there is unlikely to be a protruding window cill.
A four sided frame allows magnets to be fitted in the botttom of the shutter panel as well as the top thus ensuring greater stability when closed over. When choosing an inside mount using an L frame, look out for protruding handles on PVC windows, alarm boxes or TV junction boxes. Also check to make sure that the front of the reveal is not narrower in width or height then the inside where the frame is to be fitted. This can cause difficulty when trying to get the frame in place to be fixed.
Next choose your Colour
