Be Sure to Measure Your Shutters Right With our OUTSIDE Mount Shutters Measuring Guide

This guide makes measuring your shutters easy. Best printed in color, this guide talks you through in simple steps, how to successfully measure windows for shutters.

Measure Guide for Outside Mount Shutters

Watch our 1 that accompany this guide!

The Shutter Store is here to help. If you have any questions at all related to your shutters, be sure to call 888 753 8290 or email support@theshutterstore.com

Shutters are best fitted as an outside mount where there is a very shallow or no recess on the window. This means that the shutters are installed ‘face fix’ on the window molding or onto the wall around the window.

When ordering outside mount shutters you have a variety of frames you can choose. All dimensions that you will take include the frame, inside which the shutters are mounted.

If you’re not sure if you should be measuring and ordering shutters as an outside mount, we suggest that if you can answer ‘yes’ to the following questions, we recommend you measure for an outside mount

• Is your window recess less than 1 3/4”?
• Do your windows open inwards?

If still in doubt, before you start to measure, email us a photo of your window and we’ll tell you exactly which is the correct measure and install method for you.

• A steel tape measure is advised, to ensure your dimensions are 100% accurate.
• Measure the width in 3 places (top, middle and bottom) and height in 3 places (left, center and right) The SMALLEST of these dimensions is the size you convey to us.
• Don’t worry about deductions. We will take care of that for you.

Your shutters are supplied all ready to install. The shutter panels are mounted within a frame. The dimensions that you convey to us when ordering, include your frame.

See the drawings below, which show the frame we’ll supply you with, depending upon your chosen design of shutter.

1. A 4 sided frame for full height plantation shutters

2. A 4 sided frame for tier on tier shutters

3. A 3 sided frame for café style plantation shutters (left, right and bottom)

4. A 3 sided frame for full height French door (left, right and top)

Our great shutter measuring videos show exactly how to measure your windows. Read below for additional written instructions on how to successfully measure your windows for shutters.

• Your shutters are delivered with a frame. The green line indicates where the frame sits when mounted tight to the window.
• The black lines show where to measure the width and height

Remember – it’s the smallest dimension that we need to know, when ordering.

• If ordering a divide/mid rail for your shutters measure as indicated by the blue arrow.
• If ordering double hung / tier on tier shutters, measure as indicated by the red arrow.

Use the templates in this guide and place them on your window or blue tack to your window molding or wall to help you measure.

Make sure you watch our measuring tips video to help you successfully measure for your shutters.

Items such as window handles impact the tilting of your shutter slats. For outside mount shutters, look to see if your window has a crank handle to wind open the window. If so, check how far this handle protrudes into the room. You can use a deeper frame or you may opt to purchase separately a smaller lever to open your window.

To help establish if your preferred frame will work, the diagrams below show a side view of the shutter panels and frames. So, for example the 4033 frame is 2 1/4” deep.  2 1/2” slats require 1 7/8” clearance to tilt and not hit the window. Therefore the 4033 frame comfortably provides this clearance.

The camber frames give less depth, but if your window has a shallow depth recess, the slats will normally tilt and avoid hitting the window.

For more help or advice, email us a photo of your window and we can call or email to advise on the best frame to use.

Have a look at your windows. Are there any items that could impede the operation of your shutters?  For example, if you have a phone junction box or TV point close to the window, this may need to be moved to ensure the frame sits neatly on the window.

An important consideration is making sure your slats will tilt, without hitting the window handles. Most sash windows do not have this problem however just be sure, from looking at the diagrams below that there are no items sitting proud of the window, which could hit the slats.

The diagrams below show the frames we’ve recommended above and the clearance you would require.

Remember, you can always choose a deeper frame, irrespective of which slat size you choose.

If you feel you need extra clearance, read the measure guide titled ‘Extra Deep Frame’.

Below is an example of how tier on tier shutters would look when installed.