Professionally Installed Shutters vs. DIY Shutters
1st July 2023
7 min read
US - Trustpilot
Professionally Installed Shutters vs. DIY Shutters
If you are thinking of custom-fit plantation shutters for your home, you may think you need to hire a professional measure and install service to get the right look and fit. However, DIY shutters can save you money by cutting out the middleman, and with our easy-to-follow measuring and installation guides, you can achieve flawless, professional results yourself!
The benefits of DIY Shutters
Full-service shutter companies charge a premium price for their consultation, measuring and installation services. By having our measuring and installation guides and videos online only, we are able to offer up to 40% off MSRP year-round.
We also offer additional promotions and incentives throughout the year. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for exclusive promo codes and to stay up to date on our latest sales.
Delivery times are shorter
Once your shutters are manufactured, they ship directly to you, with no need to wait for an installer to fit you into their schedule. With our included frames that are pre-hinged and ready-to-hang panels, installation is streamlined and super quick.
With a range of materials offered, we are able to offer flexible options whether your priority is lead-time or budget:
Fastest lead time: Opt for one of our Express American-made options, including our PVC plantation shutter range.
Most affordable: Opt for our budget-friendly ranges manufactured in North America.
Custom made shutters fit perfectly
Often a company that installs the shutters for you will take a substantial deduction from your window measurements for inside mount shutters to make sure the shutter slides easily into the window opening. This can result in shimming and caulking to fill any gaps after installation.
By following our measuring guides, we get your exact smallest window opening dimensions to the nearest 1/8th of an inch. We will make a slight deduction for wiggle room for easier installation, but will take your window variances into account so you do not end up with too large a gap, as long as our measuring guides have been properly followed.
For outside mount shutters, we offer printable templates so you can make sure your measurements result in the look you are hoping to achieve. Options include:
Mount the outside mount frame tight up against the window opening
Cover an existing trim either partially or fully
Our measuring guides walk you through all of these options and provide specs and templates to help you visualize the end result.
Made to measure plantation shutter design
Most full-service companies will quote you based on their opinion of the best shutter style and mount for your window. Rarely do they go over all the custom options that can be selected to tailor the design to fit your aesthetic 100%.
With our simple product configurator, you choose:
Shutter style
Exact dimensions
Panel configuration
Slat size
Tilt rod
Paint or stain color
Hinge color
Frame type
Expert shutter installation guidance
With so many design options, you may feel stuck. Send us pictures of your window openings to get expert recommendations, and order free samples to view the material and color options in person.
With full-service companies, there is little communication from the measuring stage through to or after, installation. With The Shutter Store, we are happy to answer any of your questions along the way. Here's what that looks like:
At checkout, be sure to select the Design Review option, and a member of our team will check your order before it goes into production. If anything doesn't look right, we'll give you a call
We keep you posted with status updates and tracking information
We are here to answer any installation or troubleshooting questions after delivery
Our quick maintenance videos show you how to keep your shutters looking good as new
DIY shutters or installed shutters — which is right for you?
Ultimately, if you can achieve the same professional look and fit for your shutters but save up to 40% or more, why wouldn't you? No matter how big, small, or oddly shaped your window is, we can and have made stunning shutters to fit.
Choose from:
If you do not see the style you are looking for, just send a picture of your existing window and/or the style you are looking to match and let us point you in the right direction.