Plantation shutter guides

These are the questions that come up on nearly every measure. We have written the answers down so you can read them before somebody is standing in your living room - prices included, because you should not have to book an appointment to find out what something costs.

Prices published, not on request
Written for Queensland conditions
Read it before anyone visits

Where to start

11 guides

You do not need to read them all, and most people do not. Pick whichever thing you are actually stuck on and start there.

If you areStart here

Working out a budgetCosts

Choosing a materialTimber vs PVC

Not convinced yetShutters vs blinds

About to get quotesHow to measure

Or skip the lot and book a measure. We go through all of it in person anyway, and it costs you nothing.

Before you buy

Working out what you need

Cost, whether they are the right call at all, and how they stack up against the alternatives.

How much do plantation shutters cost?Per square metre rates by material, whole-home figures, worked examples and the four things that move a quote more than anything else.Read guide Are plantation shutters worth it?Cost over twenty years against blinds and curtains, the resale question answered honestly, and the five situations where we would tell you not to buy.Read guide Shutters vs blinds vs curtainsNine criteria compared, including the four situations where blinds or curtains are the better buy and we say so.Read guide

Choosing

Materials, colours and specification

The decisions that get made at the measure, explained beforehand so they are not made under time pressure.

Timber vs PVC shuttersCompared on eight criteria, the yellowing question answered directly, and a room-by-room recommendation for a Queensland home.Read guide Plantation shutter coloursWhy white dominates and which white to pick, when charcoal works, stained timber finishes, and colour matching to a paint code.Read guide Choosing a louvre size63mm, 89mm and 114mm compared on view, light and proportion, with what we would specify in each room.Read guide Shutter frame types explainedZ frame, L frame, bullnose, reveal fit and face fit - what each is for, and how to tell which your window needs.Read guide

Living with them

Heat, light, privacy and care

What shutters actually do day to day in a coastal Queensland home, and what they do not.

Do shutters keep heat out?How they cut radiant heat, which rooms benefit most, and an honest comparison against tinting, blinds and curtains.Read guide Light control and privacyWhy tilting up is the whole trick, what a split tilt does, and the honest limits on blackout and night-time privacy.Read guide Cleaning and careThe right method for each material, the two products that will damage them, what can and cannot be repaired, and how long they last.Read guide

When you are ready

Measuring, quoting and getting them fitted

How the job actually runs, from the tape measure to the settling-in visit.

How to measure for shuttersThe six-point method, reveal depth, checking for square, and the mistakes that cost a whole panel.Read guide How installation worksMeasure to install timelines by job type, what happens on the day, and what the workmanship warranty covers.Read more Custom and shaped shuttersArched, raked, gable and circular panels, custom colours, and what each adds to the price and the lead time.Read more Repairs and servicingWhat can and cannot be fixed, three adjustments worth trying yourself, and when replacement is the honest answer.Read more

Every one of these guides ends in the same place, so it is worth saying here instead: the measure is free, takes about half an hour and there is no obligation. Half of it is measuring and half is working out which material goes in which room, which is the part that actually determines whether you are happy with the result.

Book a free measure and quote

Also on the site

Shutter ranges and applications

Timber plantation shuttersPainted basswood and stained cedar for living areas and bedrooms.View range Waterproof PVC shuttersFor bathrooms, ensuites, laundries and over the kitchen sink.View range Aluminium shuttersPowder-coated and built for direct weather and coastal salt air.View range Outdoor shuttersAlfrescos, patios and anywhere the sun needs stopping outside the glass.View range

FAQ

Common questions

Where should I start if I know nothing about shutters?

The cost guide. It sets out what shutters actually cost per square metre by material, what a whole home typically comes to, and the four things that move a quote. Everything else - which material, which louvre size, which rooms - follows from what the budget can comfortably cover.

Do you publish real prices?

Yes, per square metre by material with worked examples, which is unusual in this industry and deliberate. A quote still has to be written against your actual windows, but you should be able to work out whether shutters are a $6,000 conversation or a $16,000 one before anyone comes to your house.

Which guide covers timber versus PVC?

The timber vs PVC guide compares them on eight criteria, answers the yellowing question directly, and gives a room-by-room recommendation. The short version is that most Sunshine Coast homes end up with both - timber in the dry rooms and waterproof PVC in the wet ones.

Do I need to read all of these before booking a measure?

No. The measure is free, takes about half an hour and half of it is exactly this conversation in person. These guides exist so you can arrive with an idea of the budget and the questions worth asking, not as homework.

Are these guides written for the Queensland climate?

Yes, specifically. Coastal salt air, high UV, humidity, west-facing living rooms and the difference between the beachfront and the Maleny hinterland all change the right answer, and generic national advice misses most of it. Every guide here is written for Sunshine Coast conditions.

Ready to shutter your place?

Tell us about your windows and we'll book a free in-home measure and a fixed quote.

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