Your questions about shutters, answered.

We price by area: £400 per square metre in white, or £500 in a colour, fitted and VAT included. Our prices page has worked examples, and the written quote we send after your free visit is fixed for 30 days.

Every shutter is made to measure for your windows, which usually takes around 4 to 6 weeks. Once the factory confirms delivery, usually a week or two after you order, we book a fitting date that suits you and keep you posted until then. If you have a date in mind, tell us at the visit and book early. It can take longer over Christmas and early January. In a real hurry? We can supply and fit in as little as 2 weeks. The factory charges extra for this, and your quote shows it.

No. We supply and fit, because a shutter is only as good as its measure and its fitting.

Yes: French doors, patio doors and bi-folds, depending on the door. Our door shutters page explains the options, or book a free home visit and we will tell you what suits yours.

Most windows suit shutters. The ones that need more thought are windows with handles that stand well out from the frame, very shallow reveals, tilt and turn windows that open into the room, and windows with a radiator or a deep sill right below. Almost all of these can still have shutters, with the right frame, and on some windows a slimline handle we can supply. If one really won't work, we tell you at the visit, before anything is made.

Yes. Cloakrooms, landings, stairwells and narrow side windows can all have shutters, often as a single panel.

The name comes from large houses in hot countries, where wide louvred shutters let air in and kept the sun out. Today it simply means an inside shutter with wide, tilting louvres. You'll also see them called interior shutters, window shutters or louvred shutters: they all mean the same thing.

Shutters are measured to the window, so if you are having new windows fitted, do those first. If you are decorating, order once you know your dates: we fit after the painting is finished, and with the usual lead time you can plan the two together.

No. We come to you instead: the home visit is free, and Matt brings samples of the louvres and colours so you can see them against your own windows and in your own light, which a showroom cannot show you.

No. We fit plantation shutters inside the home only.

No. Hush Shutters is our own small family business, from the team behind Bristol Windows and Doors. There's no franchise, no sales reps and no subcontractors: we measure and fit every shutter ourselves.

For most people who plan to stay in their home, yes. Shutters last for years, need very little looking after, and give you privacy and control over light. Ours come with a 10-year guarantee on the composite. They cost more at the start, so they make most sense on the windows you live with every day.

Yes. Plantation shutters have been fitted in British homes for decades, and they suit Victorian bays, Georgian sashes and modern homes alike. White shutters, full height or tier-on-tier, are a classic look that doesn't date.

Closed on a winter evening, shutters help keep the warmth in the room. On a hot, sunny day they help keep the sun's heat out. They are not a replacement for good windows, but they help. How much depends on your windows and how you use them, and there's no tested figure for these shutters, so we don't quote one.

A little. Closed shutters soften outside noise slightly, but they are not soundproofing.

No. Closed, they make a room much darker, but some light still gets in round the edges, so they are not blackout on their own.

Many years. There are no cords or fabric to wear out, and the composite is waterproof, so it suits kitchens and bathrooms. Ours are guaranteed for 10 years (see "Is there a guarantee?" below). They usually only need replacing if they are damaged or you want a new look: most problems, such as a loose louvre or a panel that has dropped, can be adjusted or repaired.

They cost more than blinds at the start. They are not fully blackout. The panels need room to open, so think about furniture near the window. And because they are made to measure, there is a wait of a few weeks. For most people the light, privacy and long life outweigh these, but it is worth knowing them up front.

They help. With the louvres closed or angled, direct sun is kept off floors and furniture, so they fade more slowly. They won't stop fading completely.

There are no cords or chains, which are the main safety risk with blinds. The louvres and panels are sturdy, and they wipe clean.

Yes. Many people keep curtains for a softer look or extra warmth. The pole needs to sit high and wide enough for the curtains to clear the shutter panels when they open. We will check this at the visit.

Buyers often like them, and they normally stay with the house, as they are fixed to the windows, unless you agree otherwise with your buyer. We can't promise they add a set amount to the price, but well-fitted shutters help a home look cared for.

Not when they are fitted properly. The panels close firmly and the louvres hold their angle. If one ever feels loose, see "What if something needs adjusting after fitting?" below.

Not really. Plantation shutters are for light and privacy, not security. Closed shutters stop people seeing in, but they are not a lock or a barrier, so keep your windows locked as normal.

If you rent, ask your landlord first, because shutters are fixed to the windows. If you are a landlord, shutters are hard-wearing, wipe clean and have no cords, and we are happy to measure up. If the property is empty, we can meet you there or collect the keys from you or your agent.

Closed shutters sit close to the glass, so on cold mornings some windows show more condensation. Wipe it off, open the louvres for part of the day and keep the trickle vents open so air can move. Misting between the panes is a failed sealed unit, not the shutter, and the Bristol Windows and Doors team can replace it.

The painted finish is scratch-resistant and the louvres are sturdy, but claws can still leave marks. If a part is ever damaged, that single part can be replaced.

Yes. We guarantee our composite shutters for 10 years against colour fade and manufacturing faults, with 1 year on the hinges and other hardware (3 years on the invisible tilt). If anything about our fitting isn't right, we put it right, free. The full terms are on our guarantee page and come with your quote. If anything goes wrong, ring us first.

If anything needs adjusting in the first year, we come back free. After the first year, a visit to adjust a shutter we fitted, or repair one for a reason our guarantee doesn't cover, is £95 (VAT included) plus any parts. Anything the guarantee covers is always free, and your legal rights are not affected. (We only repair shutters we fitted ourselves.)

Email hello@hushshutters.com or ring 07576 452603. We get back to you quickly and do our best to put things right.

Before anything is ordered, we go through every window with you, with samples of the louvres and colours in your own light, so there are no surprises. Once made, shutters only fit your windows, so we can't take them back for a change of mind. But if anything about our fitting isn't right, we put it right, free, and your legal rights always apply.