Shutters for uPVC windows that still open properly.
Yes, plantation shutters work well on uPVC windows, from period terraces to new-builds across Bristol and Bath. The trick is fitting them so they clear the handles, sit square in the frame and let the windows open, and we fit windows for a living.
Two medium windows are about £1150 fitted, in white, VAT included.
- Free home visit
- Quote fixed for 30 days
- 10-year guarantee on composite
- No sales reps
Five things a shutter has to get right on a uPVC window
The handles
uPVC handles stand out from the frame. The shutter has to sit far enough forward that the louvres and panels don't catch on them.
How the window opens
Most windows here are casement windows that open outwards, which is simple. Tilt and turn windows open into the room, so the shutter has to leave room for the window to swing. Tilt and turn windows →
The depth of the reveal
Deep reveals let the shutter sit inside the recess. Shallow ones need a frame fitted round the opening instead. Inside or outside the recess →
Square or not
Window openings are rarely perfectly square. We measure each one at several points, so the shutter frame sits straight and the panels close evenly.
Vents and window boards
Trickle vents, restrictors and window boards all affect how a shutter sits. We look at each one at the visit.
Shutters for new-build homes
From Bradley Stoke and Lyde Green to Hanham, many newer homes around Bristol have the same kind of windows: white uPVC, handles that stand out, plastered reveals and a window board at the bottom. Shutters suit them well, as long as they're planned around those details.
Privacy without losing light
On newer estates the houses are often close together and front rooms face the street. Tier-on-tier lets you close the bottom half and keep the top open, and café style covers just the lower part of the window.
Shallow reveals
Reveals in newer homes are often shallow, so a frame round the opening is common. See the reveal check above.
Window boards
The board at the bottom of the window decides where the shutter frame sits. We measure to it, so the shutter sits neatly on top or round it.
A matching look
Many new-build windows are similar sizes, so the shutters can line up across the front of the house and look like one set.
Shutters and uPVC windows, explained
Inside the recess or outside it?
Inside the recess is the neatest look: the shutter frame sits within the window opening, so the shutters line up with the wall. It needs enough depth for the louvres to tilt without touching the handles.
Outside the recess means the frame is fixed to the wall around the opening. It's the answer for shallow reveals or windows with handles that stand well out, and it can make a small window look bigger.
Matt measures the depth at the visit and recommends the one that suits each window.
Tilt and turn windows
Tilt and turn windows open inwards, either tilting at the top for air or swinging open like a door. A shutter in front of them has to fold fully back, or be mounted far enough forward, so the window can move past it.
It's very doable, but it has to be planned at the measuring stage, and it's exactly the kind of detail a window fitter spots straight away.
Condensation and airflow
Closed shutters sit close to the glass, so on cold mornings some windows will show more condensation than usual. Opening the louvres for part of the day and keeping trickle vents open helps air move.
If a window is misting up between the panes, that's a failed sealed unit, not the shutter. We'll tell you if we spot one, and the Bristol Windows and Doors team can replace it.
New windows and shutters in one go
If you're thinking about new windows as well, it makes sense to plan both together. Shutters are measured to the frames, so it's best to fit the windows first. The Bristol Windows and Doors team fits windows and doors across Bristol, so we can plan the whole job with you.
uPVC windows: your questions
Will I still be able to open my uPVC windows with shutters fitted?
Yes. Before anything is made, Matt checks how each window opens, and the shutters are sized and positioned so the windows still open. You open the shutter panels first, then the window. If a window would be a problem, we tell you at the visit.
Will fitting shutters affect my window guarantee?
There are several ways to fix a shutter, and the right one depends on the window. At the home visit we look at each window and recommend the fixing that does the least damage and looks best, and we explain why before anything is made. If your windows are still under a guarantee, tell us at the visit and we'll take that into account. We fit windows for a living, so we know how a uPVC frame is built and where it should and shouldn't be fixed.
Do shutters stop trickle vents working?
They still work. With the louvres closed, less air reaches the room. Tilting the louvres open lets air move freely.
Can you fit shutters in a new-build house?
Yes. Most new-build homes have uPVC windows, which is what we know best. We check the handles, the reveal depth and the window boards on every window, so the shutters fit neatly and the windows still open.
Do shutters work with window restrictors and locks?
Yes. Restrictors and locks are on the window itself, and they work as normal. You simply open the shutter panels first.
More pages
Also worth a lookNot sure your windows will suit shutters?
Book a free home visit. We check the handles, the hinges and how the windows open. Made to measure and fitted in roughly 4 to 6 weeks from confirmation of your order.