Louvers
The first choice for any prospective shutter custom is to choose a louver size. There are three options:
 2 1/2 inch louvers |
 3 1/2 inch louvers |
 4 1/2 inch louvers |
The louvers are spaced 2”, 3” and 4” respectively resulting in increased “airiness” as the louvers become larger.
Number of Panels
Associated with louver selection is the number of shutter panels in an opening. We can fabricate panels up to 40”, depending on the configuration, but often it is the aesthetics of multiple narrow panels versus fewer wider panels, that drive this choice.
Mid-Rails
Panels can be divided into upper and lower sections by adding mid-rails or divider rails. As a result, the louvers in each section can be opened and closed independently of each other. This is valuable in rooms like bedrooms where privacy can be controlled by closing the lower section while light can be controlled by opening and closing the upper section.
Tilt Rods
The louvers are normally controlled by a “tilt rod” in the center of the front of the panel. This is very robust system but if a cleaner “look” is desired, the tilt rod may be moved to the rear of the louvers and across to one side so that the view through the shutters is unimpeded. This is known as “hidden tilt rod” or “clear view.”
 with tilt rods |
 hidden tilt rods |
Frames
It is important that shutters are mounted in a “square” environment. This squareness allows the shutters to open and close very precisely when you need to gain access to your windows. To achieve this goal, we build a frame around the shutters so that the shutters are independent of the size and shape of the window opening. These frames are normally Z shaped or L shaped. The choice is partially aesthetic and partly technical. With our local manufacturing capacity, we have a variety of options available when technical issues become the driving force behind frame selection.
