Guide
Fitting shutters bought elsewhere: four checks before booking
New shutters bought from another supplier may be suitable for professional fitting at the window they were ordered for. Before booking, check that the delivery is complete, the full set suits the opening and there is room to use both the shutters and window. These four checks explain what to have ready and what the fitter will assess.
Quick answer
Professional fitting lets you leave the support, alignment and clearance checks to us. We assess shutters bought from another supplier at their intended window and confirm the set is complete and suitable before agreeing installation. Missing drawings or an unfamiliar supplied item do not prevent an enquiry.
Key takeaways
- Keep each window's delivery and supplier paperwork together.
- A loose panel's width does not include the space taken by its frame and hinge gaps.
- Check where panels will open, not just how the shutters will look closed.
Before booking
What to have ready for a fitting enquiry
Start with what you have. You do not need to assemble the shutters, take anything apart or name an unfamiliar item before asking for help.
| What to check | What helps | If you are unsure |
|---|---|---|
| The supplied set | Keep each window's delivery together and compare it with the supplier's list. | Mark an item as present, not found or not identified. Send a photograph rather than guessing. |
| The intended window | Provide a full-window photograph and say which delivered set belongs there. | Include any measurements you already have. These help the enquiry but do not replace the fitting assessment. |
| Supplier paperwork | Include the order drawing, parts list and fitting instructions where available. | Missing paperwork does not stop an enquiry. Send any labels or order details you have. |
| Space and practical arrangements | Show projecting handles or nearby furniture, and mention unfinished window work or coverings that need removing. | Discuss anything fixed in place before the visit. Do not remove or alter it just to prepare an enquiry. |
Are the shutters and fitting parts complete?
Compare the delivery for each window with the supplier's list. Keep everything supplied for that window together, including the paperwork. Something small or unfamiliar may still be needed to finish the installation.
If an item appears to be missing, damaged or difficult to identify, photograph what you have and mention it with your enquiry. You do not need to assemble the set or work out how each item is used.
A similar-looking replacement may not be suitable. Any essential missing item needs to be identified and its availability confirmed before fitting is agreed.
Do the assembled dimensions and frame layout suit the opening?
Compare the complete frame with the opening, not just the width of a loose panel. The frame, any centre posts and the gaps around the hinges all take up space. A panel can fit between two walls while its assembled shutter set does not.
Measure the opening at several points in millimetres, because its sides may not be parallel. Supply the assembled frame dimensions from the original drawings where available. These measurements help us assess the enquiry, but do not replace checking the intended fixing position on site.
Check that the supplier's drawing refers to the intended window, including its shape and opening arrangement. Our shutter installation cost and fitting guide explains how fitting differs between sash windows, casements, bays and suitable tracked layouts.
Is there a sound fixing surface for the shutter frame?
The frame needs firm support where it will be fixed, not just a gap of the right size. The depth of the window recess, plaster, trim and tiles can all affect the available position.
Pulling a frame tight against an uneven surface can twist it and change the panel gaps. The fitter checks how to support and level it before completing the fixings. Filler can finish an edge, but it cannot replace a secure fixing.
Tell the fitter about any window replacement or decorating planned before installation, because the finished opening may differ from its earlier measurements. If shutters already at the window need taking down and returning afterwards, use our removal and refitting guide to plan that work.
Will the panels clear handles, vents and furniture?
A shutter needs room to move as well as room to sit. A projecting handle can catch a turning louvre, and a radiator or deep sill can block a panel as it opens. Check access to the window handles and vents too.
Moving the shutter frame forwards may clear a handle but leave the open panel further into the room. The fitter needs to check that new position against the available fixing surface and nearby furniture before deciding it solves the problem.
The finished panels should open and close without rubbing, the catches should meet and the louvres should tilt normally. If the supplied set cannot achieve that, fitting must pause while the options are explained. Installation cannot correct shutters manufactured to an incompatible size or layout.