DIY Plantation Shutters: How to Measure and Install
DIY plantation shutters are a realistic weekend project for most homeowners. The two steps that matter most are measuring accurately and fitting the frame level. Get those right and the rest is straightforward.
What does a DIY shutter kit include?
A DIY shutter kit is a set of plantation shutters made to your window measurements, delivered ready to fit. It usually includes the frame, the shutter panels, hinges and fixing hardware, along with installation instructions. You supply the tools and do the fitting yourself.
Before ordering, check which materials the kit comes in. PVC suits bathrooms, laundries and kitchens, while timber suits living rooms and bedrooms. Both are for indoor use only.
What tools do you need?
Most installs need only basic tools:
- Steel tape measure
- Drill and drill bits
- Screwdriver
- Spirit level
- Pencil
- Packers, for levelling the frame on uneven surfaces
How do you measure for DIY plantation shutters?
Measure every window separately, in millimetres, even if the windows look the same.
- Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom.
- Measure the height at the left, centre and right.
- Measure the depth of the window recess and note any handles or locks that stick out.
- Write down the smallest width and height for each window, labelled by room.
Always follow the supplier's measuring guide as well, because allowances differ between kits. If a window is clearly uneven, ask the supplier before ordering.
How do you install the shutters?
Every kit comes with its own instructions, and those come first. Most installs follow the same basic order:
- Check the parts. Unpack everything and match each frame and panel to its window label.
- Fit the frame. Hold the frame in position, check it with the spirit level, and use packers where needed. Then fix it in place.
- Hang the panels. Attach the panels to the frame using the hinges supplied.
- Adjust and test. Open and close each panel and tilt the louvres. Small hinge adjustments fix most gaps or rubbing.
Take your time with step two. A frame that is level and square makes the panels hang straight and close evenly.
What are the most common DIY mistakes?
- Rounding measurements instead of recording the exact millimetres
- Measuring only once across the window
- Forgetting handles or locks that stop louvres tilting
- Fixing the frame before checking it is level
- Mixing up panels between windows that look alike
Where can you get a kit made to measure?
Shutter kits are made to order, so the choice of material, louvre width and colour can be set for each window. Aussie Shutter Express, based in Melbourne with a showroom in Cheltenham, makes DIY plantation shutter kits to each window's measurements for homeowners who want to install their own.