FAQ's

Of course! Our measure and fitting appointments have continued as planned throughout the last year with extra precautions implemented for the safety of both our staff and customers. If you you would prefer to gather a comprehensive quote before arranging a home visit we can book you in for a virtual survey as an alternative or discuss design options and prices over the phone using basic window measurements.

If we have already provided you with an accurate quote or you would like to order on a supply only basis you can proceed by simply message our team.

Alternatively, get in touch to arrange a home visit with one of our experts who will take accurate measurements of your windows as well as providing a design consultation using samples. Enhanced safety measures are in place and we are happy to be flexible around your requirements.

Our installation service has continued throughout to ensure our clients are able to enjoy their fabulous new shutters. Safety measures have been carefully implemented and we regularly review guidelines for the safety of our staff and customers. We will contact you when we recieve an arrival date for your shutters to arrange a suitable installation date.

If you are isolating or your circumstances require you postpone your installation for a short time do let us know and we will be happy to make alternative arrangements.

In uncertain times such as these, many are weighing up companies’ longevity ahead of spending money or proceeding with large purchases. We endorse this as not only sensible, but necessary to ensure your money is secure and your order will be fulfilled by a dependable company that will still be there for any of your queries and needs for years to come.

Window Mart Plantation Shutters & Blinds has been able to continuously grow and thrive in an ever-busying industry as we don’t believe in trading in a ‘hand to mouth’ manor allowing continual financial stability. We are lucky have minimal expenses that cause financial concern for some in these times; the buildings we work from, our fleet of vans and our warehouse are all owned with no rental or lease expenses attached. This means that whilst the industry is not as busy as usual, which is to be anticipated, whilst we still have a clear and steady stream of income we can avoid or minimise losses.

In difficult times, invest in an independent company with an all in-house team whose 3-year warranty grounds the confidence we have in not only our product, but in our longevity. Invest in reliability.

If you are curious about whether we cover your area, the best and quickest way to find out is to speak to one of the team directly on our message line. Or even better, ask alongside window sizes and we can give you an idea of cost on the phone. If you are a little further afield we may sometimes ask for a measure deposit if you were looking to proceed with a site survey with one of our surveyors at your property.

As the friendly company we are, Plantation would love to opportunity to come out to every property in the UK to share the Plantation experience. If we could, we would! We work in London and the surrounding areas for a measuring and fitting service.

Based in Frankston, South East Melbourne, we carry out a lot of work locally and within the neighbouring boroughs, often travelling further afield and organising the delivery of shutters to the entire Australia.

On the day of installation, it is required that your windows/doors are clear of wires, cables, dressings or anything else that may obstruct the shutters to be fitted.

Yes! We provide the full service! We pride ourselves in our knowledgeable and experienced in-house measuring and fitting team who come out to your property to carry out all the works.

We will do everything for you from start to finish – all you have to do is choose the style and colour of your shutters from the selection of samples that the measurer brings to your house.

The current lead time is approximately 12 to 14 weeks from the date of order confirmation/receipt of deposit as standard.

Special shapes and custom colour matches will naturally add to the lead time. Lead times can be confirmed by the office once your order is placed.

Please be aware that the lead time can fluctuate throughout the year.

YES! It takes approximately 12 to 14 weeks as standard, but we do have a speedy option which takes the lead time down to approximately 6 weeks at an extra cost of $180 per square metre.

Pros

• It is 25% cheaper while almost identical in appearance.
• It is offers exactly the same levels of quality

Cons

• It is heavier than the other materials so therefore, it is less suited to wide windows and doors
• It is only available in a limited range of colours, frame options and designs (it cannot be used for shaped windows or for customised specifications).

MDF shutters are made of Medium Density Fibre, and coated using a first-class, innovative manufacturing process and the world’s most advanced (patented) coating technology developed in the US.

This unique combination of materials make MDF shutters durable and sturdy, resistant to chipping, cracking, fading and warping.

a. Other companies do supply the same fantastic quality product as Window Mart Plantation Shutters & Blinds but there are many things that set us apart from the competition. We have 20 years experience in shutters giving us an unparralleled wealth of experience and knowledge which ensures a perfect experience bringing out the best of the design and product. Our measure and fitting teams are all in-house allowing for a perfectly streamlined service and a consistent level of expertise and customer experience which is hugely important to our company values. We offer a 3-year warranty on our most popular materials and our passion and expertise for shutters will assure you that when it comes to shutters, you’re in the best hands.

b. Other companies may have different products. The questions you should ask to establish the quality of shutter on offer are as follows:

Are all the joints mortice and tenon, not pencil dowels?
We use mortice and tenon joints, they are far more secure.
Is fitting in-house or sub-contracted out? How long have they been established?
We use our outstanding in-house team with experience that stretches beyond 15 years.
Are all fixing screws hidden?
Our shutters have a very clean look with the fixing screws hidden.
Are the panels rebated?
We offer rebated, D mould and Butt stiles.
Do they have an array of frame options?
We have an extensive range of frames available for both inside and outside mounted shutters, in addition to those shown in the Mounting Options section.
You must bear in mind that no matter how good the product, if it is fitted badly you will not achieve the desired look.

We strongly recommend that you use our in house team of experts to measure your shutters due to the fact that shutters can be remarkably unforgiving if measured wrongly and once an order is placed, it cannot be changed. However, we have created a quick guide to help you with it.

Yes. We offer a SUPPLY ONLY whereby the shutters are made based on your measurements, and then sent directly to you for self-fitting.

Once again, we strongly recommend that you use our in house team of experts to measure and fit your shutters due to the fact that they can be remarkably unforgiving if measured wrongly or installed incorrectly. However, we have created a quick guide to help you with your installation.

We tend to avoid drilling dirctly into UPVC windows.

On flat windows, this is very feasible as we side fix into the plaster of the recess. On bay windows there might be a couple of things to have a look at when fitting shutters:

1. The handles on UPVC windows usually protrude too far to achieve a neat fixing. It would be ideal to have a chat with one of our experienced members of staff to learn more about your options.

2. If it is possible to fix them, there might be some drilling into the PVC involved so once again, it’s recommended to talk to our friendly team to learn more about your options.

A huge amount of our work involves shutters in bedrooms and nurseries, without any concerns regarding light. We would never suggest that our shutters are 100% blackout (due to tolerances required for slat movement and the opening and closing of panels) but they aren’t far off!

Due to level of skill our surveyor and advanced technology of our shutters (i.e. rebated side style and clever frame options) our designs and panels keep more light out when closed than other companies. We can also provide shutters with an integrated room darkening blind between your window and the shutter (encased within the shutter frame) for a sleek finish to maximise light reduction further.

Here are few tips to look after your shutters:

Do not leave the windows open when it is raining – the product is not waterproof.
Dust regularly. We recommend our ostrich feather dusters, available from our showroom. Alternatively, wipe with a damp cloth.
When closing the slats, use the tilt rod whenever possible with an up and down motion, not an outward pulling motion.
To close the slats completely, close them in the up position. Be sure to close the slats before opening panels. Failing to do this will cause the slats to “pinch” and could cause damage.
When physically closing the panels, line up the leading edges. Panels that aren’t closed properly and lined up will eventually settle in the slightly skew shape.
If over time you feel the slat movement has become slack, look down the side of each panel and you will see a tension screw. Simply use a Phillips head screwdriver to adjust the tension as needed, being careful not to overtighten.
Do not try and take the shutters down yourself. This will negate the warranty. If you require them to be taken down, please contact us to discuss the next steps.
Do not repaint – shutters are sprayed pre-assembly and repainting will clog up moving parts.