Plantation Shutters

How to Install Plantation Shutters

Installing your new Plantation shutters doesn’t have to be a brain strain. Instead, we have everything you need right here to get your new shutters hung today!

As you see, your Plantation shutters boast a shutter panel, which is hinged, and attached to a frame. Inside the panel are the shutters “louvers,” which can be opened and closed. Your plantation shutters will also have “stiles” running vertically on the sides, and rails running horizontally on the top and bottom.

If your Plantation shutters are large, 60" or more, they will also have a divider rail, which provides the extra support your shutters will need and allows you to open the top louvers while keeping the bottom ones closed.

Now that you have become more acquainted with your new shutters, you should know that installing them is really an easy process and if you follow the guidelines below, you’ll have your new shutters up in no time at all.

You will want to start by assembling the following tools:

  • Measuring Tape
  • Pencil
  • Drill
  • Phillip's Screwdriver
  • Flat-Head Screwdriver
  • Small Hammer
  • Small Pair of Tin Snips

More than likely, your Plantation shutters were shipped to you pre-assembled, unless they are very large. If this is the case, they were shipped unassembled to protect them during the shipping process.

Not to worry. You can assemble them in a flash. All you have to do is use the supplied corner keys and screws to quickly and easily put your shutters together again.

Now, on to the installation.

Inside Mount Installation

  1. With the shutter panels open, center the frame in the window opening.
  2. Screw only the top of the frame to the casement first. Attach the frame with the provided screws, using either screw port. Start in the middle, and then fasten the corners. Space additional screws no more than 30" apart. If one or more T-posts are used, attach the frame near the top of each T-post.
  3. Move the bottom frame left or right as needed to align the panels. When the panels are evenly aligned, fasten the bottom frame, spacing the screws the same distance apart as on the top frame.
  4. Attach the side frames with screws through the predrilled holes at every hinge.
  5. Complete the installation by snapping in filler strips and mounting the shutter magnets.

Outside Mount Installation

  1. Determine where the outside edges of the frame will be located around the window. Mark the top, left, and right edge locations.
  2. With the frame in place, first screw only the top frame to the mounting surface through the screw port on the frame. Attach the frame with the 3" screws provided, using the pre-drilled holes in the screw port, which pass through the aluminum reinforcement inside the frame.
  3. Depending on clearances required for louver operation, snap-ons may be used to "build-out" the frame. Each snap-on adds 1/2", and a maximum of two can be used.
  4. Move the bottom frame left or right to align the panels. Once the panels are evenly aligned, fasten the bottom frame using the pre-drilled holes.
  5. Attach the side frames with screws through the predrilled holes at every hinge.
  6. Snap in the filler strips and cover strips.
  7. Mount the shutter magnets.