Solid Hardwood Plantation ShuttersHand-Measured For Period & New-Build HomesAcross Ludlow, Hereford & Shropshire
A shutter set that lasts 20+ years, lifts daylight on a north-facing room, and adds a verified premium to your resale value, surveyed, manufactured to your exact rebate, and installed by the same person from start to finish.
Thousands of installations completed across Shropshire and beyond. 10-year written installation guarantee. Same-week surveys, no pushy sales.
What it is, who it's for, and why it matters
What it is
Hardwood plantation shutters are solid-timber interior window panels built to the exact rebate of your window. Each louvre, stile and rail is cut from kiln-dried hardwood, typically Paulownia or Basswood, then hand-finished in your chosen paint or stain so the grain remains visible and the seal stays consistent for decades.
Who it's for
They suit owners of period cottages, Georgian townhouses, Victorian terraces, barn conversions and architect-designed new-builds where a thin aluminium blind would feel out of place. If your window reveal is uneven (and almost every reveal in Ludlow and Leominster is), hardwood is the only material that can be hand-trimmed on site without cracking.
When to specify it
Survey before you redecorate, not after. The shutter frame replaces the visible architrave line and is fixed before final paint. Allow 8–10 weeks from survey to fit for bespoke hardwood, fast-tracked installations are available for completions and lettings.
Why professional matters
Off-the-shelf shutters from national chains are built to standard sizes and force packers behind the frame. A made-to-measure hardwood survey identifies out-of-square reveals, sash interference and tile-deflection issues before manufacture, so the finished panel sits flush, opens cleanly, and does not bind in humid weather.
Get the spec wrong and it costs you more than the original install
Most shutter complaints we are called out to fix were caused by three avoidable decisions at the order stage.
Real risks if ignored
- MDF or PVC panels swell in bathrooms and kitchens, within 18 months the louvres droop and the paint blisters at the rail joints.
- Frames ordered to nominal window size (not the rebate) end up with 6–10mm of visible packer on one side, ruining the look of an otherwise expensive window.
- Cheap tilt-rods on the front of the louvre snap at the staple, replacement means removing the whole panel.
- Without a face-fixed L-frame on stone-mullion windows the screws split the reveal and the warranty is voided.
Common spec mistakes
- Measuring the window once, with a tape, from inside the room. Reveals in Shropshire farmhouses are routinely out by 15mm corner-to-corner.
- Choosing a 47mm louvre on a window taller than 1.6m, the slats sag and look top-heavy.
- Painting on site after install. Factory-cured polyurethane is 7× more durable than a brushed top-coat.
- Ordering hidden tilt-rods on small windows where finger access between louvres is too tight to operate them.
A proper survey takes 35–45 minutes and prevents every one of these. We bring full louvre samples, a frame profile board and a digital protractor, you make the spec decisions with the evidence in front of you.
Five stages, one person, no handovers
- 01
Free Home Survey
A 35–45 minute visit. Laser measurements, reveal diagnosis, frame profile recommendation, louvre size and material samples held against your window in your actual daylight.
- 02
Quote & Design Sign-Off
Fixed written quote within 24–48 hours. You approve the tilt-rod position, divider rail height, hinge side and paint/stain reference before anything is cut.
- 03
Bespoke Manufacture
Panels are built to your exact rebate dimensions and factory-finished in a controlled spray booth. Typical lead time 8–10 weeks.
- 04
Installation
Single-day fit for most homes. Dust-sheeted, drilled with precision plug-and-screw to avoid splitting period plaster, then adjusted on the hinge until each panel closes silently.
- 05
Sign-Off & Aftercare
We walk every panel with you, demonstrate cleaning, and register your 10-year written installation guarantee. One free re-tension visit is included in the first 12 months.
Specific outcomes, not vague promises
Genuinely Built To Last
Kiln-dried hardwood resists humidity swings far better than MDF, faux-wood or PVC. Expect 20+ years of service in a heated home.
Acoustic Improvement
Solid panels add a measurable acoustic mass to single-glazed sash windows, useful on roads like Corve Street, Broad Street and Widemarsh.
Thermal Performance
Closed louvres trap a still-air layer against the glass, reducing winter heat loss through old single glazing by up to 51% (BBSA tested).
Privacy Without Darkness
Tilt-only operation lets you keep daylight while blocking sightlines from the street, impossible with a curtain or roller.
Adds Verified Resale Value
Estate agents in Ludlow and Hereford routinely cite fitted shutters as a saleable feature in particulars.
Zero Cords
No looped cords means child-safe by default and compliant with BS EN 13120 without any retrofit.
Materials, methods and variations
Everything we'd cover with you on a 45-minute survey, written down so you can read it in your own time before booking.
Hardwood Species We Use
Paulownia for full-height shutters where weight matters, 30% lighter than Basswood with the same stiffness. Basswood for café-style and tier-on-tier where a tighter grain is preferred under gloss paint. Phoenix-grade Western Red Cedar for shower-room and orangery installs where moisture is constant. All timber is FSC-certified.
Louvre Sizes Explained
47mm for cottage casements and small dormers under 700mm wide. 64mm, our most-fitted size, for typical Shropshire sashes and casements. 76mm for picture windows, bays and any opening above 1.6m. 89mm for large modern openings and bi-folds where the view matters most.
Frame Profiles
L-Frame for stone mullion and uneven reveals. Z-Frame for tile-on-edge bathroom reveals and tiled kitchens. Deco-Frame for Georgian and Edwardian box sashes where the original architrave is shallow. T-Post centre dividers for windows wider than 850mm.
Configuration Options
Full-height with mid-rail (most common). Café-style for ground-floor privacy without losing the upper view. Tier-on-tier for sash windows where top and bottom open independently. Tracked / by-pass for bi-fold and patio doors.
Bay & Special Shapes
Square, splay and curved bays surveyed with a digital angle finder. Arched, gable, circular and angled-top shapes are all available, we hand-trace the shape onto a card template on site so the factory cuts to the actual line, not a theoretical curve.
Finish & Colour Matching
Standard whites (Pure, Silk, Snow) plus 26 painted colours and 12 stains. RAL and Farrow & Ball matching available, useful when shutters need to disappear into a panelled wall or sit against a strong feature colour.
Residential vs Commercial
Commercial fits (boutique hotels in Ludlow, holiday lets across the Marches) use the same hardware but specify magnetic catches and reinforced hinges for higher daily-cycle use, plus fire-rated finishes where required.
Honest answers, the ones we give on the doorstep
How much do hardwood shutters cost in Shropshire?
As a guide, full-height hardwood shutters are approximately £350–£450 per sqm fitted, and bay window shutters typically from £1,200+. Every quote is fixed and written, no estimate creep. We bring the calculator to the survey so you see the figure on the day.
How long do they take from order to fit?
Typically 8–10 weeks for bespoke hardwood shutters. We never quote a lead time we cannot hit, you get an installation week confirmed at order.
Will they fit my old, out-of-square cottage windows?
Yes. This is exactly where hardwood out-performs faux-wood and PVC. We measure each corner with a laser, build the frame to follow the reveal, and shave on site if needed. No visible packers.
Are shutters child-safe?
Yes, no cords, no chains, no looped pulls. They are compliant with BS EN 13120 by design and rated for nurseries, schools and lettings without modification.
Do they help with cold and noise?
Closed louvres reduce heat loss through single glazing by up to 51% (British Blind & Shutter Association tested) and add measurable acoustic mass to old sashes. Most customers notice the temperature difference the first cold morning.
What if a panel warps or a hinge fails later?
Every install carries our 10-year written installation guarantee plus the manufacturer's 3–5 year manufacturer warranty depending on range. One re-tension visit is free in year one. After that, any issue we caused is fixed at no cost.
Can you match a specific paint colour?
Yes, Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and full RAL can be factory-sprayed. We bring colour fan-decks to the survey and check the chosen colour in your room's daylight before sign-off.
Do you offer finance?
Yes, 0% interest plans over 12 months and low-rate plans over 24–60 months are available subject to status. Details given at quote.
Will my window still open normally?
Yes. Hinged shutter panels swing fully clear of casement and tilt-and-turn windows. For sashes we recess the frame so the sash slides without contact. We test every window during survey.
Do you fit outside Ludlow?
Yes, across the SY, HR, WR and DY postcodes. Hereford, Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Cleobury Mortimer, Church Stretton, Bewdley, Leominster and Much Wenlock are all within standard survey range with no travel fee.
Get a fixed price for hardwood shutters this week
No deposit on the day. No high-pressure sales script. Just a proper survey, honest options and a written quote within 24–48 hours.
- 10-year written installation guarantee
- 5★ Google-rated surveys
- Same-week surveys
- Fully insured, owner-fitted
Request your free home survey
Most surveys booked within 5 working days.