Most people don’t think about shutters until their renovation is nearly done. By then, the timing becomes tricky.
We’re Shutters Sale, and we fit internal shutters across homes of all shapes and sizes. Over the years, we’ve noticed the same timing issues come up again and again. This guide shares what we’ve learned so you can plan better than most.
Why Shutters Take Longer Than You’d Expect
Here’s the basic reality: your bespoke shutters don’t exist until you order them.
Every window in every home is slightly different. British properties especially have their quirks. Old frames that have settled. Unusual proportions. Reveals deeper or shallower than standard.
So each shutter gets made for your specific windows. That process takes time.
A typical order goes through these stages:
Your measurements get checked and confirmed. Materials are cut and assembled. Paint or finish goes on in layers, with drying time between. Everything gets inspected, packed, and sent out.
From order to delivery, you’re looking at anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks depending on what you’ve chosen.
What Affects the Timeline
A few things influence how long your order takes.
Material type. MDF and composite shutters are quicker to produce. Hardwood takes longer because the material needs more care during manufacturing.
Colour and finish. Standard whites and creams are faster. Custom colours require matching and extra coats.
Window shapes. Rectangular windows are straightforward. Arches, circles, and angled windows need additional work.
Time of year. Spring and early summer are busy. Orders placed in quieter months often move faster.
We always give customers a realistic estimate based on their specific choices. No point in promising something we can’t deliver.
When to Start Thinking About Shutters
Earlier than you’d think.
When planning a renovation, add shutters to your list at the beginning rather than the end. Waiting until everything else is done usually means living with bare windows for a few weeks.
A rough guide: start the conversation about 10 to 12 weeks before you want shutters installed. That gives enough room for measuring, ordering, manufacturing, and fitting.
Getting Measurements Right
Measurements matter more than people realise.
Windows in older homes are rarely perfectly square. Frames settle over time. What looks straight often isn’t when you check with proper tools.
Professional measuring accounts for all of this. Multiple points get checked across each window. Reveal depth, frame condition, and any obstructions all get noted.
At Shutters Sale, we include measuring as part of our service. We’ve found this prevents problems down the line. Measurements done by customers sometimes miss details that cause issues during manufacturing.
If you’re having building work done that affects your windows, wait until that work is fully complete before measuring. Measuring too early leads to shutters that don’t quite fit.
How Shutters Fit Into Your Renovation Schedule
There’s a sensible order for renovation tasks, and shutters come near the end.
Plastering should be finished and dry. Fresh plaster shrinks as it cures, so measuring against wet walls gives inaccurate results.
Painting works best before shutter installation. Cutting in around frames afterwards is fiddly work, and you risk getting paint on new shutters.
Flooring should be down first. Installers need the final floor height to get clearances right.
Once those things are done, shutters can go in.
The timing puzzle is that you need to order weeks before installation, based on measurements taken even earlier. Plan backwards from when you want everything finished, and work out when each step needs to happen.
Working Out Your Timeline
Here’s a simple way to think about it.
Decide when you want your room to be complete. Count back 6 to 8 weeks for shutter production. Add another week or two for measuring and ordering. That tells you when to get in touch.
If your deadline is December, you probably want to start the shutter conversation in September or early October.
We’re happy to walk through the timing for your specific project. A short phone call usually sorts it out.
Common Timing Problems
A few situations cause delays more often than others.
Measuring before building work finishes. Window trims or frames that change after measuring mean shutters won’t fit properly.
Custom colours without proper references. Paint colour systems work best. Design industry references sometimes don’t translate well.
Leaving shutters until last. By the time everything else is done, the wait feels longer because you’re ready for the room to be finished.
Changing specifications after ordering. Alterations to an order already in production slow things down and sometimes mean starting again.
None of these are disasters, but they add time. Knowing about them helps you avoid them.
What Speeds Things Up
A few things genuinely help.
Choosing standard colours rather than custom ones saves time in manufacturing.
Having decisions made before ordering means your order goes straight into production rather than waiting for confirmations.
Booking during quieter periods (autumn and winter) often means shorter waits.
Being flexible on installation dates sometimes gets you an earlier slot if something opens up.
We’re always honest about what’s achievable. If a timeline looks tight, we’ll say so rather than making promises we might not keep.
Our Current Lead Times at Shutters Sale
To give you a rough idea:
- MDF shutters in standard colours: around 4 weeks
- MDF in custom colours: 5 to 6 weeks
- Hardwood in standard finishes: 6 to 7 weeks
- Hardwood in custom colours: 7 to 9 weeks
- Speciality window shapes: add a couple of weeks to any of the above
These change depending on how busy things are. Worth checking with us for current estimates.
Questions That Help
When you’re talking to any shutter company in London or simply anywhere, a few questions give you useful information.
Ask about current lead times for the specific style you want. General estimates are less helpful than specific ones.
Ask what happens if something goes wrong with your order. Manufacturing mistakes happen occasionally. Knowing the process for fixing them tells you a lot about how a company operates.
Ask about seeing samples. Photos on screens don’t show materials accurately. Holding an actual sample helps you make confident decisions.
Ask who your point of contact will be if you need to make changes or have questions. Dealing with one person is simpler than being passed around.
Getting Started
Shutters make a real difference to a room. The way they control light, add warmth, and give a sense of completeness.
That result takes some planning to achieve on schedule. Starting the conversation early makes everything easier.
If you’re thinking about shutters for a renovation, or even for a single room, we’re happy to chat through timing and options. We’ll give you an honest picture of what’s involved and how long things take.
Get in touch with Shutters Sale when you’re ready. We’ll take it from there.