Following customer feedback our shutters will now feature a new range of shutter hinges with immediate effect.
The new shutter hinges will be much stronger than the existing range and will no longer need the screw top hinge pins, as they are slightly smaller (60mm) than the current hinge (76mm) and will be repositioned so that the hinge pin can be slotted into position when the shutter is in the window recess. This should make it easier to remove panels once the shutters have been fitted.
 This changes will in particular help those who order DIY products, as this will make it easier to insert and remove panels in a recessed window during the fitting process, or should you need to do so to access windows for repair work.
While I will still be able to provide the existing hinges throughout 2009, so can still match any existing items you may have or provide replacements, these will be phased out at the end of the year.
Two new colours have also been added to the range, so you will now be able to order the hinge colours of oil rubbed bronze or nickel plated if you want to match existing fixtures within your home. While these may not be added to the automatic order form yet you can always request them by putting a note in the notes box when ordering.
If you have any queries regarding your shutter hinges you can always send me a message via the website if you have account, send me an email or call me Tel: 0844 858 4025.
Labels: Product changes
 I recently got to fit interior window shutters in a home being ‘done’ by the BBC DIY SOS programme. As with all these programmes there was a reason that they had chosen to work on the home of this person, and I was thrilled to be part of the team even for just a day as the story behind the choice was heart rending.
I have worked before with the show’s designer, Julia Kendall, as I provided the same product for her own home. It was a pleasure to work with her as her designs are modern and interesting, bringing life to the houses she works with and creating character. This was no exception, with some wonderful touches that still meant that this would be a practical family home.
The BBC DIY SOS team are great fun – what you see on television is what goes on in real life. When the camera’s stop rolling the fun carries on, as the team’s got a great sense of humour. Believe me they need it, as some of the homes they have worked on have been extremely hard to complete in the time frame and it means everyone has to pitch in. Even Nick Knowles doesn’t just present the show but actually joins in with the decorating and renovations, working alongside the team to make sure they hit their deadline.
The show aired in November 2008, but we are asked not to mention any details until the show has gone live and of course my blog has only recently launched. Look out for the repeats, as many of the shows will be shown again on the digital channels at a later date.
The show was based in Gosport, and the finished results were as ever fantastic. I hope to work with the team again in the future, as it’s great to be able to support the individuals featured and fun to work with the team behind the scenes. You can see pictures in my showroom, you can also read about the BBC DIY SOS show in my news section on the website. Labels: TV Shows
Recently there have been several updates to delivery options for house shutters, these include the part sea/part air freight option and lead times for replacement of items.
The part sea/part air freight option has been discontinued, as so few customers used this option for delivery I doubt it will be missed. I can only think of 1 of my customers in the last 5 years who has used this option. Most customers opt for delivery via the sea route, with a lead time of 6-7 weeks but no additional costs.
However, if you are in a hurry and want your house shutters swiftly I can still deliver within 3 weeks via the fastrack option, although there is a surcharge for this, if you have a deadline to meet it’s a great way of getting your order here as early as possible.
Replacements of shutter frames, panels or battens are now completed in the standard lead time of 6-7 weeks, with replacement louvers or small components available within 3 weeks. As I experience very few issues, I hope that this is something few of my customers will have need of.
You can view information on lead times and DIY delivery on the website.
For most these changes will have little impact, and I will be continuing to remind customers about delivery details via email, or telephone if your order is available early. If you do have any queries regarding lead times or delivery of house shutters you can always email or call me, and I will be updating the website to reflect these changes shortly.Labels: Delivery
I recently added a new page to the website titled shutter installation. While it isn’t found through my usual navigation on the left of the site, it was designed to help those of you who use this internet search term and also want to know the areas I cover for fitting or installing shutters. There is already a page in the fitted section detailing the area’s I cover but this provides a different way for you to find that information.
I hope in time to add an interactive map to the site showing the areas covered by the fitting service, but as with most things this will take time. It’s difficult to be specific at times, because although I have dedicated fitters in some areas, I also have a range of trade associates who work outside those areas that I can refer my customers to if I don’t have one of my own team there providing shutter installation.
While the associates don’t fit exclusively for opennshut.co.uk, they have usually previously ordered and fitted our products for their own customers and are often in a similar market. Some are more experienced than others, and I will always make you aware of what contact or relationship I have with those individuals or organisations, and that you would be dealing with an associate, not one of the dedicated fitters who work with me.
If you are not sure if we cover your area, or would like to check if we are willing to travel to install or fit for you, please feel free to call me Tel: 0844 858 4025.
We have been more than willing to travel out of our advertised areas on occasions.
If we don’t have a fitter or associate in your area we can always offer a DIY service, or may know of another company who offer shutter installation in your area and we are happy to recommend.
I’m really pleased to have finally launched my Shutters and blinds blog. While it still has a long way to go, as there are many things I hope to do with it, I would welcome your comments as it progresses.
While the blog is not currently listed on the navigation of the website, it will shortly be more easily visible to all my customers as it will feature prominently for you to find in the future.
The aim is for the blog to contain as many useful tips and key updates on my products as possible. While I do my best to keep the website as up to date as I can, the blog allows me to quickly add information and notify everyone about changes to the shutters and blinds. It also allows me to add information if someone asks me an unusual question that I think others my find useful.
I hope to label the blogs so that if there are links between them, or are written in a series, it will be easier for those reading the blog to find related blogs or information. Many will include links to pages within my website in case you would like more detailed information. I will also be including photo’s to make the advice clear where I am able or to help both DIY and those who use my professional fitting service.
Primarily the aim of having a blog is to help customers to access information and advice so that you can achieve the look you want with the right shutters and blinds.
We’ve currently been experiencing one of the coldest winters for up to 20 years, with snow, floods and then freezing temperatures in many areas. As with most things, we find ourselves less well prepared than we would like to be when they arrive, but have you considered the impact your choice of window dressing has on heat retention and therefore your bills?
Personally I have found that my internal window shutters have helped to insulate my home, and many of my customers say that they have noticed a difference once theirs are installed. While there are no facts and figures I can give you to support this at the moment, the fact that more architects and home designers are now planning window dressings into their projects to help reduce emissions and energy consumption, would indicate that our choices can help save the planet and cut the cost of bills.
Logically a solid barrier between your window and room is likely to be far more effective in eliminating drafts and retaining heat. While a louvered shutter is likely to be open during the day, at night as temperatures drop it will be closed trapping vital warmth. The louvers also close and overlap upwards, so as heat rises in front of the shutter it is less likely to be lost through the louver blades rather than a blind or shutter that closes downwards where seepage may occur, or curtains where there is no seal.
Interestingly most properties in Europe have a shutter of some description on their windows, particularly in some of the mountainous areas that are very cold and get large snow falls in the winter. These are closed during the night when temperatures are low to form a barrier to block out the cold and insulate the property, surely so many properties wouldn’t have these if they weren’t effective?My blackout internal window shutters incorporate a honeycomb blackout blind, which will also help with heat retention as it provides another layer between your room and window trapping cold air and preventing it reaching your room or heat being lost. The honeycomb is more effective than a single layer blind and is also foil lined.
With a recession upon us I think it’s important to consider not only the style that internal window shutters offer, but the added benefits and savings that your investment might bring. I would welcome any feedback you have on this, and whether anyone has any specific facts or figures regarding heat retention with internal window shutters, so why not add your comments to my blog by clicking on the comments button next to this post.
 I have recently been asked again to supply several different Luxaflex and Sunway blinds for the ITV 60 Minute Makeover programme. These have predominantly been wood or metal venetian, although I’ve previously supplied and fitted shutters on the programme myself a number of times. What many people don’t realise when they see the shows is the short lead time between organising and filming, and the speed at which the makeovers themselves actually take place.
The lead times for supply is often very short, as filming is taking place only a week or two after I have been contacted. It can be a challenge to get everything the designer wants, but satisfying as you know there will be a good reason the show ‘victim’ has been chosen. Its fascinating finding out how the ITV 60 Minute Makeover shows work behind the scenes. There is a great deal of work preparing before the team make it on site, including contacting suppliers like myself to find the products requested by the shows designers. On several occasions I’ve had to use my experience to suggest alternatives where things can’t be made in time, and help the team find something that will achieve the look the designer wanted. In some cases this has meant supplying blinds rather than shutters due to the speed at which they are needed. The shows are exciting to work on, as the makeover and filming are all actually done in 60 minutes. While preparation takes place before the camera’s move in, it’s really chaotic during the 60 minutes filming but great fun. Everyone pulls together to get things finished, and there are people every where. It’s just as frantic as it looks, as we work in two 30 minute blocks with a break in between which is much needed! Have a look at my showroom for pictures of some of the ITV 60 Minute Makeover shows I’ve worked on, and keep an eye out here and on my website for the dates and times of shows.
Labels: TV Shows
I have recently seen a significant increase in shutter prices and obviously many customers have asked why this increase has taken place. This is not just something that has affected www.opennshut.co.uk, but has hit the industry as a whole. For many people the credit crunch is biting, but for those who purchase items in dollars or indeed other currencies it has hit even harder. While we would hope to absorb these costs ourselves, regrettably of late it has become impossible not to pass on at least part of the increase to our customers.
Both shutter parts and complete products are in the main purchased through a number of sources around the world, and are paid for in US dollars. As the strength of the British pound has fallen we have seen significant change in the costs incurred due to the exchange rate rather than an actual increase in the price we are charged.
In the early part of 2008 the pound was strong and you could get up to 2.5$ per pound, however, by the end of 2008 there was only 1.5$ per pound which means that as an industry our costs had increased by up to 25%. Even those who assemble their products in the UK purchase parts or components from abroad, and the strength of the pound to both the US dollar and the Euro has meant significant additional costs.
While we all hoped the pound would regain its former strength it became clear as the year progressed this was not going to happen in the short, or possibly even the medium term. Many manufacturers and suppliers held off as long as possible before passing on those increased costs, but in order to remain in business many had no option but to pass on part of these costs to the customer. Many have managed to contain or continue to absorb some costs, so that customers may only have seen increases of up to 15% across the industry.
We all hope that the pound may regain some ground in the currency markets during 2009, and who knows if it does perhaps we could hope it will result in a drop in shutter prices, or at least that any further material costs can be absorbed by the industry.
 As a specialist supplier of interior window shutters and blinds I aim to post a series of blogs, including useful tips and advice on DIY measuring and fitting, my professional fitting service, changes in the market place and products, and interesting facts, as well as keeping you up to date with some of the things happening at www.opennshut.co.uk.
I started out as a fully qualified cabinet maker, but set up opennshut.co.uk 11 years ago with my father. At the beginning we made the shutters in our workshop, but the days of dusty workshops are long gone, I now supply products from China because in my experience they make the best interior window shutters. I specialise in the DIY market, sharing my experience with my customers, but provide fitting services in London and the surrounding area, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. I also supply a range of Luxaflex blinds and awnings, Sunway and Shuttermatch blinds.
Since starting out I’ve been involved on a number of occasions in supplying and fitting shutters for DIY programmes, including 60 minute makeover for ITV and BBC’s DIY SOS. Look out for the blogs on my work with these. The pictures in the showroom on my website will also give you a flavour of the work I’ve done to date.
You can always visit my website if you have any queries as I’ve tried to include as much of my advice as possible on the site. You can register, upload some digital photos of your windows and send me a message if you would like some bespoke advice on interior window shutters.
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