Measuring UPVC bay windows

Double glazed bay windows are a very popular window to fit shutters on and many customers choose the DIY option. This means learning how to measure up, so to help, I have put together the following video blog.

This video shows you the basics of making a template out of an A4 piece of paper.



Bay windows can all vary in design especially at the sides where the window meets the wall. They can also have plastic infill’s and quadrant running around the frame, these can be removed or battens moulded around them to suit.

Making a paper template to help you measure is usually the same for each window, with just a few little adjustments, depending on the style of the window and surrounding plastic trim.

The idea of the template is to be able to accurately measure the shutter frame width. As most bays have large handles that protrude you will need to fit battens around the window first to space the louvre blades away from the handles. This means you have to allow for the battens when making the templates, the size of which depends on the handle depth.

There are also different frame depths depending on the material chosen and if you require the blackout option. The Standard and Standard Plus shutter frame is 46mm deep and the Elite and Basswood shutter frame is 50mm deep. When fitting blackout shutters the frame depth increases to 60mm or 64mm.

Once you have this information you can mark out the battens and frame depth on your templates which will allow you measure the width.

For the best advice on measuring your bay, create an account on my website and upload photos of your windows and the templates you have made and I will be happy to check them for you.

What if my window handles protrude?

Today many people have windows with handles that protrude into the window recess, but this does not mean that you can’t have wood shutters but merely that you will need to adapt your window recess by using battens or a sub frame.

The issue with protruding window handles is that you may not have enough room to fit the shutter panels directly onto the window frame, as the handles will prevent this. Even if you can fit to the window frame you may not be able to adjust the louvers to allow light to enter as the handles will prevent them from opening.

The easy solution is to fit battens to create a surface in front of your window frame into which you fix the shutter frame. This spaces the shutter doors away from the window and allows the louvers space to adjust easily without interfering with the window handles. The size of the battens will depend on the size of the louvers you choose, the larger the louvers the wider the battens, and also the amount your handles protrude.

Fitting battens is extremely easy, as you just screw them directly into the window frame, and the screws will be covered by the shutter frame when in place. As the battens are provided in the same colour and spray finish as the wood shutters it will blend perfectly, giving a professional finish. The battens can be provided cut to length or over size if you prefer to adjust them yourself, and additional lengths can be supplied if you require them.

A large proportion of my DIY customers have windows with protruding handles and have successfully fitted battens with their wood shutters, however, if you have any concerns you can look at the information on battens on my website or call me direct with your query Tel: 0844 858 4025.

Best kind of interior shutter for my window?

This is a key question, as certain rooms will place more demands on the interior shutter than others. For example, those in the kitchen or bathroom will need to be able withstand large amounts of condensation and steam or in a utility room or play room they will need to be wipe-cleanable.

There are a number of things I would suggest you consider to ensure you get the best product for your room:

• Heat/moisture – is this a kitchen/bathroom where there is a lot of steam
• Cleaning – does it need to be easily cleaned/wiped because of sticky fingers or constant use
• Use – will the doors be opened regularly or just the louvers adjusted once or twice a day
• Window size – is this a large window or doorway that will need a lightweight panel
• Style – are you matching a stained floor/window frame or other furniture
• Shape – is your window something other than square

For rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom or utility rooms, where there is heat and moisture or regular cleaning is important I would recommend the Standard shutters. This is a good value interior shutter that has a plastic coating, which makes it extremely durable and more likely to withstand the demands of these rooms. Made of engineered MDF it is also less likely to warp or twist.

For large window’s or doorways a light-weight wooden shutter is important so I would recommend the Elite range. Made of engineered wood it is strong, but light in weight so can be made and guaranteed with more bi-folding panels linked together than the Standard shutter.

If you have a large opening that requires track mounted shutters these are only made and guaranteed in Elite or one of the specialist wood’s, as the panels mounted on the track need to be as light as possible to ensure they are durable.

If you are looking to match a particular stain this can only be done in Elite or a specialist wood. The Basswood has a beautiful grain and would be my personal recommendation, alternatively Cedar comes in several oiled finishes. Between Elite, Basswood and Cedar it is possible to match most stains, and I can always provide sample colour chips to help you get the colour you want.

Shapes can only be made in wood, Elite, Basswood or Cedar, which can be stained or painted. An interior shutter is one of the most attractive ways of covering a shaped window – have a look in my showroom for some examples. As the shape of the shutter will follow the shape of the window it makes the most of a beautiful feature, enhancing rather than hiding the window. As it’s possible to merely adjust the louvers to allow light to enter you won’t end up with unsightly curtains pulled to one side, or a blind that will only raise part way.

For most customers with an average level of use in a lounge, dining room or bedroom you can choose from any of the materials as they will all be suitable for these rooms. It may depend on your budget as to what you choose, but if you want any advice on what material is best for your interior shutter don’t hesitate to call me or register on the website and ask me.

Can you attach them to UPVC windows

I am often asked if you can fit house shutters to UPVC windows, as there appears to be a concern that you can’t screw into the plastic window frame or that they would need to be fixed in some other way. However, the fact that the windows are UPVC is not an issue, as you could screw into this if you choose to, however, it’s not necessary.

Most UPVC windows have handles that protrude into the window recess, so this is the reason that it becomes necessary to fit the interior house shutters away from the window frame rather than the material the window frame is made from being the issue. With protruding handles, as you will see in one of my shortly forthcoming blogs on this subject, the louver blades being adjusted is actually the issue rather than the UPVC.

With most UPVC windows the best way to fit is to fix the shutter frame to battens that you fit inside the window recess. These form a sub-frame around the window, but most importantly move the actual shutter doors away from the window so that you can adjust the louvers without them hitting your window handles.

Some customers are concerned that attaching anything to their UPVC windows may invalidate guarantees, and I usually advise against fitting the house shutters to them for exactly this reason although it is possible. While different glazing companies cover different things it can be best to proceed with caution.

Some UPVC windows also have a plastic trim, which can either be removed when fitting, or left in place and the battens fitted in front of it if you prefer.

If you are concerned that fitting a sub-frame or battens may not be an option for your windows you can always send me photo’s of the windows you want to fit to so that I can offer you some bespoke advice. You can register by clicking on the link to the left of this blog, or calling me direct.

The simple answer to this question is that fitting house shutters to UPVC windows is not an issue, and is simple to do whether we do it for you or you choose to do it yourself.