This blog is to help you understand how to measure a typical recess window.
A recessed window means the window is set back into the wall and has a window sill. The best looking shutters are fitted onto the window itself inside the recess, this can also be referred to as ‘Inside mount’.
This ‘recess’ style window is one of the most popular windows customers measure themselves, there are quite a few videos and PDF’s available to guide you through the process, I am also going to talk you through the steps in this blog.
Sam’s, step by step guide to measuring a recessed window.
1. Always measure in several places across the width and height and take the smallest size.
2. Take your measurements in front of where the shutter frame will fit, this is normally an L frame which is 46mm deep.
3. Be aware of any handles protruding from the window, if there are you may need to use spacer battens or a larger frame to ensure the slats do not hit the handle. (Tip: Use the measuring templates to view the slat depths and frame depths to check the clearance)
4. Check how level and upright the window is, use a spirit level and work out how straight the window is. (Tip: Measure across the diagonal of the window to check how square it is)
5. If you have a rail on your window you may want a matching horizontal rail on your shutters, measure from the window sill to the middle of the rail on the window. For a tier on tier design, measure to the top of the rail and do the same for a cafe half-height design.
Remember, the full PDF explains all these steps in full, together with the videos you should have all the information you need to successfully measure a window so you can install plantation shutters yourself.
Here are some bonus measuring tips for recess windows:
Check the recess is not angled, sometimes the top or sides of the window may angle inwards, this is why you need to measure in front of the L frame when taking the main width and height sizes.
Download the PDF guide showing the technical drawings, this will help you understand how the shutter frame fits in the recess.
Remember, we allow a 5mm shadow gap between the shutter frame and wall. This ensures the shutters fit easily and provides a neat way of finishing off the shutters, watch this video on the ‘Fitted’ page to see the shadow gap explained further.
Links to useful information:
– Watch a video of Sam measuring a typical recess window here.
– Find the ‘Golden rules’ to measuring in this helpful video.