Plantation Shutter Component Parts Explained

Shutters are available to order from The California Company with a large combination of different options and designs. At all stages throughout the website we have endeavoured to offer clear and easy to understand explanations about plantation shutters and the different parts used to form the overall shutter itself.

Your wooden shutters can be ordered with regular push rods, concealed push rod, light reduction stiles, different sized slats…..the possibilities are endless!

To help you understand clearly all the different terms, we’ve put together the glossary and diagrams below to help.

Shutter Panel – describes the whole piece of wood that is mounted inside the shutter frame. This can be ordered with either 47mm, 64mm, 89mm or 114mm slats or as either solid shaker or solid raised designs.

Shutter Frame – the most typical type of shutter installation sees the shutter panel mounted inside a shutter frame. This frame is designed to create a ‘perfectly square’ opening for the shutter panel to be mounted within. Frames work best when either 3 or 4 sided.

Shutter Slats – for plantation shutters, the slats or shutter louvers are the pieces of wood that run horizontally and can be tilted through almost 360° rotation. They are closed flat at night and tilted either at an angle or to 90° to give a clear view while the shutter panels can remain closed.

Stiles, or sidebars – as they are often referred to, are the vertical pieces of wood on your shutter panels which the opening and closing louvres are attached to. These can be offered in two styles, standard, or light reduction.

Light reduction stiles are a great option for bedrooms, or rooms which require less light. The panels of the shutter sit side by side, and by choosing the light reduction option, where the panels meet, they can be manufactured with a slight rebate, which means the panels will overlap each other – reducing the light which would normally come in between them.

Blackout Blinds - are a separate roller blind which will cost extra if ordered. The black out blind will sit between the window and the shutter panel. If required we can supply you with a special deep frame which can accommodate your roller blind and the shutter panel. Roller blinds will need at least 65mm clearance between the shutter panels and the window In order for them to operate effectively.

If you would like to purchase blackout blinds with your order, after payment, please state whether you would like them to be manufactured in black, white or cream. We will discuss any further details with you regarding blackout blinds should you wish to order them with your shutters, after placement of your order.

Bottom Rail / Top Rail  - The shutter top and bottom rails are the solid parts at the top and bottom of the shutter. When designing and manufacturing your shutters we aim to make these in proportion to the panel size, while retaining the structural integrity of the plantation shutter.

Mid Rail – A mid rail or shutter divide rail is required on panels over a certain height to ensure the panel retains it’s strength. However a mid rail works very well to break up the operation of shutter slats. Incorporating a mid rail in the shutter panel will give you separate control of the slats above and below the mid rail point.

Push Rod – This vertical bar runs down the centre of each shutter panel and holds all the slats together. Holding the shutter push rod at any point will move the slats in unison in that shutter section. If you had one shutter panel with a mid rail, the push rod would be ‘split’ at the mid rail point. Mouse holes – These are the small indentations in the shutter rails which allow the slats to close flat. They only appear on panels which have the regular push rod design.

Open Sky Concealed Push Rod – This system sees a concealed aluminium push rod running down the side of the shutter panel at the rear. This means when you look through the shutter slats, from inside the room, there is no visible bar running vertically through the shutter slats. Wooden shutters with open sky concealed push rods have no mouse holes.

Shutter Hinge – The shutter panel is attached onto the shutter frame by way of a shutter hinge.

Feeling inspired? Choose your shutters now..