Window shutters: your questions, answered

Yes. Every shutter is solid hardwood. The installer never uses faux wood, MDF or PVC, which tend to be heavier and can bow or yellow with time.

Three: Basswood, light and silky with a fine grain, the favourite for painted finishes; Ashwood, strong with a grain you can see and feel; and Paulownia, remarkably light and ideal for tall windows and wide bays. You can hold samples of each at your free survey.

It depends on the size and number of windows, the style, the timber and the finish, so any price given without measuring is only a guess. The survey is free, and you receive a written quote for your exact windows with no obligation.

Finance options are available through the installer, subject to status. Just ask when you book your survey.

Honestly: they cost more up front than most blinds, panels need room to swing open, louvres need an occasional dust, and there is a wait of a few weeks while they are made. Most owners feel the look, the privacy and how long they last outweigh all of that, but it is worth knowing.

Shutters have dressed Essex homes for generations and sit as comfortably in a period house as in a new build. Soft white louvres are timeless, and stained hardwood or a deeper painted colour are there if you would like something less expected.

Closed shutters place a layer between the room and the glass, which helps on cold nights and holds back direct sun on hot days. Solid panels do this best.

Yes. Bays, sashes, French doors, arches and angled windows are all measured and made to fit. Mention anything unusual on the form.

Most homes are fitted in a single day.

Homes across Essex, including Chelmsford, Brentwood, Billericay, Southend, Colchester, Romford, Basildon, Epping, Loughton and Buckhurst Hill, as well as east London and Hertfordshire.