We sell factory-built shutters, so you'd expect us to tell you factory-built is always the answer. It isn't. Custom shutters do some things a stocked line simply can't — and you should know exactly what those things are before you spend a dollar. Here's the trade, laid out straight.
What custom shutters honestly do better
Give credit where it's due. A custom shop measuring and building for your exact opening has real advantages, and for some windows they're the only right choice:
- Millimeter-exact fit — for badly out-of-square openings in old houses where no standard size range quite lands
- Moisture-proof builds — purpose-made materials for steamy, unventilated bathrooms where a standard line isn't the right tool
- Arches, circles, and odd shapes — anything that isn't a rectangle is custom territory; we stock rectangles only
- Exact color matching — if your trim is a specific custom paint color and 'close enough' isn't
If your windows fall into any of those buckets, buy custom and don't feel bad about it. The wrong product at a good price is still the wrong product.
Where factory-built wins
Now the other side. For the overwhelming majority of rectangular windows in normal rooms, factory-built wins on the three things that actually matter to a homeowner:
Price. From $18.95/sq. ft. — the $18.98 line price applied to 44 stocked sizes — because standard production runs don't carry the cost of one-off manufacturing. There is no consultation fee, no measure fee, and no “custom” line item on the invoice.
Speed. Your order is emailed to us, we confirm by email, we call you and send a payment link — and most shutters delivered in as little as 48 hours after the paid order. Custom means an in-home measure, a production slot, and weeks of waiting. Factory-built means this weekend's project, not next season's.
Zero decisions to get wrong. One package: Snow White finish, wood-core structure, 3.5-inch louvers, hidden gear tilt, 50/50 split control, white hinges, recessed magnets. No material swatches to second-guess, no color to regret, no upgrade ladder. You measure, you match one of 44 sizes, you install. That's the whole job — and it's why DIY works here when it feels risky elsewhere.
Side by side
| Factory-built REDI (us) | Custom shop | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | 44 stocked RS size ranges cover standard openings | Built to your exact measurements, any shape |
| Price | From $18.95/sq. ft., $18.98 line price | Quoted per job — substantially higher |
| Speed | Most shutters delivered in as little as 48 hours | Weeks to months, typically |
| Choices | One package — Snow White, standard hardware | Materials, colors, stains, upgrades |
| Install | DIY self-install (or your own handyman) | Professional install usually included |
| Best for | Rectangular windows in normal rooms | Odd shapes, exact color match, wet bathrooms |
The honest middle ground
Here's the rule of thumb we give everyone: if your windows are rectangles in normal rooms, factory-built gets you the same look on your wall for a fraction of the price and a fraction of the wait. If you have arches, a bathroom with no ventilation, or an opening that won't fit any of the 44 stocked sizes, custom is worth every penny — and we'll tell you so if you email us your measurements.
Either way, the first step is the same: measure your windows. The numbers tell you which camp you're in. And if you land in ours, delivery is a flat $200 within 100 miles of Ontario, California — per order, not per window.
DIY vs. custom, answered
No — it's the same kind of construction, made on a production line instead of one at a time. Our REDI shutters are factory-built on a wood-core structure with a scratch-resistant water-based paint, 3.5-inch louvers, hidden gear tilt, and recessed magnets. What you're not paying for is one-off manufacturing, a design consultation, and months of lead time.
Rectangles in normal rooms? You're our people.
Match each window to a factory-built RS size — from $18.95/sq. ft. — and install them yourself this weekend. Most shutters delivered in as little as 48 hours.