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DIY Installation

If you can use a screw gun, you can do this.

No installation charge. No appointment. No stranger in your house for a four-hour window. Just you, a level, and about an hour per window.

Most shutters delivered in as little as 48 hours.

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Close-up of shutter panel hinge hardware used in DIY installation

What you need

Basic tools. That's it.

  • Screw gun or cordless drill with a #2 Phillips bit
  • Level (24-inch is ideal; a small torpedo level works too)
  • Tape measure and pencil
  • Safety glasses
  • A second pair of hands for wide windows

No saws, no routers, no specialty jig. If your toolbox already has a drill and a level, you own every tool this job needs.

Inside mount · 3-inch flat Z-frame

Hang it in seven steps.

1

Open the box and dry-fit

Set the assembled frame into your window opening without screws. It should sit snug but not need force. If it won't seat, stop — re-measure the opening before drilling anything.

2

Level the frame

Hold the level against the top of the frame and shim or adjust until the bubble centers. An unlevel frame shows in every louver line, so take your time here — this is the whole job's foundation.

3

Mark your screw points

With the frame level and centered, mark through the frame's pre-drilled points onto the jamb or wall with your pencil. Pull the frame back out.

4

Pre-drill and set the frame

Pre-drill your marked points with a small pilot bit so the screws don't split the frame or jamb. Set the frame back in, re-check level, and drive the screws — snug, not cranked down.

5

Hang the panels

Seat each shutter panel on its hinges and check the swing. Panels should open and close freely with even gaps. Most hinge brackets allow small adjustments — loosen, shift, retighten.

6

Check the louvers and tilt

Run the tilt rod or lever through its full range. Every louver should move together and close flat. If one sticks, a tiny hinge adjustment fixes it — don't force the louver.

7

Step back and admire

Check all four sides of the frame for even reveals, open and close everything one last time, and clean up. Typical time: about an hour for the first window, faster after that.

Finished wide window with DIY-installed plantation shutters

A finished inside mount: frame flush in the opening, panels swinging free, louvers level.

Straight talk

Not every window is identical.

Most installs go exactly like the steps above. But homes are real, and real homes have quirks. Here's what to watch for — and when to call in help:

Out-of-square openings: older homes settle. If the opening is badly out of square, the frame may need shims or a handyman's touch.

Obstructions: deep window cranks, protruding locks, or thick decorative trim can interfere with louver clearance — check before ordering.

Uneven walls: if the wall around the opening isn't flat, an outside mount may need shimming or longer screws.

Wide spans: very wide windows mean heavy panels. Get a helper and take the extra five minutes.

Rather not DIY?

A handyman can do it in an hour.

If ladders, tall windows, or out-of-square openings aren't your thing, any competent handyman can install factory-built shutters — and they keep 100% of the install revenue. Our trade program is built for exactly this.

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FROM $18.95/SQ. FT. · Most shutters delivered in as little as 48 hours