Adding shutters to the replacement windows on your Irvine, CA home is a great way to add style from the inside, boost your curb appeal, increase property value and lower energy consumption. With all these great benefits, you’d think everyone would be adding shutters to their replacement windows.

However, a lot of homeowners are nervous about measuring their replacement windows to order the proper size shutters. They shouldn’t be, though. The following frequently asked questions and their answers will help you do a great job measuring your windows so your new shutters will fit well and look great for years to come.

• Where Do I Start? – Your first step should be deciding if you’re getting inside mount or outside mount shutters, as this will determine how you measure. If your window has a recess that can fit a shutter frame, you can have an inside mount. If your windows have minimal depth or any kinds of obstructions like crank handles, you need an outside mount.
• What About Windows That Tilt For Cleaning? – If you have windows that tilt in for cleaning, you should go for an outside mount, as it will not block the window from tilting. However, if you really want the look of inside mount shutters, you can order them as panels only so you can still tilt the window as needed. Another option is to get an inside mount frame and ditch the tilt.
• How Do I Handle Historic Windows? – A lot of historic windows have a colonial trim, making them hard to fit for a shutter. Hard, but not impossible. You can use an inside mount L-frame style shutter to fit your historic windows.
• Can I Use a Laser Measure? – While new gadgets are cool, they are not always reliable. It’s a better idea stick with a standard measuring tape to measure your windows for your shutters. This is especially true because laser measures are not great for measuring small, confined areas like window openings. However, if you want to use your new laser, just double-check the results with a tape measure.
• What Do I Do About A Sill? – A protruding sill or ledge at the bottom of your window doesn’t change anything if you’re going with inside mount shutters. However, if you want outside mount shutters, you do need to add the width of the frame once to your height (as opposed to twice to your width) to get an accurate measurement.
• What About Oddly Shaped Windows? – There is a shutter for every window, even oddly shaped ones. If you have bay, bow, circular, or another kind of window shape, get measure the height and width, and then take a picture of the window to send to your shutter manufacturer.

It will be easy to measure for shutters for your Irvine, CA replacement windows if you use these tips. If you want more help, please reach out to Cunningham Doors & Windows by visiting 1940 E Edinger Ave Santa Ana, CA 92705, or calling (714) 258-2500