Types of Window Shutters We Install in Ottawa
Plantation shutters are hinged panels with adjustable louvers, mounted in a frame inside or around the window. They are built for each opening and stay with the house.
Hardwood Plantation Shutters
Kiln-dried hardwood with mortise and tenon joinery. Lighter than polyresin, so panels can be wider, and they can be stained or painted. The classic choice for living rooms and bedrooms.
Polyresin Shutters
A solid polyresin compound that does not swell, warp or peel in moisture. Ideal for bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.
Hidden Tilt Bar Shutters
The tilt mechanism hides on the back edge of the louvers, so there is no rod down the front. A cleaner look and a clearer view out.
Bifold and Bi-Pass Shutters
For wide windows and some sliding doors. Bifold panels fold back on a bifold track. Bi-pass panels slide past each other.
5 Shutter Specs to Decide Before You Order
- Material. Hardwood for living spaces, polyresin for wet rooms.
- Louver size. 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 inches. Bigger louvers, bigger view.
- Tilt bar. Hidden for a clean look, centre tilt bar for a traditional one.
- Frame. L-frame for most inside mounts, Z-frame to add depth or cover an uneven edge.
- Divider rail. A horizontal rail that lets the top and bottom louvers tilt separately: privacy below, light above.
What Stops Ottawa Homeowners From Buying Shutters?
Price shock. Shutters are our premium product at $500-$2,500 per window installed. In our opinion, they make the most sense on front rooms, where they finish the house from the street, and in rooms you plan to keep for years.
Custom vs stock. Stock shutters do not exist in a real sense. Each panel has to be built to the opening, especially in older Ottawa homes where frames are out of square.
Is motorization worth it? Not usually. Shutters are easy to tilt by hand.
Delivery timeline. About 4-6 weeks, since every panel is built to your window.
How Much Do Window Shutters Cost in Ottawa?
| Shutter option | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
| Polyresin, standard window | $500-$900 |
| Hardwood, standard window | $700-$1,300 |
| Hardwood with hidden tilt, large window | $1,200-$2,000 |
| Bifold or bi-pass, wide opening | $1,500-$2,500 |
All prices CAD and itemised. See every option on our Ottawa rate card.
Plantation Shutters vs Blinds
Shutters are a fixture. Blinds are a covering. Shutters stay with the house, add a layer of insulation, and give a finished architectural look from inside and out. They cost more ($500-$2,500 vs $180-$1,200 for most blinds) and do not raise out of the window, so they always take some light. Blinds are lighter, cheaper and lift completely clear of the glass. Many Ottawa homes use shutters on the front rooms and street-facing windows, and wood blinds or cellular shades elsewhere. If you want the shutter look on a budget, 2.5-inch faux wood blinds come close.
Hardwood vs Polyresin Shutters
Hardwood is lighter, so panels can be wider with fewer hinges. It can be stained to show the grain or painted, and it feels warm. It does not belong beside a shower. Polyresin is heavier but completely moisture-proof, so it will not swell or peel in bathrooms, kitchens or laundry rooms. It comes painted in whites and neutrals. A UV inhibitor finish on both keeps whites from yellowing on sunny windows. The usual Ottawa split: hardwood in living rooms and bedrooms, polyresin in wet rooms, painted the same white so they match.
