Blinds & Shutters - Issue 4/2023

SHUTTERS
A perfect fit
Louvolite has
perfected an easy
way for blinds and
shutters to be
installed
There was a time, not so long ago, when
consumers used to allow blind installation
teams to drill and screw into their pristine
new extension, conservatory or skylight to install
their much needed shading product. Just think of it
– paying a significant amount of money to have
the finished item turned into a form of Swiss
cheese - not exactly the result you would want.
Of course, much of that changed when
Louvolite introduced its revolutionary Perfect Fit
programme, allowing window shades to be
installed into windows featuring double glazed
sealed units and flexible gaskets. Not only did this
remove the need for drilling or screwing, but it
also changed the measurement and installation
time from minutes to mere seconds! Initially
destined for use with pleated, cellular and 25mm
venetian blinds, the programme quickly developed
to accommodate roller shades and more recently,
Vision blinds – along with motorisation options
too.
In addition to the obvious benefits seen with
Perfect Fit products, they also move with the
window/door installation giving the consumer the
benefit of having shade or privacy with the blind
down, yet still allowing in fresh air or easy access.
The current trend for bi-fold doors also offers
challenges for shading products, yet Perfect Fit
with cellular fabrics simply does the job easily,
quickly and with maximum flexibility in terms of
deployment.
Of course, there are some products that are
installed in such a way that they need a great deal
more time and experience to firstly measure the
window - accounting for all the nuances of British
window systems. As with measuring, the
installation process can also be best left to those
experienced in the complex nature of such
products. Items such as external shading systems,
Zip blinds and internal louvred shutters could all
fall into this category. Shutters have fast become a
highly fashionable and coveted product; when
measured and installed correctly, they can totally
transform a room. Indeed Louvolite itself supplies
its very own Urban Shutter programme and, as
with other good shutter companies, operates a full
training programme to cover all aspects of
surveying and installation.
However, Louvolite recognised that the
traditional style of Shutter was not within the
financial grasp of many consumers. In addition, it
also believed that if a shutter product could be
measured for and installed simply and quickly, it
would also allow the wider industry to benefit
from the product’s popularity. So, in a typical
“back to the future” moment, it decided to try
and combine the Perfect Fit concept with louvred
shutters.
The result? No complex measurements to take;
simply measure the glass size, bead to bead, for
the width and drop and detail the location of any
handles ……that’s it!
Installation follows the exact same path as other
Perfect Fit products. Use a credit card or the
Louvolite Perfect Fit measuring card to establish
your bracket location and install the brackets
between the flexible gasket and the double-glazed
sealed unit. In the case of the Perfect Fit Shutter,
the brackets are typically fitted to the top and
bottom of the window or door.
Take the shutter and align the receiving
locations with the bottom brackets. The brackets
flex slightly allowing the top receiving locations to
find the lugs in the top brackets – that’s it, all done,
fitted in seconds.
The apparent complexity, long lead in times and
limited supplier options may have put you off
selling shutters up to now, but the Perfect Fit
Shutter programme is one that alleviates all those
issues and takes away concerns over measuring
and fitting these great products.
One simple question for you to answer……..
what are you waiting for?
18 Blinds & Shutters • ISSUE FOUR 2023