Frequently Asked Questions
Stewart Shutters takes pride in educating our customers to be smart shoppers when looking for shutters. Because shutters are an investment, you want to be sure that you do your research before ordering your shutters for your home. We hope these questions will assist you in your decision-making.
1) How long have you been in business?
Stewart Shutters has been in business since 1989 (always under the same company name).
2) Can you provide references in my area?
Yes. We can give you references in your nearby neighborhood, or most likely of homes we've done on your street!
Yes, our show room has a variety of shutters on display.
4) What are the hours of your show room?
Our regular show room hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm and Saturdays are by appointment only.
5) Can you give me a price quote over the phone?
Yes. The phone estimate is only a rough estimate; we would still need to come to the house to give you an exact price.
6) What kind of wood do you use for your shutters?
We use the highest quality grade of basswood for our shutters. It is a natural solid wood (no finger joint pieces, no MDF or particle wood). Years of use & testing have proven that this type of wood has the best characteristics for manufacturing shutters.
7) Where does your wood come from?
All of our wood comes from the Appalachian mountain area on the East Coast.
8) Does everyone use basswood for their shutters?
Most shutter companies in Southern California use basswood, but basswood could be finger joint basswood (smaller pieces of wood glued together), or MDF/particle basswood (Saw dust glued together). These types of basswood do not have the same characteristics as natural basswood. Natural basswood is a straighter, more resilient than all other man made materials.
9) Do you offer any other materials besides wood shutters?
Experience has proven that quality basswood shutters will out last any other materials. We build our wood shutters to last a lifetime.
10) What are the disadvantages of plastic/vinyl shutters?
All vinyl or plastic shutters do not have the strength and characteristics as wood. They are heavier and more flimsy than natural basswood. You can only go up to 20" wide on most plastic shutters because they will sag due to the heat. There is more wear and tear when you open/close panels due to the weight. It is difficult to refurbish, putty, sand or repair polyvinyl shutters. Most poly or plastic shutters are limited on color choices.
11) What are the advantages of natural wood shutters?
Natural wood does not age like other conventional materials. Also due to the life long characteristics of basswood, they can be repainted to update the color to new décor and will be new again and continue to hold up under years of use.
12) What are my choices in paint/stain colors?
There are unlimited choices for paint and stain colors. We do provide you a selection of colors, but if you have a specific color you'd like for your shutters, we can match it to a sample provided by the customer.
13) What are your different types of finishes?
Our finishes come in:
- Smooth (smooth painted finish)
- Sandblast texture (shows the wood grain)
- Stain or natural (shows the natural characteristics of the basswood)
14) What are the different choices in louver sizes?
We provide louvers in 2.5", 3.5" and 4.5".
15) What size of louvers is the most common?
3.5" louvers fit nicely on most windows.
16) What are the different choices of hinge finishes?
Our hinges come in:
- Bright brass
- Antique brass
- Nickel
- White powder coated
- Almond powder coated
17) What kind of paint do you use on your shutters?
We use a lacquer base primer and a lacquer base top coat paint, which provides an easy to clean finish on your shutters. The lacquer paint gives the shutters durability and a clean finish with a UV protection against the sun's harmful rays.
18) What types of frames do you use?
We have a full milling facility that can make any type of frames. Our standard frames are larger than most companies. They are 1 ½" wide by 1 1/8" thick.
19) Why do you not quote your shutters by square feet?
We go by unit price and not by square feet due to the fact that square footage is not accurate and often works out to be more expensive. If you have a lot of windows, we can offer a volume discount. Unit price varies depending on how many windows you do and what is involved.
20) Can I put shutters in my bathroom or kitchen windows?
Yes. We can seal coat the shutters with a special sealer that prevents moisture getting into the wood at no additional charge.
21) What is the warranty on your shutters?
Click here for a detailed explanation of our warranty.
Most companies offer the same warranty although warranties are only good for as long as the company is in business. Most companies that build a lower grade shutter, they do not stay in business longer than 2-4 years due to warranty issues.
Do your research! Before choosing a company, check to see how long they have been in business, if they have a contractor's license number and are up to date with their contractor's bonds and license fees.
Company research websites:
- Contractor's State License Board website: www.cslb.ca.gov
- Better Business Bureau website: www.bbb.com
- California Home Owner's Association website: www.homeowners.org
22) Do you repair or repaint shutters that were not manufactured by your company?
Yes, we do repairs, repaints and refurbishing, although we cannot warranty the work if Stewart Shutters did not originally manufacture the shutters.
23) How long does it take to get shutters after I have placed a shutter order?
We manufacture your shutters to your window size and it is all custom made for your window. It is usually standard to receive your shutters in approximately 6-8 weeks. It can vary due to holidays or seasonal periods. Our prices remain the same year round.
24) How long does the installation take?
It depends how many windows are being installed and what is all involved. When we call to schedule a time to install your windows, we will inform you of approximately how long the installation will take. (Usually less than a day)
25) How do I clean my shutters?
Use a feather duster or a 100% cotton cloth and you will see how fun and easy it can be to clean your shutters.
26) Do I have to move any furniture or items away from the windows for the installer?
We recommend that you remove any current window treatments (blinds, draperies, valances) and any furniture or breakable items at least 3 feet away from the windows that are being installed.
27) What is the difference between an inside and outside mount?
Inside mount is mounted inside of the windowsill and the frames are flushed with the drywall. Outside mount is mounted on the finished wall surface.
28) How are the shutters attached to the wall?
By using finished nails. Another option is using screws.
29) How do I adjust shutters that are out of reach?
We provide you at no additional charge with a reach rod that has a rubber coated hook at the end of it. This allows you to open and close the shutters that are up high.
30) Why should I buy from Stewart Shutters?
- Personable, professional, and reliable service
- You deal directly with the owner
- No middle man, factory direct
- We build to your specification for any window at any size
- We use lacquer primer & paint which provides a unmatched quality and easy to clean surface
- Custom paint & stain match
- Clean and trustworthy; Stewart Shutter’s installers are very detailed and professional
- Attention to detail from start to finish
- Local references available
- Licensed and bonded
- Approved by the League of California Home Owner’s Association
- Member of the Chamber of Commerce
- Custom wood shutters are what we specialize in
- Stewart Shutters is your one stop, quality choice for wood shutters!
