Rough measurements for a guide price
- Width: measure between the reveals at the top, middle and bottom and use the widest figure. Openings are rarely perfectly square.
- Height: measure from the cill, step or floor to the underside of the lintel or soffit.
- Above the opening: note how much flat wall there is above it for the box, usually at least 150–300 mm depending on the drop and lath, and whether there is a canopy, gutter or soffit in the way.
- Either side: note how much flat wall or reveal there is for the guides, and anything that sticks out such as handles, pipes or cables.
Photos that help
A straight-on photo of the opening, a close-up of the area above it, and one of each side are usually enough for us to give a sensible guide price and spot anything unusual before the survey.
Face-fixed or recessed?
If the shutter will sit on the face of the wall, it is made a little larger than the opening so the guides and box sit on the brickwork. If it will sit inside the reveal, it is made to fit between the reveals, so the reveal must be deep enough for the guides. The survey decides which works for your opening.
What the survey checks
Exact sizes and squareness, the depth of the reveals, what the guides will fix into, the space for the box, where power can come from, whether the opening is an escape route, and how you want to operate the shutter.
Shutters are made to measure, so we never order from customer measurements alone. If a measurement turns out to be wrong, the survey is the point to find it, not the fitting day.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change; check with the relevant authority for your property.