You called for a quote. The consultant is coming Saturday. You have time before they arrive, and you want to know what to expect.
Here is the most useful thing you can do: measure your windows yourself ahead of the visit.
Not because the consultant won’t do it (they will, and their measurements are the ones that count). But because doing your own pre-measurements helps you understand what your installer is talking about, gives you a clearer picture of project scope, and makes the consultation faster. You also catch things early, like an obstruction the consultant might miss in a quick walkthrough.
This is the same checklist we hand to homeowners who ask us how to prepare for a visit. Print it, screenshot it, or follow along on your phone. It takes about 30 minutes for a typical 12 to 15 window home.
Why Your Pre-Visit Measurements Make the Quote Faster
When a consultant arrives, the first 20 to 40 minutes of any quote visit are spent measuring. Width. Height. Depth. Squareness. Obstructions. Mount type.
If you have already done a rough pass, the conversation starts from a better place. You can point out the windows you are most concerned about. You can ask about specific architectural features. You can plan rooms instead of just looking at one window at a time.
This also matters because a rushed measurement is where shutters go wrong. Width off by half an inch, and the panel binds. Depth wrong, and the shutter sticks out past the frame. The more clarity you bring to the visit, the better the spec gets.
The Tools You Actually Need
Forget special equipment. You need:
- A retractable metal tape measure, at least 25 feet
- A pencil and a notebook, or a notes app on your phone
- A small bubble level (optional but helpful)
- A flashlight or your phone light
That is it. Skip the laser measure unless you already own one. Lasers are useful for height, but the depth measurement (which is the one that actually matters) is best done with a tape.
Step 1, Width and Height (and Why You Take Three of Each)
Measure the inside width of the window opening at three points: top, middle, and bottom. Write down all three.
Then measure the inside height at three points: left, middle, and right. Write down all three.
If your three width measurements are within an eighth of an inch of each other, the window is square. If they vary by more than a quarter inch, the frame is out of square, and that affects how shutters get built and mounted.
Most older OC homes have at least a few out-of-square windows. This is not a problem. It is just a fact your manufacturer needs to know so the shutter is built to compensate.
Step 2, The Depth Measurement Most Homeowners Skip
This is the one that matters most for inside-mount shutters, and it is the one almost everyone misses.
Open the window if it opens, or look at the window from the side. Measure from the front edge of the window opening (where the wall starts) back to the glass. That distance is your depth.
You need at least 1.5 to 2.5 inches of clear depth for most plantation shutters to mount inside the frame without the louvers hitting the glass when you tilt them. Less depth, and you are looking at an outside mount, a different frame style, or sometimes a different shutter type entirely.
If you have crank-out windows, sliders, or windows with internal hardware, the depth math gets more involved. Note any windows where you suspect depth is tight. The consultant will verify, but flagging it early helps the conversation.
Step 3, Mapping Obstructions
Walk every window in the house and look for things that stick into the opening:
- Window cranks (most common on casement and awning windows)
- Sliding window locks and latches
- Alarm sensors mounted in the frame
- Sills that protrude beyond the frame
- Mini blinds or other window treatments that mount inside the frame
- Trim or molding that sits inside the opening
For each window with an obstruction, write it down. Take a photo if it helps. Some obstructions are easy to work around. Some require specific shutter design choices. None of them are deal breakers, but the consultant needs to know about them up front.
Step 4, Checking Square
Take a sheet of paper and put it in the corner of the window opening. If the corner is square (90 degrees), the paper sits flush. If it doesn’t, the corner is off, and that is useful information.
Older OC homes, especially anything from the 1970s and earlier, often have windows that have settled out of square. Newer construction is usually closer to true. Either way, this is an information point, not a flaw.
What Your Installer Will Verify (And Why You Still Need Their Visit)
When the consultant arrives, they will redo every measurement you took. This is not because they don’t trust you. It is because the manufacturer’s tolerance is tight, and a half-inch error on a custom-built shutter is the difference between a panel that closes flush and one that doesn’t.
The installer also brings tools you don’t have at home. They check window square against a pro-grade level. They look at the wall surrounding the window for plumb. They check the floor below for level if a shutter sits near a sill. They map mounting surfaces for the install hardware.
Your pre-measurements help them work faster and have a smarter conversation. Their measurements are the ones that go on the order.
What to Bring to the Consultation
If you took the time to do this, bring it all to the visit:
A list of every window with width, height, and depth noted. A note for any window with an obstruction. A note for any window that seemed off square. A short list of rooms you want to prioritize. Photos of any feature you have a question about, like bay windows, French doors, arched tops, or sliding glass.
This kind of preparation helps you walk out of the consultation with a real plan, not a vague quote. It also helps the manufacturer build the right shutter the first time.
If you are ready for that visit, book a free in-home consultation and we will bring our measuring kit, sample boards, and the time to walk through your home one window at a time. We also handle the full installation ourselves, which means the same team that measures is the same team that mounts. No subcontractors, no handoff errors.
If you want to look at our custom plantation shutter options before the visit, our showroom is open in Lake Forest and you are welcome to drop by.