I'm building a house.

While we were there I went ahead and measured the windows and doors for window treatments. We really want to go with wood stained plantation shutters. We went to Next Day Blinds and the people were super helpful and stayed past closing, without rushing us to make sure we had all the info we needed. Ideally we want shutters on all the windows except the master bath, that's 16 windows total. Full price...$7500. The girl we were dealing with (the assistant manager) knocked off $750 then her manager came over and knocked off another $750. So after it was all done it's going to run us $6k installed. Basically the $1500 they took off covers the installation charges. We talked about putting blinds in the two smaller bedrooms to help bring the price down another $1500...but the blinds for that room will run around $500 which means that for *only* $1000 more we can have we really want. My wife talked to her mother and they paid $6k for all 28 windows in their house but they went with vinyl shutters and they don't offer stained colors...just white and ivory which we don't want. The girl promised us the price whenever we come back, she recommended that we put our order in around November to get the dates scheduled for their free measuring and then the install. I guess we'll see what happens.

Make sure that the shutters you're getting are full boxes that will cover the sill and the top of the window. If they're what I used to see that are just the panels screwed into the uprights then you'll be asking for them to droop and sag in less then 5 years. The vinyl shutters that your parents had are (if they're similar to the products my Dad sells and I used to install) guaranteed for 10 years for no fading, warping or cracking. Also you might want to check if they're buying them from a distributor for Norman shutters, of if these are made localy. I can tell you for a fact that Norman is the best shutter on the market. We did a house in those for around 5k I think. That included install.

 

But serriously make sure the panels are mounted to a frame. I used to spend a lot of time fixing shutters that weren't. Just somethings to think about.

Thanks for the info. Next Day Blinds makes their own shutters and blinds custom per order. Oh, and they have a 100-year warranty.

Edited September 5, 2008 by Lyssa

Thanks for the info. Next Day Blinds makes their own shutters and blinds custom per order.

If they did anything else I'd shoot someone. Readymade blinds are the most terrible things anyone has ever concieved of.

Oh, and they have a 100-year warranty.

O.o Jesus, I'd LOVE to see the details on that. I know alot of manufactures personally and I don't konw anyone that'll warranty their product for a century.

Edited September 5, 2008 by Ecthelion

They are also local to the DC area with 34 locations, which is nice.

 

WARRANTY

Our quality components and state-of-the-art manufacturing allow us to offer a platinum 100-year guarantee. This is a limited warranty. All GreatWindows.com blinds and shades are warranted for 100 years against any mechanical breakdown or failure, and manufacturing defects. Breakdown and defects resulting from abuse or misuse are not warranted.