Installation
Casement windows are a popular choice in Richmond-area homes for their clean lines and excellent ventilation — but their side-hinged, outward-opening design raises a common question: can you still have plantation shutters? The short answer is yes, and the result is beautiful.
Standard plantation shutters are installed inside the window frame or on a face-mount frame around it. Because casement windows swing outward on a crank, a shutter mounted directly in the opening would block the window from opening. The solution is a bifold or single-panel shutter that mounts to the side of the frame and folds back flat when you want to open the window.
The most common approach is a bifold shutter panel. Two narrow panels are hinged together and attached to one side of the window frame. When you want to open the casement, the shutter folds neatly against the wall. When closed, it covers the full window opening and looks identical to shutters on any other window type.
Because the panels need to fold back, they are typically narrower than standard panels — usually 9 to 12 inches per leaf rather than the 14 to 18 inches common on double-hung windows. This creates a slightly different visual rhythm, but in practice it is barely noticeable and the shutters still provide full light control and privacy.
For narrower casement windows, a single panel hinged on one side can work well. The panel swings open like a door, clearing the window crank entirely. This works best when there is enough wall space beside the window to accommodate the open panel.
Our installation team measures the crank handle clearance carefully before recommending a frame depth. In most cases, a face-mount frame with a 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch projection provides enough clearance for the crank to operate freely while the shutter is in the closed position. We always verify this during the in-home consultation before any order is placed.
Both center-tilt and rear-tilt (hidden tilt rod) options are available for casement shutters. Hidden tilt is particularly popular on casements because it gives the panel a cleaner, more streamlined look — there is no rod running down the center to interfere with the view of the window hardware.
Because every casement window is slightly different — in width, crank style, and available wall space — we custom-build every shutter panel to the exact measurements of your window. There is no standard size that gets cut down; each piece is crafted in our Richmond workshop specifically for your home. If you have casement windows and have been told shutters are not an option, we would love to show you otherwise.
For more information, contact our team or call (804) 355-9300. We offer free in-home consultations across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC.
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Shenandoah Shutters builds custom hardwood plantation shutters in Richmond, VA and installs them across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC.