Reviewing specifications or comparing quotes can be confusing with the amount of terminology used.

Click on any of the terms below to read its explanation.

TILT ROD

A rod connecting the louvres to each other, enabling the simultaneous tilting of all louvres in a louvre bank. A tilt rod can be positioned in the centre of the louvres or offset to one side.

A central tilt rod gives shutters a more traditional look, and is an option on the following AMERICAN shutters’® ranges:

  • Decowood Shutters
  • Normandy Shutters
  • White Teak Shutters
  • Woodbury Waterproof Shutters

Concertina-type shutter configuration where shutters are folded and stacked. Click here for more security shutter configuration details.

Configuration with sliding shutter panels, Click here for more security shutter configuration details.

Shutter configuration that has panels hinged to a frame, Click here for more security shutter configuration details.

The depth measured from in front of a window or door to the flat surface of the inside wall.

The horizontal slats of a shutter that can be tilted up and down to allow varying degrees of light and ventilation into a space. Louvres come in various sizes. Often also called slats or blades.

A set of louvres in a shutter panel. A shutter panel can be separated into two louvre banks by a fixed divider rail or by splitting a gear system. When separated, louvre banks are referred to as Split Louvre Banks and can operate independently of one another. This offers a high degree of versatility i.e. allowing the top louvre bank to be opened to allow in light while keeping the bottom louvre bank closed to ensure privacy.

This is the term used to refer to the window or door which is to have shutters installed.

The top and bottom horizontal section connecting the left and right shutter stiles of the shutter panel. For optimum structural integrity, AMERICAN shutters’® wooden ranges use mortise-tenon joint to connect the rails to the stiles.

Used to manoeuvre or assist in the operation of a shutter panel. AMERICAN shutters® make them available on all shutter ranges, but they are most commonly used on bi-fold (concertina) shutters to assist with the stacking process.

Stiles are the upright side sections of a shutter panel, they are connected with top and bottom rails, and in certain cases, mid rails. A rabbet stile overlaps the adjacent stile to reduce light penetration between the shutter panels.

Similar to a door frame, a shutter frame is used to create an outer structure for the shutter panels. This gives the installation a neat finish, and is most typically used in hinged applications. AMERICAN shutters® has a number of different frames to suit a variety of practical and aesthetic requirements.

The combination of the following components; top and bottom rails, louvres and stiles. An installation can have a number of shutter panels in one opening.

A geared tilting mechanism that is concealed inside the shutter panel, thereby nullifying the need for a visible tilt rod. The secret or hidden tilt system gives shutters a more contemporary look, and is an option on all AMERICAN shutters’® ranges

Certain shutter configurations (bi-fold and by-pass) require that shutter panels are hung from a top track using wheels. A bottom track or floor channel guides the shutter panels.