Most of our customers end up doing their whole home. They start thinking about a bedroom or two, then realize they want the consistent look throughout, or they do one room and immediately want the rest to match. A whole-home Norman® plantation shutter installation is our most popular project—and for good reason. The value per window is better, the aesthetic payoff is significant, and you deal with the project once rather than repeatedly over several years.
If you're considering it, here's exactly what the process looks like.
Step 1: The In-Home Consultation
Everything starts with a free in-home consultation. We come to your home—you don't come to us. The owners personally visit, walk through every room, and review each window you're considering.
During the consultation, we bring Norman® samples: actual shutter panels in different louver sizes (2½", 3½", 4½") and finish samples in the range of colors Norman® offers. We hold these up to your actual windows in your actual lighting so you can see how each option looks in your specific space. This is a completely different experience from a showroom—you're not imagining what it might look like at home, you're seeing it in front of you.
We also discuss configuration for each window. Standard windows get standard panels. Oversized windows get multi-panel configurations. Tall windows may get a divider rail. Patio doors and sliding glass doors get bypass or bifold systems. We plan the right solution for each opening before we leave.
Step 2: Precise Custom Measurement
After you decide to move forward, we take precise custom measurements of every window. This isn't an approximation. Each dimension is measured exactly, including sill depth, frame width, and mounting clearance. For specialty or oversized windows, we take additional reference measurements to make sure the Norman® order is accurate.
This step matters more than most people realize. Off-by-a-quarter-inch fits look fine in a photograph but feel wrong in person—panels that don't seat flush, louvers that don't close cleanly, shutters that sit slightly crooked in the opening. Precise measurement is what separates a professional installation from a compromised one.
Step 3: Custom Manufacturing
Once the order is submitted to Norman®, your shutters are custom-manufactured to your exact specifications. Every panel is built to the dimensions we measured, in the finish and louver size you selected, with the hardware and tilt system you chose.
Lead times vary but are typically several weeks. We keep you informed of the status and confirm the installation date once your shutters arrive.
Step 4: Installation Day (or Two)
Most whole-home installations are completed in one to two days depending on the number of windows. Our installer—who has 25+ years of Arizona shutter installation experience—arrives prepared with all hardware and tools needed to complete the job without multiple trips.
Installation involves mounting the frame in each opening, hanging the shutter panels, adjusting the hardware for smooth operation, and confirming that each shutter closes cleanly and the louvers operate correctly. We work efficiently without rushing—getting each window right before moving to the next.
Throughout the installation, we're careful with your home. Floors are protected, walls aren't nicked, and any debris from drilling or mounting is cleaned as we go.
Step 5: Final Walkthrough
When installation is complete, we do a full walkthrough with you. We open and close every shutter, check the louver operation on each panel, verify that everything looks level and properly seated, and make any adjustments needed on the spot.
We don't leave until you're satisfied with every window. If anything looks or operates differently than you expected, we address it before we go.
What to Budget and Plan For
For a whole-home installation, budget one to two days of your time to be home (or to have someone home) for installation. The consultation and measurement visit is typically 60–90 minutes. You won't need to do any prep work—we handle everything.
Pricing is provided during the consultation after we've seen every window. We itemize by room so you understand exactly what you're paying for. Whole-home projects tend to offer the best per-window value compared to smaller partial projects.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're in the Phoenix metro area and ready to see what whole-home Norman® shutters would look like in your home, schedule a free in-home consultation with Shutters Direct AZ. We come to you, bring samples, and give you honest pricing. No showroom, no pressure.
Call us at (602) 773-7183 or reach out online.
