Window Shape Guide
Plantation Shutters for Bay Windows
Square, splay, box or angled — bay windows are the single most common project we measure for in Warrington. Here is how we fit them and what to expect.
Typical Panel Count
6–8 panels
Min. Recess Depth
65mm
Common Bay Angles
22.5° / 30° / 45°
Survey Time
~45 minutes
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The three bay window shapes we see most
Warrington's housing stock is heavily weighted toward bay-fronted terraces and semis built between 1880 and 1935. In a normal week we measure three distinct bay shapes:
Splay bays dominate the Latchford, Stockton Heath and Padgate terraces — three sections joined at roughly 22.5° or 30°. Square (box) bays appear on Edwardian and 1930s semis around Grappenhall, Appleton and Bruche — three sections at 90°. Curved bays are the rarest, found on a handful of 1930s metro-land semis in Orford and Penketh — these usually need a faceted shutter approach with 4–5 narrow panels approximating the curve.
Why bay windows need their own measure
A bay isn't one window — it's three (or more) windows joined at angles that the original builder rarely got perfectly square. Brick settlement over a century has often shifted those angles by 1–3° from drawing. We laser-measure every angle, every height (typically four height measurements per bay), and the cill depth at each corner.
The frame is then built off those exact figures with mitred T-posts. This is the single biggest reason DIY-ordered bay shutters look wrong — the off-the-shelf 90° frame doesn't match a real-world 87° bay.
Panel configurations for Warrington bays
Our most-fitted bay configurations:
- 6 panels (2/2/2) — the standard for a three-section splay bay, panels hinged from the outer edges. Around £950–£1,400 fitted depending on size and material.
- 8 panels (2/2/2/2) — four-section box bays, often on Edwardian semis around Appleton.
- Café-style across bay — bottom-half only, popular on Stockton Heath terraces where the bay overlooks the street and homeowners want light without losing privacy.
- Tier-on-tier — for period-correct looks on Lymm village and Knutsford properties.
Material choice by bay location
Front-facing bays in coastal-adjacent areas (Lymm waterside, properties near the Mersey) catch more weathering and condensation — we usually recommend our ABS waterproof or premium hardwood ranges. Inland bays on suburban semis in Padgate or Orford can sit happily in MDF Antigua range, which keeps the cost down without sacrificing the look.
Common Questions
Frequently asked
How many panels do bay window shutters need?
It depends on the bay shape. A typical Warrington Victorian splay bay (three sections) usually takes 6 panels — two per window on T-posts. A square box bay often takes 8. We measure every angle on-site because no two bays are identical, even on the same terrace.
Will shutters fit a tight-angled bay?
Yes. We use mitred T-posts cut to the exact splay angle (typically 22.5°, 30° or 45° on Warrington and Stockton Heath terraces). The frame is built to follow the bay so the louvres line up cleanly across all sections.
Can shutters open inwards on a bay window?
On most splay and square bays the side panels can open inwards on hinges; the front panel often stays static with louvres tilting for ventilation. On tight 22.5° bays a fixed frame with tilt-only louvres usually looks neater and stops panels clashing.
Do bay shutters work with deep window seats?
Perfectly. Period bays around Latchford and Grappenhall often have 200–300mm deep cills, which gives more than enough recess depth (we need just 65mm minimum for full louvre clearance).
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