External Shading
External aluminium shutters
Shutters on the outside of your home, not the inside. The Portchester range brings the clean, structured look of interior shutters to exposed openings, built from architectural-grade aluminium to shrug off the weather and protect the glass behind them. Ideal for patio doors, verandas, garden rooms and outdoor living spaces.
Shutters, on the outside
Most of our shutters are fitted inside the room, where the priority is light, privacy and a beautifully finished interior. Portchester is different. It is engineered to live outdoors, taking the same familiar louvred shutter look and making it robust enough to sit on the weather side of the glass.
The panels are crafted from architectural-grade 6063-T6 aluminium: strong, lightweight and naturally corrosion resistant. They are then finished with a hard-wearing, Qualicoat-approved powder coating, built to resist wear, fading and the elements over the long term.
The result is a low-maintenance external shutter that keeps its looks in an exposed setting, where a timber interior shutter would never be suitable.
Built for the weather
Scotland's weather asks a lot of anything fitted outdoors. Portchester is made for it. The aluminium construction will not rust, warp or rot, and the powder-coated finish is designed to hold its colour rather than fade in the sun or dull in the rain.
Closed over a window or door, the shutters form a physical layer in front of the glazing. That shields the glass from driving rain and the worst of the weather, and provides useful shade during bright spells.
Because the material is so hard-wearing, upkeep is minimal. An occasional wipe down is usually all that is needed to keep them looking their best.
For more on how outdoor shutters compare with interior ones in a UK climate, read our guide to internal versus external shutters, or see our full comparison of external versus internal shading, with guide prices.
Light, shade and privacy on demand
Like our interior ranges, Portchester uses fully adjustable 89mm louvres. Tilt them open to let light and air through, or close them down for shade and privacy. A silent tilt mechanism operates the louvres with no visible tilt bar, keeping the look clean and uncluttered.
The panels themselves are available in hinged, bi-fold and by-pass configurations, so they can be tailored to the way each opening is used, from a single window to a run of patio or bi-fold doors.
Lockable panels
Each Portchester panel is fitted with a lock and key. This lets you lock the shutters in the closed position, so they stay put in high wind and hold their setting.
The louvres can still be tilted for light and ventilation while the panels remain locked closed, giving you a practical way to keep a window shaded while the shutters stay firmly shut.
Where external shutters work best
Portchester is particularly well suited to:
- Patio, sliding and bi-fold doors
- Verandas and covered outdoor dining areas
- Garden rooms, pool rooms and outdoor living spaces
- Conservatory doors and exposed ground-floor openings
- Coastal, hillside and other exposed, weather-beaten locations
They can also be used indoors as room dividers, but their real strength is outside, where durability and weather resistance matter most.
Guide prices
Every Portchester installation is made to the exact opening, so the price depends on the width and how the panels are configured. A narrower opening takes a pair of hinged panels; a wider one uses more panels that fold neatly to the side. To give you a sense of cost, here are three typical examples. The prices are for the shutters supplied and include VAT. Installation is quoted separately for each job, as it depends on access and the nature of the opening.
Window
1450 x 1450mm opening
around £1,750
shutters supplied, including VAT
Two-panel hinged pair
Patio door
1800 x 2300mm opening
around £2,500
shutters supplied, including VAT
Two-panel hinged pair
Wide patio door
2400 x 2300mm opening
around £3,950
shutters supplied, including VAT
Four-panel bi-fold
Prices shown are for standard colours; custom RAL colours are also available. For a price for your own opening, send us the recess width and height and we will prepare a quote. Get in touch.
Specification at a glance
- Material
- Architectural-grade 6063-T6 aluminium
- Finish
- Qualicoat-approved powder coating
- Louvres
- 89mm, fully adjustable, silent tilt (no visible tilt bar)
- Panel styles
- Hinged, bi-fold and by-pass
- Standard colours
- Prime White, Satin White, Light Grey and Charcoal (custom RAL colours available)
- Locking
- Lock and key, securing the panels closed
- Warranty
- 3-year manufacturer warranty when fitted externally (5 years on internal installations)
Frequently asked questions
What are external shutters?
They are louvred shutters designed to be fitted on the outside of a window or door rather than inside the room. Portchester keeps the look of a traditional interior shutter, but is built from aluminium so it can withstand being fitted in an exposed, outdoor position.
Will they stand up to Scottish weather?
Yes. The panels are made from corrosion-resistant 6063-T6 aluminium and finished with a Qualicoat-approved powder coating that resists wear, fading and the elements. Aluminium will not rust, warp or rot, which makes it well suited to a wet, exposed climate.
Do they protect the glass?
When closed, the shutters sit in front of the glazing and form a physical layer that shields it from driving rain and the weather, while also providing shade. They add a protective outer skin to an otherwise exposed door or window.
Can they be locked?
Yes. Each panel has a lock and key so the shutters can be locked in the closed position. That keeps them from being blown open in high wind and holds their setting. The louvres can still be tilted for light and ventilation while the panels are locked shut.
How much maintenance do they need?
Very little. The powder-coated aluminium is hard-wearing and holds its finish, so an occasional wipe down is normally all that is required.
Can I match them to my interior shutters?
Portchester is designed to sit alongside our interior ranges, sharing the same louvred look. With a choice of standard colours plus custom RAL options, external shutters can be co-ordinated with the rest of your scheme.
What Our Customers Say
"I don't often give out five stars, but this 5-star review is completely justified. Quick response, expert advice, great communication throughout, and a superb installation."
David Corbett
"The shutters and blinds are simply amazing and really dress each window so well, producing an outstanding finish to each room. The products are of such high quality and were installed with such care, attention and professionalism."
Julie Sangster, Portlethen
Start with our brochure
52 pages of ideas, product details, and real installations from homes across Scotland. Request your copy and take the first step.