½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Whilst I do not know of any specific companies in SW Marche you could try having a look in the ½ûÂþÌìÌà online yellow pages: [url]www.paginegialle.it[/url] Many companies are listed so hopefully there is one in your area.
Sportolloni (the solid shutters) and persiane(the slatted variety) manufacturers are listed under 'Serramenti ed Infissi Legno'. Sometimes the manufacturers fit the shutters, sometimes a builder of your choice or you could do it yourself! Do shop around, the variety of prices we were quoted was incredible and obviously varies from type of wood, hard woods costing more than soft. If I remember rightly the price was quoted as per square metre of wood used and did not include fitting.

Hope this is of some use.

Regards
Anne2

will... another option.... and you might groan is alluminium shutters... which they make to look like wood..... they work out cheaper both to buy and because of no maintenance you dont have to climb all round to treat them every couple of years..they are cheaper to run....they also have adjustable slats so you dont have to open them fully.... either yellow pages or ask a neighbour with new shutters.... another thing which can be handy when fitting these are also insect screens.... they cost a bit but allow you to sleep with windows open... but i know some people like authentic wood..... so maybe you would hate the idea.... but you will find plenty of installers....and local small manufacturers

Have you tried the factory in Tolentino (I think they are called Forrucci)?

Also Castorama do a range of shutters, ready made windows etc. There is one near Porto d'Ascoli just in Abruzzo.

Insect Screens

We found that long net cutains [we got ours from Ikea] do a great job in allowing us to leave windows open [day or night] - and they are easy to fit and also look good.

I've just come back from a visit to the falegnameria mentioned by Penny - I've got their name at home and will post it this evening - I think they have a website.

They were extremely cheerful and came out to measure up our windows the day after my visit.

I know others have used them and found them good on price though perhaps not so good on estimated delivery times!

I am going for integral insect screens (zanzerie) as I don't want to have to deal with any sort of curtains.

Also I'm using internal shutters - but that's just a matter of taste.

As for aluminium v wood - I've been told that non traditional materials will detract from the value of your property - but you have to set that against the fact that aluminium should last forever.

I suppose its the same argument as plastic v wood in this country

OK - have found them - they are called FALEGNAMERIA FOLUSCI DI FORCONI FRANCO E FIGLI, TOLENTINO

I've googled them but haven't found a website - will check on their catalogue tonight. Franco himself came out to do the measuring and he was charming!

We have windows that open inwards (do we call them casements?) and shutters on the outside of the window that open outwards, so in order to let the light in we have to open two sets of "windows" - this is where my inadequacy of architectural vocabulary in english, not to mention italian, stretches to breaking point!

I have been grappling with where to put insect screens in such a situation. The problem with net curtains, in my opinion is that you need a very wide curtain pole so that the curtains can be pulled out of the way of the windows for opening, and then you have to pull the curtain around the open windows. Messy. I suppose you could have nets in the form of blinds (a la roman blinds) that are attached to the wall above the window and which could be drawn down once the windows were open, but I'm not sure how much space there is above my windows.

I have seen a retractible type that sits in between the window and the shutters, but I suspect those may be quite expensive. In any case, I don't know what you would call those in ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ. I think that would be the neatest arrangment, though. Does anyone know where to go for these, and if they are capable of being bought off the shelf and self installed?

Any ideas?

we changed all our windows...they were wooden....had shutters on the inside and no outside shutters...a few heath robinson type insect screens...we had around 15 windows changed... to aluminium which included four balcony double doors.... and all the rest of the windows are quite large... aprox cost e12,000 fitted...

the small company that makes them brings in aluminium frames which are fitted into the old window openings..... once these have been cemented in and the replastering work done they come and fit the rest of the window....the insect screen is a roller blind type which fits between the window and the shutter.....and then shutters which open outwards..... two of the windows because they are high on the building and low to the floor we also had railings fitted to about half way as a safety measure....

the first winter here was freezing...inside.... the summer full of various bugs or hot steamy nights.... since new windows.... they are double glazed...not the widest gaped ones but the ones just below that..... summers are cool inside...winters warmer and no insects.....at night....

we took a week to take out the old windows,to put all the windows in and replaster.... make sure you pick a nice time of year because you will have gaping holes for a few days...

we used a small company recomended by our builder...they are dotted all over the place these small manufactures.... all the windows and frames had to be made .... not one the same measurement..... and everything happened on schedule...... from the day we accepted the quote to having a sealed house...around six weeks.... five of them were making the windows....

wooden windows or shutters are always more expensive.... the color schemes now have moved on from the old days of gold or gold....and they make quite good wood effect ones....we chose green ....we are not trying to hide our choice or fit in.... but i suggest if you think about hot summer suns and snowy winters it is not the most conducive environment for wood... i have seen some soft wood casements and shutters on sale..... if you or anybody take the wood option i think you should make sure the best hard wood available is used for at least the shutters...they wont last otherwise.....

which in all honesty must also bring you to the question...can you afford authenticity.... and more to the point...should you have trees cut down so you can when there is a more environmentley friendly way to do it...... i am not sure if they label the wood here as being replaced when felled... but i wouldnt believe it anyway....

OK - no website but address is C.da S martino, 29/A, Tolentino (MC)
Tel & Fax 0733 968764-974296

They have an enormous white industrial building on the outskirts of Tolentino - hard to give directions but it appears to be close to the Tolentino Ovest exit off the superstrada

Their product is all machine made and therefore not entirely rustic looking - but that seems almost impossible to find anyway. Franco - the boss - seemed genuinely interested in the fact that our building was old, and he did say that they could reporduce the old look of some of our reclaimed doors.

He does a lot of work for the Brits - I saw several projects in the factory with English names attached to them.

Our windows will open inwards and will have small internal "scuri" fixed to the frames. No external shutters - not to my taste and also a lot more expensive. However some people say they are a good idea since they protect the windows from the weather.

The mozzy screens are integral to the windows and can be pulled down just like a blind. Some people keep them down all the year round as a partial protection from the weather.

I've just been notified by my friend in Italy that the 11 page "preventivo" has arrived - 2 days after the measuring. I know its going to be horrendous (24 windows in all), but can only hope for the best!

Will - must admit hadn't thought it right through - but of course in the summer you want your windows open at night which means you've no method of keeping the rooms dark. Oh well - any renters will just have to get up early and enjoy the sunrise!