Bushfire Shutters in the Blue Mountains — questions and answers
Short answers on bushfire shutters in the Blue Mountains: what CSIRO says about material and fit, what the NSW Rural Fire Service says about preparing a home, and when a NSW licence applies. Each line is the source's own, shown with the page and the date it was read.
Cost
How much does bushfire shutters cost in the Blue Mountains?
No price is given, because no government source read sets one. Over A$5,000 in labour and materials, including GST, the contractor needs a NSW contractor licence, and the checker lists each line with its source. Check which rules apply at your job's value.
Do I need a licensed contractor to fit shutters?
Yes, once the job is above A$5,000 in labour and materials, GST included. NSW lists no category for shutters, so ask which licence the quote is under.
A Blue Mountains home and bush fire
What you can see, and what the source says about it
Five things a quote from a provider should account for, each shown with the source's own words and the date they were read.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic flyscreens or plastic shutters on a window | CSIRO says to avoid plastic shutters and flyscreens, because they will melt during a bushfire and create an additional hazard.Avoid plastic shutters and flyscreens. These products will melt during a bushfire, creating an additional hazard. | CSIRO, Bushfire best practice guide: Windows and doors · read |
| An openable window with no metal mesh | CSIRO says openable windows should be protected with a metal mesh against ember attack and gives 2mm for the apertures in the mesh.Openable windows should be protected with a metal mesh to protect against ember attack (apertures in the mesh should be less than 2mm). | CSIRO, Bushfire best practice guide: Windows and doors · read |
| A gap around a door or window | The RFS lists fitting seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps among its basic maintenance tips.Fit seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps | NSW Rural Fire Service, Prepare your home · read |
| A shutter that has to be closed by hand | CSIRO says the shutter must be manually closed to be effective and suggests considering an automated system.As an active system, the shutter must be manually closed to be effective; consider using an automated system to close the shutter. | CSIRO, Bushfire best practice guide: Sprinklers and shutters · read |
| Leaves and twigs in the gutter | The RFS lists cleaning your gutters of leaves and twigs among its basic maintenance tips.Clean your gutters of leaves and twigs | NSW Rural Fire Service, Prepare your home · read |
Each row names its source and the date it was read. It is no assessment of any house, and it sets no price.
Process
What does CSIRO say about shutter material?
A shutter system should be tight fitting, with gaps under 2mm, to keep embers out, and it should be made from non-combustible material. Avoid plastic shutters and flyscreens. Such products melt in a bushfire and add a hazard of their own.
What does the RFS say about preparing a home?
A well prepared home is more likely to survive a bush fire. Even if your plan is to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will survive a bush fire or ember attack.
Timing
How quickly can someone get to me?
We cannot promise a time. It depends on the provider's bookings. Enquiries sent through the form go to a local provider, who contacts you directly.
Can a shutter be fitted at any time of year?
No source read for this site says. Ask the provider when the work can be done, since that is their call.
Permits and approvals
Does fitting shutters need approval?
No source read for this site says whether fitting shutters needs approval from Blue Mountains City Council. It depends on the property and the work, so ask the Council or a certifier before work starts.
Source: No source read; Blue Mountains City Council pages were not readable on 31 October 2026.
Service area
Which suburbs do you cover?
The Blue Mountains. Five pages are written around one row of the bush fire risk plan each: Katoomba, Blackheath, Leura, Hazelbrook and Faulconbridge. The rest are covered on the same terms.
Do you fit the shutters yourselves?
No. This site is run by a marketing company, which passes each enquiry to an independent licensed local provider. The provider measures, quotes and carries out any work itself; we hold no licence and do none of it.
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Last reviewed · Updated · First published