A Guide to Shutters Repair

October 26, 2017

Wooden shutters are one of the best investments you can ever make in your windows. They look great, are highly durable, and add value to your home. Made from a range of woods, including basswood, white teak, and premium off-cut timber, our wooden shutters are built to last. They’re fitted and installed by professionals, ensuring minimal problems in the future.

But problems do arise, and when they do, you need to know how to fix them. Shutter repair can be daunting, raising lots of questions: Can I do it myself? Will I have to call in professionals? How long will it take? What’s a tension screw? We simplify shutters repair in this guide, addressing solutions to some of the most common shutter problems.

Shutters Repair Problem – A Broken Louvre

No matter how strong and sturdy your wooden louvres are, there is always the chance that one might break. Broken louvres can be caused by any number of things: rowdy dogs, a badly aimed cricket ball, or years of rough handling. A broken louvre is unsightly, and reduces the privacy and insulation shutters provide.

Solution

Broken louvres are best replaced by professionals. We can measure the louvre and install a new one easily, without removing the entire set of shutters.

Problem – A Dislodged Louvre

Even when properly installed, louvres can eventually slip out of place. Not only is this aesthetically unattractive, but it also reduces light and protection against the elements.

Solution

You can do this shutter repair yourself. Louvres are held in place by louvre pins – small spring-loaded plastic parts. If the louvre pin is still intact and in place, you can use a flathead screwdriver to hold down the pin while you reinsert the louvre. If the louvre pin is missing, you’ll need to get replacements and reinstall the louvre. This can be tricky, so you might prefer to call professionals to do this shutter reàir job.

Problem – Louvres Won’t Stay Open

While this isn’t an issue if you have solid shutters, any shutters with louvres can have a problem staying open. This is usually due to louvre tension. With the weight of the shutter’s tilt rod and the force of gravity, louvres want to tilt downwards and close. Tension screws are used to keep the louvres open, and can be adjusted if they keep closing.

Solution

This shutter repair job is an easy DIY fix – just use a screwdriver to tighten the tension screws. They are located on the outside of your shutter panels. Once tightened, the tension screws should keep the louvres open.

Problem – Wood Rot

Wood rot is a common problem caused by a fungus that decays the wood. This fungus thrives in damp environments, so wood rot tends to occur more commonly in bathroom or kitchen shutters. If not treated quickly, wood rot can spread throughout your entire set of shutters and become a very costly problem. But don’t despair – if dealt with quickly, you can save your shutters.

Solution

Repairing wood rot requires removal of the damaged wood. If the damage is limited to a small section of your shutter, you can fix it yourself. Use a screwdriver to chip away the rotten area. Mix some auto body filler according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Spread into the damaged area with a putty knife. Once the filler has dried, sand until smooth and repaint. You can also buy special treatments to help prevent a relapse of wood rot. If that all sounds like too much trouble, call us instead.

Problem – Broken Magnets

If you’ve heard your shutters rattling slightly in their frames, broken magnets might be to blame. To keep the shutter in place when closed, small magnets are mounted in the frame. As they are enclosed in plastic cases, they can break down over time, causing your shutter frame to sound loose.

Solution

You can order and install replacement magnets yourself. Using a screwdriver, simply unscrew the broken magnet and replace with a new one.