While we will always be great advocates for window shutters here at Shuttertec – and the length of the guarantees we provide with our own shutters tells you everything about our confidence in their quality – even we won’t pretend that window shutters are invincible.

Whether you bought your window shutters from us or any other supplier, it’s perfectly possible that they may sustain damage at some point and require repair – even if it’s also true that shutters tend to have much lower maintenance requirements than some alternative window coverings.

You may be reading this after your child bumped into your shutters and caused damage that you can’t figure out, or you might have been clumsy in your own handling of the shutters. Whatever the exact situation, here are some tips on how to carry out vital repair work on your shutters.

The louvre itself has broken

The louvres – or slats – of wooden shutters are pretty strong, so this is hopefully unlikely to happen to you. But if it has happened, the best course of action is probably to contact a professional, who will be able to measure the louvre and install a new one in its place, without the need for the entire set of shutters to be taken out.

The louvre has become dislodged

It’s not unheard-of for even the most professionally installed slats to slip out of place. Given that the slats on shutters are held in place by pins, you should first check whether the louvre pin is still preserved and in place. If so, you can simply hold down the pin with a flathead screwdriver, while you reinsert the slat.

Alternatively, the louvre pin may be nowhere to be seen – in which case, you will have to obtain a replacement pin to enable the reinstallation of the louvre. Technically, this is a repair that an amateur could carry out themselves, but not everyone is confident doing it – so if you are in doubt, we would again suggest that you ask for professional help.

The shutters are affected by wood rot

Unfortunately, one of the few potential downsides of wooden shutters is that when they are installed in damp environments – such as kitchens or bathrooms – they can be prone to wood rot. It’s a type of deterioration caused by a fungus that eliminates wood.

It’s vital to act quickly if you see wood rot becoming apparent on your shutters – even just a small section – given the risk otherwise of it rapidly spreading. If you do see it early enough, you might be able to just chip off the rotten area with a screwdriver, followed by the application of auto body filler to the damaged area, and finally, repainting.

One good way to help avoid wood rot becoming a problem, is investing in the first place in waterproof window shutters, if the setting in which they are to be installed is one in which humidity and moisture are likely.

Our own waterproof shutters are made from a high-grade ABS plastic, so you really can count on them being 100% waterproof; yet, they still look just like traditional wooden shutters, so you won’t lose any of that old-timey ‘chic’ vibe. That sounds to us like a great solution for avoiding some hassle later!

Speaking of your shutters’ contact with water, it’s also a good idea to use a damp cloth and some washing-up liquid to wipe down the slats of your shutters from time to time. This will further help ensure they continue to look great and remain in impeccable condition.

Do you have any questions about how you can appropriately maintain and/or repair your own window shutters, or would you appreciate advice on the shutters you should buy that will minimise the likelihood of headaches later? If so, our team at Shuttertec would be very pleased to hear from you, and to provide help and guidance; just enquire to us via phone or email now.