Troubleshooting & Care

Most shutters have a small tension screw at the side of each panel, hidden at the louvre pivot. A quarter-turn clockwise stiffens the louvres so they hold position; anticlockwise loosens them. Adjust in small increments and test as you go. If one louvre sits out of line with its neighbours, gently ease it level by hand while supporting the louvres either side — they are designed to be adjusted this way.

Stiffness or looseness in the tilt rod usually traces back to the same panel tension screws — a small adjustment there changes how the whole linked run feels. Turn a quarter-turn at a time and re-test. If a tilt rod connector has come away from a louvre, it can usually be re-seated by hand; send us a photo if you're unsure what you're looking at and we'll point you to the right fix.

Panels are hung on adjustable hinges, and a small drop over time is normal as fixings settle. First check the hinge screws are snug (not overtightened). Many hinges also allow a small height adjustment — loosen, lift the panel square, and retighten. If the catch is at the bottom corner furthest from the hinges, a slight hinge-side adjustment usually cures it. Our Self-Fitment Guide covers hinge adjustment step by step.

Small movement gaps can appear as a building settles through the seasons, particularly after the first winter. A thin bead of decorator's caulk, smoothed with a wet finger and painted once dry, gives a clean permanent finish. If the gap is uneven or growing, check the frame fixings are still tight before filling.

A soft duster or the brush attachment on a vacuum handles regular dusting. For marks, a cloth wrung out in warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid, followed by a dry cloth, is all that's needed. Work along the louvres rather than across them, and avoid soaking any surface — damp, not wet, is the rule.

We'd advise against it. Solvent, bleach or abrasive cleaners can dull or mark painted and timber finishes, and aerosol polishes leave a residue that attracts dust. Mild soapy water on a well-wrung cloth does the job without risking the finish.

A quick once-over twice a year is plenty: confirm hinge and frame screws are snug, louvres hold their position, and panels close square. A minute of checking keeps everything operating as it did on day one — and if anything seems off, the Adjustments section above covers the common fixes.