How to Replace the Louvers on Interior Vinyl Shutters

Louvered vinyl shutter assemblies might appear complicated, but replacing the louvers is a DIY job. You do not need to break or cut the old louvers to eliminate them, and louver providers provide almost all you need in a small repair kit. Purchasing the correct replacement kit is critical, as most suppliers service a variety of shutter makers. The maker of the shutters also may provide the necessary kit. Measure the length of the louver, and choose the correct depth and profile contour to coordinate with your shutters before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.

Cut the left and right sides of the staple that’s fastened to the front edge of their damaged louver using wire cutters. This staple hooks via a metal loop on the back side of the vertical tilt rod, which closes and opens the louvers. Don’t cut the steel loop on the back side of the tilt rod.

Catch the cut staple using needle-nose pliers and pull on the metal pieces from the louver.

Slip the blade of a utility knife into the seam between one end of the louver and the frame of the shutter; it doesn’t matter that end.

Cut straight down, slicing through the plastic pin that holds the louver from the shutter framework. If the plastic is too difficult to cut, tap the top of the utility knife with a small hammer to push it through the plastic pin.

Pull the louver from the shutter frame.

Pull the remains of the plastic pin you cut using pliers, or nudge it from the shutter frame with the edge of the utility knife. This step might take a few tries, as there may not be a raised edge on the pin that is easy to grab. If the pin at the opposite side of the framework stayed after removing the louver, pull it out as well.

Place the good plastic louver pin at the hole on one end of the replacing louver, unless the pin already is inserted. The opposite end of the louver requires another sort of pin that contracts.

Hold the louver horizontally. Turn it, if needed, to situate the two, predrilled staple holes on the edge of the louver that faces you. This is the way the louver must be set up from the shutter.

Push the spring-loaded or contracting plastic louver pin into the right hole on the right or left side of the shutter framework. If the inactive pin is put into the ideal end of the replacing louver, push the contracting thrust into the hole on the left side of the shutter frame.

Set the louver into position in the frame, pushing the stationary pin at the end of the louver into the hole on the shutter framework.

Push back the contracting pin with your finger or the tip of the utility knife. Slide the end of the louver into position and adjust it up and down as needed until the pin fits to the hole in the end of the louver.

Hook the replacing staple through the metal loop on the back side of the shutter tilt rod.

Push the ends of the fundamentals into the predrilled holes on the front edge of the louver. Catch the staple with pliers and then push it into the louver, if needed, until it’s seated in the vinyl and holds.

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