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how to install pvc plantation shutters

Standard installation of a L or Z Frame

Inside Mount, 4 sides

Tools and Materials required
  • Cordless Drill
  •  Tape Measure / Laser Measurer
  •  Box Knife
  •  P2 Phillips screw tip, 100mm long
  •  #6 countersink drill bit
  •  Caulking Gun (L frame only)
 Before Beginning
Check the order form to ensure you have all the part required for the type of installation you are undertaking.

Process 1. Using the box knife, carefully open the wrapped parts, remove the panels and frames requested and from the parts box get the hardware required 

2. Stand the panels in the correct order, making sure they are the right way up, and all match up correctly.

3. The framing pieces will be assembled first, they will be marked Top, Bottom, Left and Right. Position all the frame on the floor, face up

4. The mitres are joined using Hoffman keys. Place the Hoffman key onto a hard surface (a piece of ply or timber kept specifically for the purpose is recommended, to prevent damage to the floor and to make sure the keys finishes flush with the back of the frame) with the rounded end of the key facing up. Push each half of the mitre onto the key, until the mitre joins neatly and flush. Repeat this for each corner

5. If the opening requires a T-Post, identify the top of the post and position loosely within. Place all the panels within the frame in their correct order, and insert the hinge pins

6. Square up the frame so that all hinge and clearance gaps are even, and adjust the position of the T-Post using the screws provided. Your frame should now be fully assembled.

7. Remove the hinge pins and panels from the frame. (For small openings, they can be left in if it can be handled easily.)

8. Place the frame into the window opening. Pre-drill a hole in the frame rebate behind the top left hinge and bottom right hinge. Line up the face of the frame with the front of the reveal, and drive screws into holes, but leave the screw heads out at this stage. This will temporarily hold your frame in the correct place in the window.

9. Place the left-hand panel into the opening, lining up the hinge sections in the left L/Z Frame, and then insert the hinge pins. Repeat for all other panels, working from the left to right across the opening.

10. Assess the panels for squareness to the frame and each other. If gaps are not even or the panels do not line up to each other at top and bottom, adjustments need to now be made.

11. The frame can be adjusted in four directions to square the panels to each other and the frame – left side up/down, right side up/down, top left/right and bottom left/right. It may be necessary to adjust in more than one direction to square the panels up in an out-of-square opening.

12. If up/down adjustments need to be made, undo the temporary screw until it no longer is attached to the reveal (but do not remove), and place a packer/spacer between the frame and the bottom 13 reveal, on the side you require movement. Insert another screw in the frame (in line with a different hinge on that side) to keep the frame at the new height. 

13. If the left/right adjustments need to be made, undo the temporary screw until it no longer is attached to the reveal (but do not remove), place a packer/spacer between the frame and the left or right reveal. Insert a screw into the frame, at the exact position of the packer.

14. Further minor adjustments may need to be made to ensure the squareness of the panels to the frame. Use methods in steps 12 and 13 to achieve this, until the panels are square to the frame, and the tops/bottoms of the adjacent panels line up. The hinge spacers provided can also be used to adjust gaps where necessary.

15. The remainder of the screws can now be inserted. As a general rule, a screw should be used wherever there is a hinge on the frame, and for the top and bottom frame a screw should be used wherever there is a sticker plate (or the closing side of any panel). Additional screws should be placed where necessary, but consideration should be given to the spacing between screws for appearance reasons.

16. When inserting the screws, if there is a gap between the frame and the reveal at that point, a packer will need to be inserted to ensure the screw doesn’t pull the frame out of square.

17. Re-check squareness of the frames and panels, and make sure panels operate freely.

18. Applies to L frame only. Apply caulking around outside of frame. Caulking should be the same or similar colour as the reveal, as it will make the window opening appear to be square. Where not possible, the caulking should be the same or similar colour to the L frame.

19. Fit (Fastcaps) self-adhesive stickers to all visible screws in same colour as frame. Test the function of the panels, and give a final clean. The installation of this opening is now complete.