Are my plantation shutters defective?

cbboyz · Sep 27, 2013 10:07 am

Hi,

I had some shutters installed recently and Ive notice that quite a few blades don't close fully. At night when standing outside I can see a lot of light coming out of the room through quite a few blades and gives the window a very inconsistent look and the same goes for during the day when standing inside the room looking at the shutters. Ive spoken to the store about this and they stated that's normal but would like someone else's feedback. Please see photos below, I hope they are clear enough to understand what I mean.

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robbie55 · Sep 27, 2013 11:33 am

Mine had a similar issue but didnt have the "stick" down the middle. I was able to get over the worst of it by running my hand along each of the blades but there was still a little light that could come through. Maybe have a look to see if the stick (sorry cant think of what it would really be called) is not stopping them from closing properly - from the photos there are appear to be some worse than others, you at least want them all to be like the one on the right of the first photo.

PS the photos are turning up on tapatalk but not on my PC not sure why.

cbboyz · Sep 27, 2013 11:41 am

Hi Robbie55,

The rod in the middle is pushed down to the max when closing the shutters. If I run my hand over the blades that are still slightly open they go in under pressure but as soon as I take my hand of them they open back up again. From looking at the structure of the shutters:

Blades are connected to the rod via pins. When you move the rod up or down the blades move. I suspect some of the pins are not evenly spaced out which means when the shutters are in the closed position the pins that aren't evenly spaced on the rod are preventing the blades from closing properly...

robbie55 · Sep 27, 2013 11:57 am

I think you're right and suspected this might the case. When I was shopping for plantation shutters I ruled out the places that used the rod down the centre because (a) I don't particularly like them and (b) most would hit the rebated stops at the top or bottom before all the blades were fully closed. Also the pins (or staples) didn't look very hard wearing, I guess some might come loose in time. I wish I had a photo but the ones in my place had small white metal plates at the end of each blade so you just had to move one blade the rest would follow - there was a bit of slack in the mechanism though hence I had to run my hand along each blade to get it fully closed but I was for the most part happy with them.

At the very least I would be contacting your supplier and saying you are not happy with them. The first panel on the right is probably the best its going to get but they should all be reasonably uniform.

I don't think you'll ever get a plantation shutter to cut all of the light but having such a difference in each panel I wouldn't consider to be a quality finish. In saying that though it would only really be a concern for me in the bedrooms.

Edit: it doesn't show the mechanism but photo of shutters without the rod in my old house is here viewtopic.php?f=16&t=67352

2nd edit: sorry point a above probably a bit harsh. Your shutters are nice, I should've said I preferred the ones without the rod.

cbboyz · Sep 27, 2013 12:06 pm

Thanks for your response. I only have the shutters in the bedroom which is why it irritates me so much. I contacted the supplier about this and all they can say is that's the way it is and there is no way you can get a better finish, which is what has led me to post on here for other peoples feedback.

Basically they wont do anything about it and not sure if the shutters would be classed as defective if I end up taking this to VCAT to enforce my consumer rights under the ACCC. If this is the standard finish for plantation shutters then I guess im stuck with them, but if not then I don't think I should have to settle for these.

robbie55 · Sep 27, 2013 12:18 pm

Might be worth a call at least to VCAT, from memory there is something about items having to be fit for their intended use. If it's not blocking the light they said it would or not giving you privacy it might fit into this category.

Maybe also visit their showroom again or ask to see any sample they would have shown you and see if the quality is comparable.

I don't think they are too bad so not sure how far you'll get but can completely understand and agree that it's not a level of finish you would have expected particularly for a bedroom.

cbboyz · Sep 27, 2013 1:09 pm

Its not so much a privacy issue, its more an aesthetics issue. AT night from outside it has a very sloppy appearance, no uniformity and the same from inside during the day. Maybe I have OCD.

rellie · Sep 27, 2013 6:38 pm

If you close them the other way not as much light will get through ! That may help ?

cbboyz · Sep 27, 2013 9:16 pm

Unfortunately they only close one way

maximus · Sep 27, 2013 10:10 pm

Can anyone point me to other suppliers of blockout plantation shutters that are as good, if not better than the ones shown in the video on this site:

http://creativeblinds.com.au/all/creative-blinds-awnings-blockout-plantation-shutters/

One section open
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Completely closed
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robbie55 · Sep 29, 2013 8:07 am

I don't think it is a particular brand that will do it. It comes down to the mechanism they use and the amount of overlap of the blades.

As mentioned above I think the rod system can limit the movement of the blade. You want a system that allows the blades to touch and close completely.

Secondly, although the blade width is fixed (we chose 90mm) your window heights will vary and this will be accounted for in the amount of overlap in the blades. Even where the blades touch there is still a little light that seeps through, I think you want to aim for about 20mm overlap, maybe discuss what sort of overlap there will be when you order them.

wombie · Oct 05, 2013 9:15 pm

WOW that doesn't look good at all and I feel for you as you go ahead and outlay good money and that's the quality of finish you get

My wife is obsessed with this type of shutter because she saw them fitted to a mate's house but I didn't even think to close a bedroom door and close the shutters just to see just how affective they really are in natural light!

I'm going to have to investigate a bit further before I commit....