How to Repair an Accordion Shutter

Extend the accordion shutters over the window or door. Mix a few drops of dish detergent into a bucket of water. Use a sponge to clean each of the panels of the accordion shutters. As you wipe dust and debris from the shutters, take note of any damage you see, such as flaking paint. If the shutter is over a window or door that opens inward, you can clean the backside from the inside of your house.

If the accordion shutters don’t operate smoothly on their tracks, use a screwdriver to pry out any debris that has accumulated there. Take care not to bend the tracks as you clean them. Clean out any remaining debris with the sponge, then dry the tracks.

Spray the wheels that open the shutters on their tracks with silicone spray to lubricate them. Lubricate the shutter’s hinges as well. Open and close the shutters several times to spread the lubrication into all parts of the wheels and hinges. Lubrication also helps remove any rust that might develop on the moving metal parts. It also helps to keep the wheels from jamming on the tracks. Wipe off any spray from the surface of the shutters.

Check the screws that hold the shutters to the wall of the house as well as the screws that hold the panels in place on the track. Tighten any loose screws with a screwdriver. If the screws won’t tighten properly, replace the screws with slightly larger ones. Another option is to insert an appropriately-sized screw anchor into the hole before replacing the screw.

Remove any loose, flaking paint from the aluminum shutters with a wire brush. Wipe the entire surface of the panel with denatured alcohol applied with a soft rag. Apply exterior oil-based paint with a sprayer that lists methyl ethyl ketone, or MEK, as an ingredient. The MEK softens the powder coating typically used on accordion shutters and allows the new paint to adhere better. Allow time for the paint to dry. Apply a second coat of paint, if necessary.