Not sure how to fix a shutter tilt bar? In most cases, it’s really not that difficult to do, even for the most inexperienced do-it-yourselfer. Beautiful shutters can add value to your home, so you will want to keep them well maintained and in good repair. Read on to find out some simple fixes. If your problem is more complicated, call the shutter experts at Graham’s & Son. We can help you with any shutter repair. If you are thinking of replacing or installing new shutters, we’d love to come to your home for a free consultation to show you how amazing new window treatments could look in your rooms. To find out more about how much it would cost to install new shutters in your home, check out our post “California Shutters Cost – They Are Worth The Investment.”

“We recently had California shutters installed in our bow window in the living room and a roller blind in our dining room. In both instances, Matthew was wonderful with suggestions and ideas. The installations were great and the results outstanding. We can’t say enough about the staff at Graham’s and Son Interiors and the final result was beyond expectations. We look forward to working with them again in the spring for flooring. Thank you!”
-Susan Ashley
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What Is a Tilt Bar?

A tilt bar connects the shutter louvres together. By lifting up or down on the tilt bar you can open or close your louvres. The tilt bar coordinates the movement of your louvres so that they open and close the same amount at the same time. The following video demonstrates how a tilt bar works.

How Tilt Bars Get Broken

A tilt bar is meant to be lifted up and down to open and close your shutter louvres. If it is continually used as a handle to pull open your shutters, the tilt bar may loosen and detach from the louvres. Many manufacturers use staples to attach the tilt bars to the louvres. These staples can work their way loose and fall out.

How to Fix a Shutter Tilt Bar

Staple Shutters: Repair Solution #1

Time Required: Less than half an hour, not including purchasing your replacement staples.

• Step 1: If you can’t find the staple that has come loose, you will need to purchase a half inch crown, narrow staple. These types of staples are common in cabinet making shops and many large hardware stores will sell them.
• Step 2: Move the tilt bar to the side,
• Step 3: Apply a small amount of white glue, such as Elmer’s glue, to the ends of the staple. The glue will help keep the staple in place and fill up the hole if it has stretched out a bit.
• Step 4: Insert one end of the staple into the tilt bar and the other end into the louvre.

The following video will show you each step of this process.

Staple Shutters: Repair Solution #2

Time Required: Less than half an hour, not including purchasing your eyelets.

If you cannot find the staple or if you are having trouble attaching it using the first method shown, here is an alternative that you may find easier.

• Step 1: Purchase a small eyelet from your local hardware store.
• Step 2: Using a pair of pliers, open up the hook part of the eyelet to make the opening larger.
• Step 3: Screw the eyelet into the tilt bar at about a 45 degree angle, into the lower hole where the staple had been previously inserted.
• Step 4: Twist the eyelet snugly all the way into the hole.
• Step 5: Hook the eyelet into the existing staple on the louvre.
• Step 6: Using your pliers once again, gently squeeze the eyelet closed to prevent it from coming apart again.

The following video will demonstrate this process for you.

Shutters With Hidden Tilt Bars: For Fewer Breakages

Some manufacturers design their shutters with concealed or built-in tilt bars. These clever designs make the shutter more aesthetically pleasing and less susceptible to breakage. They also give you an unobstructed view by taking away the need for a tilt bar running down the centre of your shutter.

Concealed Rear Tilt Bars

Hunter Douglas offers a rear tilt bar that is discreetly integrated into the back of the shutter, giving it a more sleek and contemporary look. They call this the Truview Rear Tilt. To open and close your louvres, simply tilt one louvre to the position that you want and all of the other louvres will move accordingly. The following video demonstrates how easily this design works.

Concealed  Side Tilt Bars

Maxxmar shutters feature the Maxx Gear System, which is a revolutionary internal gear system which means that the mechanisms used to open and close the shutters are cleverly concealed inside the louvres, stiles, and tilt bars for an elegant, attractive, and clear view. The tilt bars are discreetly located along the sides of the shutters. Combined with this concealed system, Maxxmar also uses their own exclusive Enduralink connectors to attach the louvres to the tilt bar. No staples are required. These Enduralink connectors are so strong that they allow the louvres to close tightly in both directions, effectively eliminating callbacks due to breakage.

What If I Can’t Fix My Shutters Myself?

If you are having a problem with your shutters that you can’t fix yourself and your shutter is under warranty, contact the original supplier. If you are not the original owner or if you don’t know who the supplier was, contact Graham’s & Son. We are your local shutter experts and we can help you with any repair or question you may have about any of your window treatments.

Graham’s & Son: Your Shutter Experts

If you would like to replace your old window treatments with new ones, contact the professionals at Graham’s & Son. Graham’s & Son has been selling and installing blinds, shades, and shutters in Cambridge for more than 40 years. We are locally owned and operated and we can provide you with gorgeous and practical window treatments for any room in your home. We will give you expert advice, quality, custom-made products, and top notch customer service. Our customers have been so pleased with the high standard of our work that they selected us for the “Best Business Service – Interior Decorating: Platinum” and “Best Shopping – Kitchen Renovations: Gold” awards in the 2017 Cambridge Times Readers’ Choice Competition. Book a free in-home consultation today and find out for yourself why Graham’s is the best in the interior design business.