By Romano's Shutters ·
Why Southwest Florida is hard on shutters
Salt air, humidity, sand and summer storms all work on shutters year round, whether they get used or not. In Cape Coral and along the canals, salt and grit build up in tracks and on moving parts, and that is what makes shutters stiff, noisy or stuck over time.
Rinse and clean them
- Rinse shutters, tracks and housings with fresh water from a garden hose to wash off salt and dirt.
- For built-up grime, use mild soap and a soft brush, then rinse well.
- Skip the pressure washer. High pressure can force water and debris into housings and motors.
- Clear sand, leaves and dead bugs out of the tracks and the bottom channels.
Lubricate the moving parts
Once tracks are clean and dry, a light coat of silicone spray on the tracks and moving parts keeps them sliding smoothly. Avoid heavy grease and oily sprays, which hold on to sand and dirt and can make things worse.
Run every shutter once
- Roll-down shutters: run each one fully down and back up. It should move evenly without grinding, catching or stopping partway.
- Motorized shutters: run each one from its switch or remote, and replace remote batteries if the range has dropped.
- Accordion shutters: slide each one fully closed and open, and check that the lock engages and the shutter stacks neatly when open.
- Bahama and colonial shutters: check hinges, arms and fasteners for rust or looseness.
Signs it is time for a repair
- A shutter that sticks, drags or needs a push to move
- Grinding or scraping in the track
- Bent, cracked or missing slats or blades
- A motor that hums but does not move the shutter
- A lock that will not engage, or a missing key or handle
- Rust, loose fasteners or a housing pulling away from the wall
Fix it now, not when a storm is coming
The worst time to find a problem is when a storm is a few days out and every shutter company in Southwest Florida is busy. The off-season is the easiest time to get repairs scheduled.
Romano's Shutters is a family-owned company in Cape Coral. We repair and maintain all makes and models of roll-down, accordion, motorized, Bahama and colonial shutters, including systems another company installed.