A little bit here and a little bit there...

[Steve Maskery]

I've just installed another pair of internal shutters, like I did for my Gentleman's Residence sitting room. They are in the other half of my downstairs area, but instead of being raised-panel and ogee moulding, these are plain Shaker-style.

Before I painted them I very carefully fitted them into the frame, using plastic shims to make sure that they were all nice and even, 2mm gap all round. I expected to lose some of that gap with all the layers of paint that would go on, but 2mm seemed right to me.

Now, having installed them in situ, I have a 6mm gap down the middle. I could drive a bus through it.

The only way it could have happened is through shrinkage, I think. There are 4 panels, each with two stiles. Each stile has to shrink by only 0.5mm, which is a just a little more than 1%, to make a 4mm difference, which can only show up down the centre.

I'm not a happy bunny. At least it's even.

 

[custard]

That's a heck of a shame. I'm sure you've reviewed the obvious options, packing them out from the wall, running a cover moulding piece down the centre?

Is there a radiator under the window?

 

[Steve Maskery]

I can't pack them out, custard, they are in a frame and the gap there is right. There is no adjustment on the hinges either, they are cheap and nasty tin-plate jobbies, but they look alright once in place.

There is indeed a radiator under the window, so the situation might get even worse.

I think I shall live with it for a bit and see what happens. I have though of the strip-down-the-middle trick, it would work, wouldn't be very Shaker, but needs must when the devil drives and all that. Or I might simple make a new frame 4mm narrower. It's only a rebated rectangle 5'x4', so not difficult to do, it's just so annoying after I'd gone to so much care to get it all right.

 

[RobinBHM]

Its so frustrating when that happens.

If you keep the heating off for the next 2 months itll be perfect

 

[SteveF]

could you pack inside the frame instead

Steve

 

[Steve Maskery]

Now there is a good idea. I could add a 2mm strip to each jamb (is that the right term for such a frame?) and refit the hinges. There would be some holes to make good, but it would probably look OK. I'll see what happens first, but that is something I'd not though about. Thank you!

Edit - In fact I wouldn't really need to do both sides, I could add 4mm to one side. It wouldn't be noticeable. When the shutters are open it would be covered any way and when they are closed there will be curtains drawn over them. Yes, that would work.

 

[Stanleymonkey]

If it's for the Gentlemen's room - site the pole dancer's pole directly between your chair and the centre of the shutters.

Should cover the gap completely!

 

[Stanleymonkey]

If it's for the Gentlemen's room - site the pole dancer's pole directly between your chair and the centre of the shutters.

Should cover the gap completely!

 

[Steve Maskery]

It's not that sort of Gentleman's Room!
No bloody women in this house, it's a Gentleman's Residence
And no, I didn't type pipper or pineapple or whatever it will get translated into.
Edit - Oo-er, it got through.

 

[TFrench]

Thats because bloody injuries are so common on here they couldn't add it to the swear filter! :lol: