What is the best way to do shutter graphics – advice please?

[James Parry]

Hi mate,

I would go with a good quality polymeric vinyl printed as horizontal drops hiding the joins in between the shutters. Without seeing a photo of the shutter I couldn’t say for sure, but I would imagine fitting large drops and then trimming out the breaks would be the way to go. If there is any rivets be sure to either trim out or heat them in really well according to the vinyl specs. I wouldn’t want to spend the time setting up separate strips when you could easily just fit and trim.

Best of luck

[Martin Pearson]

John, roller shutters vary so much a couple of pictures would help. Biggest problem with any shutter though is getting them clean enough, dirt accumulates in the groves which are obviously the hardest part to clean properly. What are the council looking for in terms of lifespan for these, are the rollers bare galvanised steel or painted? All things you need to take into account with this sort of work, painted can be a nightmare because who ever painted it probably painted over all the crap in the grooves & as soon as the vinyl is fitted gets pulled off :lol1: :lol1: (Got that "T" shirt)

[John McNickle]

Thanks for replying James and Martin, yes im the same as both of you i would be doing it in horazontal panels and trimming in, we are skilled enough but i have said the exact same to the client as you said martin about the prep of the shutters, i said that if they just send a painter down to give them a lick of paint then its a waste of money exercise as our wour will pull off and bring the paint with it. so they have been told to get them properly tidied up ie powerwash and scrub, remove any rust or corrosion

here is an example of some of them, they arent in great shape

John

---

Attachments:

[Robert Lambie]

Are you a good runner John?
Because the best bit of advice i can give is to run as hard in the opposite direction you can from these shutters. 😕

no matter what vinyl you use, the surface has to be perfectly prepped or the vinyl is coming back off.
the only shutters i would think about applying vinyl to is the plastic coated modern ones.

quote John McNickle:

Would you use a premium polymeric or go cast, the inlay isn’t that deep when installed, remembering local councils always want to keep costs down

Even rubbing those shutters down is going to be very time consuming exercise, then priming and painting them. then vinyl on top? its not an easy job and the state of them says it all. every time you open and shut them they will rub against the vinyl and start taking the graphic off. when it starts coming away they will be on the blower asking you to repair it.

joking aside, i would advise them to have the shutters rubbed down and painted. if they want something on them then get a guy in to air brush or paint some generic shapes on them.

just keep in mind, they are curved, steel, cold metal shutters. vinyl wouldn’t want to adhere to them in the best of conditions, never mind like that. do not get me wrong, i know there are folk out there doing shutter wraps. there is one done a less than 100 yards from our unit. but the shutter was new and i’m guessing it has the plastic coating on them.

anyway, i know its a council job and the prospect of more jobs from it maybe on the cards. but i think you giving them blunt honest truth and maybe your best option mate.

[John McNickle]

Yes Rob i totally agree and ive told them the conditions of the job reflect the lifespan of the work, i think its because its the end of their financial year and they need to get money used up

[James Parry]

After seeing the photos I agree with Rob. I wouldn’t be able to find a barge pole long enough

[Gary Barker]

I agree with Rob, get some good footwear for the running 🙂 or get a sign writer if they still around to paint / sign write it

[John McNickle]

Yes after a bit of debate with them i walked away from it