Advice installing Tradetested Louvre slats

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Junta

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#310964 3-Dec-2023 17:10

Hello GZers

Anyone put up a Tradetested Louvre gazebo? I've got the frame up but absolutely cannot get the louvres slats in, esp looking at the (frankly ridiculously small-print) installation guide. I just cannot get them in at all.

If anyone has any firsthand experience with t.hese, please let me know before I go absolutely batshit insane

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#3167701 3-Dec-2023 20:18

Have you seen the pdf of the instructions on their website,under the product in question?

Junta

270 posts

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#3167704 3-Dec-2023 20:38

Yes, and its page 17 that is a complete mystery to me. Need some input from someone who's actually done this to understand how this is done.

LOUVRE ROOF SYSTEM 3X3, 3X4 & 4X4 Manual（5.13）.CDR (tradetested.co.nz) for reference

Goosey

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#3167707 3-Dec-2023 21:31

My instinct is to make sure pages 5&6 were completed as intended.

goodluck…

Junta

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#3167708 3-Dec-2023 21:34

Thanks but yes, all other steps completed properly. It's really a technique question on how to get these bloody louvres installed the way the manual says...without going into obscure detail, I cannot get them pushed it as it says without potentially bending the fitments. So something is amiss ...

Goosey

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#3167721 4-Dec-2023 06:12

Yeh, I understand.

how much play do you have on the bolts on once side…can you loosen it, fit the blades and tighten back up?

Bung

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#3167724 4-Dec-2023 06:32

Junta: Hello GZers

Anyone put up a Tradetested Louvre gazebo? I've got the frame up but absolutely cannot get the louvres slats in, esp looking at the (frankly ridiculously small-print) installation guide. I just cannot get them in at all.

My experience is limited to listening to my neighbour putting one up. It seemed to go up quickly with no swearing involved.

Stating the obvious the PDF can be expanded as big as you need if you view it. If your slats are ok lengthwise it doesn’t look like clipping them in should be too hard.

Bung

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#3167858 4-Dec-2023 10:54

There could be some confusion, she said they got it made in Napier but I know they did get 1 from Trade Tested.

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Junta

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#3167917 4-Dec-2023 12:19

Awesome, thank you for taking a pic!

The highlighted areas are the ones I cannot get slotted in: I can do one side, but then trying to do the other side means there's no more 'give'/flex and I can't slot these in; the instructions say to "press down on the slat" but there's so little movement that, if I do this, it will bend.

Utterly mystified as to how to proceed

Bung

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#3167932 4-Dec-2023 12:49

Down in the case of the photo would be to the left. If the length of the slat is a problem could you loosen the fasteners holding the side and middle rails until you had the slats fitted?

Junta

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#3168000 4-Dec-2023 13:43

Yes correct, down = left in the photo; however when building it, the slat holders are facing upward so need to press down.

Yes, could loosen the bolts connecting the crossbars ... might try that later (when its not constantly raining!)

Thx :)

blackjack17

1705 posts

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#3168028 4-Dec-2023 15:40

I remember getting very frustrated with it trying to put it together by myself in the baking sun and giving up at that stage as I couldn't get it to click in.

Walked off and had a beer.

Came back and then it just worked.

I never bothered with the small plastic tabs, and it has been up a couple of years (ours was from container door but identical).

Have you tried beer? It might help.

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timbosan

2159 posts

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#3168031 4-Dec-2023 15:45

Whilst I haven't worked on the Louvre, I have just built a sleepout (cabin) from TradeTested, and I quickly came to realise the instructions are more of a 'guide'. There is missing information, there are parts listed that are not there, the pictures are often unclear, etc.

In the end I combined the manual with other resources to work out the problems and questions. I also found the quality of the materials to be average, which doesn't help (and may be one of the issues you are striking).

Junta

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#3168039 4-Dec-2023 16:19

Thanks for the input GZ. I am trying the beer option first.

(not yet; I'll be waiting for drier weather to try again tomorrow, haha!)

Junta

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#3170076 9-Dec-2023 16:02

Hi all, just an update - and thanks for all your suggestions, by the way - it turned out I didn't need to loosen anything: there's somewhat of a technique to fitting them. For those who ever read this in a fit of frustration, the technique I found worked was to first ensure the louvres are wound to 'open' (i.e upright), then slot in the outside edge fitments first, then line up the inside ones and push them in.

(that will make no sense to anyone who's not tried to do this in the past!)

blackjack17

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#3170109 9-Dec-2023 17:44

So the beer technique worked!

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