Jalousie Window hardware replacement

Hello, Well here I am after a lifetime and found out those doors and windows were called Jalousie. All my life I described them as "louvered glass windows". Live and learn thanks to the internet.

I wanted to give another fix for people that the rivets have broken. We have a "Jalousie Window" that was shortened and reinstalled into a door WAY back in the 1980's by a handyman. I don't really want to use "handyman" as a professional term for him since much of the work was well, odd.

He took one of our old Jalousie Windows from a rotten door shortened it and made it fit into a new door. All of the rivets on one side were broken by this 'procedure". He then drilled out and put screws into these holes. This worked. It has worked since the 80's. The thing I do not like is he has maybe 5 different screws for 12 rivets he replaced! Some were sheet metal screws and others were 5/16" head bolts.

Therefore I suggest if someone needs to replace the rivet, drill it out, use a 3/8 to 1/2 inch long Stainless or Chromed screw to do the trick. Mine are 5/16" Stainless hex-head w/slot (a straight blade screwdriver slot) screws. At least a few are. It appears a 1/4 or a 5/16" head screw works. This would be a 12-24, 12-28 or 1/4-20 threads depending on the drill size you used to drill out the old rivet. You can find "self tapping" screws and the soft aluminum should accommodate this nicely.

One day I will replace all the oddball screws with exact looking 5/16 hex-head w/slot screws. Tighten them, then back off 1/8 turn to allow movement.

If you use a nice looking headed screw, and keep them consistent (how hard can that be?) then they will look and function properly.

Hope this helps someone.