Around the House: Creating the Right Landscaping

Posted on: 16 June 2015

Replacing shutters can be expensive and hiring someone to repaint them for you will cost more than doing it yourself. You can cheaply and fairly quickly refresh your space by repainting your shutters yourself. Keep the following tips in mind when planning and completing your project.     

Removal

Though you can paint shutters while they're still attached to your house, it's best to remove them so you can properly clean, sand, and paint them. If you decide to leave them attached to your house, be sure to properly mask off the adjoining wall and window.

Cleaning Shutters

Supplies:

• Bucket
• Dish soap
• Warm Water
• Three chamois or towels
• Old Toothbrush

Mix about 1 teaspoon of dish soap to 1 quart of water, and clean the shutters with a soft cloth soaked in the soapy solution. Use a toothbrush to scrub any grooves where dirt may be trapped. Dampen a second cloth with clean water to rinse away the soapy residue.  Wipe dry with the third cloth. Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) to remove any remaining grime.

Sanding

Supplies:

• Fine grit sandpaper
• Chamois or soft towel
• Breathing Protection

While wearing breathing protection, use fine grit sandpaper to sand any rough spots. Sand with the grain and not against it. Wipe away dust with a damp cloth. Remember to wear breathing protection while sanding.

Choosing Paint

Before you begin, be sure you choose the right primer and paint for the job. You can use acrylic paint for vinyl and plastic shutters or specially designed paint for those materials. Latex paint is ideal for wood shutters. Don't forget to select the appropriate primer as well.

Brush vs. Sprayer

It's nearly impossible to get a clean finish with a brush. Brushes will leave visible brush and stroke marks. Sprayers provide an even and consistent finish. Plan to spray paint your shutters with an air sprayer or cans of spray paint. Keep in mind that spray paint in cans can be more expensive than renting an air sprayer. Additionally, the spray from cans is inconsistent as the paint runs low in a can.

Painting

• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• Use sawhorses to hold your shutters. If you don't have sawhorses, use a sturdy table lined with newspaper.
• Always wear your breathing device.

When using a sprayer, squeeze the trigger a few inches before you reach the shutter and sweep across the shutter, releasing the trigger a few inches after the shutter. This is considered one stroke. Continue to spray in a sweeping motion, one stroke at a time. Overlap each stroke by about 25% to ensure an even and consistent application. Avoid drips and even out apply 2 coats for a professional look.

Once you're done, allow your shutters to dry before rehanging them. With just a bit of elbow grease, you can refresh your space in no time by painting your shutters yourself.