Painting the Shutters on Your Home
Painting the Shutters on Your Home
The shutters that are attached to the exterior of your home provide for a distinctive curb appeal, unlike anything else on the outside of your home. Whether you have decorative shutters or hurricane shutters, taking care of them is an important function of any homeowner. Of course, if you have hurricane shutters, it is important to ensure that they are functioning properly, should you need to close, and latch, them at some point. It is also important, for the appearance of your home, that your shutters are attached to the exterior walls of your home properly, and that they are painted every few years, or so. If you are considering a paint project for the shutters on your home, then below you will find some ideas that should be considered first.
If your shutters are made of plastic or vinyl, then it would be wise to use an acrylic, latex paint that is meant for exterior surfaces and is of high-quality. If better adhesion of the paint is a concern, then priming the shutters with a latex primer before painting with an acrylic, latex paint is the best option. Ensure that plenty of time is allowed between priming and painting coats for complete drying to occur, of each layer.
It is also important for you to ensure that the shutters are completely clean and free of dirt and grime, before beginning the painting process. This can be done by hosing off the shutters with water and allowing them to dry, or wiping them by hand with an effective, and safe, cleanser. You will also need to decide if the shutters should be removed from the exterior of the home, or if you can use painters’ tape to cover surrounding areas that may be affected, if you plan to leave the shutters attached to the home.
Lastly comes the most fun part, and that is deciding which paint color to use, as you repaint the shutters. You will be able to find a plethora of shutter paint ideas in home décor magazines, online, on home décor television shows, and at your local paint store, too.