Building Window Shutters Step by Step

Types and Styles of Shutters

Anyone can make shutters that will prevent windows from breaking during inclement weather, or those that add a decorative touch to a home. If you are building closing shutters, you probably won't want an open weave, but with the decorative shutters you have many styles to choose from. You will want to make sure that the style of shutters you choose matches the style of your home.

Materials for Building Your Shutters

Your next step would be to gather the materials you need. You will need a saw, wood, sandpapers and hinge kits. You may need a router if you want to make rounded edges to your shutters. You will also need a measuring tape and a drill. If you decided to paint your shutters you will need paint and paint brushes. If you are going to stain and seal them you will need stain, wood sealer, rags and brushes. You may need some wood glue and putty depending on your style.

Building the Shutters

You first need to know the measurements for your shutters. They are commonly slightly longer than the length of the window. For protective shutters they need to be one half the width of the window. You can use a sheet of wood cut to the measurements or you can use strips and nail them together with cross bars. To use 1x4 strips, figure out how many you need and cut them to length. If 1x4s don't work into your measurements, you can buy 1x3s or another size that works out. Lay them all down on a hard surface and nail 2x4s across the shutter; you may need one at the top and one at the bottom, or, if it's a very large shutter, you may need one in the middle also. That side will be the side that is normally up against the house.

Sand the wood to give you a nice smooth surface. Now you can stain and seal the wood or paint it. When that dries, attach your hinges to the edge of the shutter and outside the trim of the window. Make sure you screw the hinges into a stud. Attach a latch or surface mount dead bolt on the backside of the shutter so when there is a storm you can latch them shut over the window. This way the latches won't show while you have the shutters open.