How to Refinish Shutters

Just like the rest of the house, window shutters are exposed to sunlight and other elements which can cause them to fade, peel or crack. Shutters come in all kinds of styles and materials and are either decorative or functional. All these factors have to be taken into consideration before refinishing a shutter. Use the steps below to remove them from windows and refinish.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Claw hammer
• Screwdrivers
• Prying tools
• Stiff bristle brush
• Cleaners and mold retardants
• Sandpaper, steel wool or sanding sponge
• Chemical stripper
• Rubber gloves
• Particle mask
• Paint sprayer
• Screw in hook and eye
• Paints, primers and lacquers
• Airless paint sprayer or use canned spray paint

1. Remove shutters from windows. If they are hinged, use a pencil to number the top edge so you can put them back where they came from or you will wind up with mismatched hardware.
2. Take all knobs and hinges off the window shutters and place in small containers to save for reattachment, or plan to replace the hardware if there is need.
3. Wash all shutters to remove grime and mildew. Use a stiff bristle brush and a mixture of detergent with a small amount of bleach or trisodium phosphate (TSP) to retard mold. Dry thoroughly.
4. Sand or otherwise remove any flaking paint or use a liquid sander to roughen the surface, or you can completely strip the shutter for a more excellent refinishing job. Use a chemical stripper or take them to a furniture restoration shop to have the finish stripped if you don't have time to spend sanding and stripping them yourself.
5. Install a hook on the top edge of the shutter and hang it up to apply paint or stain, or lay it flat on a protected surface and allow shutter to dry before turning to paint the other side.
6. Apply a good primer first, using a sprayer for best coverage and ease of use. Use a water based primer if you are planning on using an acrylic or latex paint and an oil based primer if using enamel paint. Apply two coats of your final color, then top with a clear ultra-violet protective lacquer, allowing recommended time between coats.
7. Let the shutter hang to dry at least 2 days or more so the paint will be fully cured, then replace them on the windows.

Tips & Warnings

• Use exterior latex paint only on vinyl shutters, since it will shrink and stretch with the shutter. Oil based paints are best for metal shutters. Either paint can be used on wood.
• Ambient temperatures should be between 60 degrees and 90 degrees F for optimum painting conditions.
• Use a primer that closely matches your finish color for less bleed-through.
• Shutters can be painted with a brush, but spray paint covers better with fewer runs and causes less interference with moving parts such as louvers and tilt rods. If your window shutters have moving parts, move them frequently during the painting process to avoid clogging them with paint.
• Work in a well-ventilated area and wear rubber gloves and a particle mask when using bleach products, chemical strippers and spray paint. Take care not to get the stripper on anything you don't want stripped, and dispose of residue properly.

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