How to Install Outdoor Plastic Shutters

Shutters add curb appeal to a house.

Installing plastic or vinyl shutters requires only a few basic carpentry skills. Shutters can really add to the curb appeal of your home, as well as adding value to your property. With a keen eye, steady hand and a few hours of your time, make your home the talk of the neighborhood.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Sawhorses
• Drill with drill bits
• Punch
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Hold the shutter up next to the window to determine its location. Make a few reference marks on the house siding with a pencil to guide you during the final installation step. There should be an equal overhang distance of the shutter at the top and bottom of the window and it should be as close to the window as possible.

2. Lay the shutter face up on a flat and level surface such as on sawhorses. Measure and mark two holes at the top of the shutter 1 1/4 inches down from the top and in the center of the shutter rail, using a tape measure and pencil. Repeat this process to mark two holes at the bottom measuring up from the bottom of the shutter 1 1/4 inches. For shutters larger than 55 inches. also mark two holes at the center cross shutter rail.

3. Drill pilot holes at all hole markings, using a drill and a 1/4-inch drill bit. Drill two holes at the top, two at the bottom and if needed, two at the center of the shutter.

4. Place the shutter up against the house siding, using the reference marks. Mark where the mounting holes will be on the siding, using a punch tool. Remove the shutter and drill a hole through the siding with a 1/4-inch drill bit. If the house has vinyl or aluminum siding, only drill through the siding, not through the wall. Drill 1 3/4 inches deep with a 1/8-inch drill bit if the house siding is wood.

5. Hold the shutter back up against the house, aligning the pilot holes of the shutter with the holes in the house siding. Attach the shutter with the screws provided, using a screwdriver. Screw in the center screws first if there are center holes. Do not overtighten the screws as this could cause the shutter to bow.

Tips & Warnings

• To install shutters to brick and masonry house siding, use a masonry drill bit and masonry anchors.

References

• Ready Shutters: Vinyl Exterior Shutters Installation
• Vinyl Shutters and More: Installation Instructions