How to Repaint Exterior Shutters

Remove shutters from the house before repainting.

Exterior shutters create a framework for windows. The shutters come in varying sizes and colors to accommodate the windows they adorn. Over the years the paint on the shutters fades from the sun's rays and rain battering against the shutters. Allowing the faded shutters to remain makes a house appear older. Repainting exterior shutters restores their color and helps to brighten the outside of the house.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips or flat-head screwdriver
• Bucket
• Acid-based detergent
• Rags
• Garden hose
• Old towels
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Lint-free cloth
• Latex primer
• Medium-width paint brush
• Small paint brush
• Exterior latex paint

Instructions

1. Unscrew the shutters with either a Phillips or a flat-head screwdriver. Lay the screws in a safe area to keep from losing them. Remove all the exterior shutters from the house.

2. Fill a bucket with warm water and 2 teaspoons of an acid-based detergent. Wash the shutters with the soapy water and a rag. Rinse the shutters with a garden hose or buckets of water, and dry them with old towels.

3. Sand the shutters lightly with a 120-grit sandpaper. Wipe any residue from the shutters with a lint-free cloth.

4. Lay old sheets on a concrete patio or on the ground. Place newspapers on top of the sheets. Lay a shutter on the newspaper. Apply one coat of latex primer with a medium-width paint brush. Allow the primer to dry for two hours.

5. Paint the shutters with an exterior latex paint using the same paint brush. Use a smaller brush to paint into any small crevices in the shutters. Allow the paint to dry for two to three hours before placing back on the house.

6. Position the shutters on the house. Screw into place with the screwdriver.

References

• 1 to 1 House: Exterior Window Shutters