How to Paint Shutters

Did you know that you can paint your shutters? It’s true! It’s an easy way to boost curb appeal, modernize your home, and add depth to your exterior and interior walls without breaking the bank. However, painting your shutters might seem like an easy job, but it’s very easy to get wrong. So here’s a guide on how to paint shutters. 

Should I Paint My Shutters?

If you want an affordable change, painting is the way to go. However, painting shutters can be hard to do and the color will face quickly. You will have to reapply the paint every few years to keep them looking good. 

If you’re looking for a long term solution, painting your shutters is not the way to go. Instead, looking into replacing them with ones that will last. Give us a call at Budget Blinds of Tempe for a free design consultation. Our specialists will find you the style and material you want that’s within your budget. 

How To Paint Shutters

Wood shutters are some of the hardest materials to paint. The easiest way is to take them off of the wall, but if you can’t do that, don’t worry. You can line them with plastic and painter tape to avoid getting paint on your window and siding. This could be fairly easy on working shutters, but decorative shutters flush with the wall would need careful masking to keep paint from running between slats or dripping at corners onto the siding.

Even if your painting technique is perfect, paint can run and drip from the shutter as you work. It’s just the nature of paint and gravity! However, these drips can ruin your smooth lines and your walls or windows if you’re not careful. 

Prepping Your Shutters

Prep is the most important step. Most wood isn’t designed to readily soak up paint, especially wood that’s been treated to withstand exterior conditions. 

This is where most of the work comes in. You’ll need to remove any finish and existing layer of paint with a chemical stripper or pain scrapped — be warned though, this can damage your shutters! Be sure to follow the instructions and do not leave any excessive moisture on the wood. 

After the paint or the finish is removed, you can start sanding down your shutters. Each slat will need to be sanded, including the framing (if there is any). Medium sandpaper works best for this type of work. 

Why Do You Need to Sand Wood?

Sanding is essential to achieve a nice and smooth finish. Sanding removes all imperfections that were left overtime. Think of it this way — exterior shutters are exposed to the elements. They’re prone to chipping, dents, and small frays due to rain, snow, wind, debris, and animals. Sanding removes all of those imperfections. 

If you skip sanding, those imperfections will be more visible than ever under a new layer of paint. They also make it more difficult to apply even layers. 

What Sandpaper Should I Use?

We mentioned that medium sandpaper should be good enough to do the job. However, you might need something different. 

40 to 80 Grit Sandpaper: Coarse grit sandpaper is a good choice for rough sanding and removing stock quickly, such as sanding the edge of a sticking door with a belt sander.

100 to 150 Grit Sandpaper: Medium grit sandpaper makes a good starting point for most projects, from sanding unfinished wood to removing old varnish.

180 to 220 Grit Sandpaper: Finer grit sandpaper is great for removing the scratches left by coarser grits on unfinished wood and for lightly sanding between coats of paint.

320 to 400 Grit Sandpaper: Very fine grit sandpaper is used for light sanding between coats of finish and to sand metal and other hard surfaces. 

After you’ve sanded the wood, lightly apply primer and let it dry. Once the primer is dry, it’s time to start painting! 

What Paint Should You Use?

Oil-based paints work best for exterior use. If you use an oil-based paint, use an oil-based primer too. 

For interior shutters, pick a wood paint and a gloss level that works for you. 

How to Paint Shutters

Painting shutters is the easy part as long as you take your time. Handling the shutters before the paint has cured or recoating too soon can quickly turn your paint job into a sticky, fingerprinted disaster.

When you open the can, stir the paint evenly to ensure color consistency and then pour a small amount of it into a paint tray. 

Use a wide, flat brush and paint with the grain of the wood. For the best results, start in the middle and work outwards together the edge. For slatted shutters, paint the slats first and don’t let the paint pool in the corners. 

Quick tip: Thin layers of paint are easier to correct than thick layers! Thin layers also take a shorter amount of time to dry and are less prone to drips. 

Once the shutters are fully dry, you can put them back up.

If you want extra protection for the new paint job, you could also add a varnish or acrylic clear coat to protect better against sun and weather.

And if painting just doesn’t work out, give us a call. Our design experts are ready to work with you so you can love your windows again.