Looking to do some easy home DIY to increase your curb appeal? A great way is by painting your front door and shutters while adding a pop of color with flowers. This post has the tips and tricks for painting vinyl shutters.
After a gusty rain storm, some of our shutters were loose. Of course this lead me to evaluate the condition of the existing paint. It really bothered my husband that our front door was blue and the shutters were (artichoke) green. Perfect opportunity to change it up.
Unfortunately for me, deer have been enjoying our flower buffet. You know, the plants that are “deer proof” and sprayed with Liquid Fence. Seriously, what is their deal? The deer have not bothered these flowers for years and now that I wanted to take some exterior shots with the newly painted shutters, they’ve gone and ravaged my plants…again. So, I guess my curb appeal can stand to have a little more work done to it. Hopefully you will be so taken with the beautifully painted shutters that the foliage will not be a blight upon the scene. Look over there, fun Fourth of July decorations!
Supply List
- Tarp
- Masking/painter’s tape
- Degreaser and deglosser
- Scrub Brush or Scotch Brite pad
- Clean cloths or rags
- Latex Gloves
- Utility knife
- Exterior grade paintable caulking
- Putty Knife
- Hammer driver
- Masonry drill bit (sized to match screws)
- Cement anchor screws
- Pieces of cardboard or chipboard
- Paint (Heirloom Traditions Paint in Polo)
- Quality Paint Brush (I prefer an angled brush)
- Stir Stick
- Step stool or ladder
Instructions
Step 1:
Evaluate the condition of your shutters. I had a few with loose screws or that needed a screw to help hold it to the house. There was no loose paint, probably because I repaint about every three years. I prefer preventative painting as opposed to restorative painting. I did use the utility knife to cut off the old caulking that was bubbling up or funky looking.
Adding a Screw?
Use a hammer driver, or you can use a power drill, with a masonry bit that matches the size of the screw being added. I used one that was 3/16″ because it correlated with my cement anchor screw. Drill a hole where needed. I went right through the thin vinyl shutter and into the brick instead of drilling into the weaker mortar. Put a piece of tape on the drill bit to mark the depth needed for the screw. A hammer drill is great at powering through dense material like cement or masonry because it pounds while drilling.
Have Loose Paint?
Remove any loose paint with a wire brush or a scraper, like a paint scraper or putty knife. Sand any areas that are uneven in the finish. If the paint does not have a primer built into it, prime the sanded areas before painting.
Step 2:
Removing the shutters and labeling the backside to mark where it goes and which way is up will make replacing them easier. I was able to remove one of the shutters from the upper story, only the first one. I naively thought this would be an easier task. Turns out, the heads of the remaining screws attaching the shutters to the brick were stripped. Improvising on the top story was necessary because I was not able to angle and get enough leverage to remove the screws. DIY on the fly. Eat your heart out Spiderman!
Step 3:
Whether the shutters are removed or not, they will need to be cleaned.
Using a degreaser and deglosser (while wearing gloves) helps remove anything that may prevent the paint from adhering well. The green Scotch Brite pad was quickly replaced with a scrub brush because of the slats in the shutters. The scrub brush dipped in a plastic tray with the degreaser and deglosser made cleaning faster and easier. Scrub in sections and immediately wipe scrubbed area with a clean cloth to remove loosened dirt and paint.
If you do not remove the shutters, now is the time to make sure all screws are secure and to caulk over the screw heads. This minimizes the appearance of the screws, but it mostly holds them in place and plugs the area around the hole to minimize wear and tear on the shutters when hard winds blow.
Step 4:
Now we paint. Always use an exterior grade paint for outside!! If you use an interior formulated paint, it will NOT hold up to the sun and weather.
Be sure to mix the paint with the stir stick for approximately 2 minutes. Scrape along sides and bottom and pull up to thoroughly mix the pigment in the paint. Paint in direction of the “wood” grain. NOTE: The paint will dry faster and will have less working time when painting outside. Painting in the early morning was cooler and gave me more time to work with the paint.
The easiest way to paint these shutters would be to spray them. Currently, I am without a sprayer so that was not an option for me. I would not recommend spraying shutters when attached to the house. Remove them first to prevent overspray from landing on the windows or the rest of the house.
Being without a paint sprayer, I brush the paint on to the removed shutter that was placed on a tarp or drop cloth. I painted three coats for best coverage. Depending on the color used or what color you are covering, two coats may suffice.
TIP:
Cut into the corners of the slats or any hard to reach areas first. Once cut in, it will be easier to paint in longer, smoother strokes.
TIP:
If you have to paint with the shutters attached to the wall, use masking tape and/or pieces of cardboard or chipboard tucked under the sides of the shutters to block paint from getting on the wall. Remove before the final coat of paint is dry to prevent pulling up of paint along the sides.
Step 5:
As I said above, it is easier to remove the tape and cardboard before the paint is completely dried. If you didn’t, no worries. Use a utility knife to cut along the edge of the shutter and next to the cardboard or tape, this will break the seal created by the dried paint. Remove tape or cardboard without pulling up the paint.
Once the shutters are dry, replace any that were taken down from the house. Refer to the marks made on the backside to find placement and which direction is up. Use the existing holes to line up and screw in place with the cement anchor screws. Use exterior paintable caulking to fill around the head of the screw and smooth as best you can with a putty knife. Let dry. Paint over that area once caulking is dry.
Like I said, this won’t remove the appearance of the screws, but it will help minimize the appearance and will secure the shutter in place.
The downside to painting the shutters is that you will notice the windows need to be cleaned. You’ll have another task added to the to do list before you know it. Ha ha. It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to transform a space. Because I already had most of the supplies, this project only cost me a little over $35 for the paint. Not bad!
It’s not just the interior that creates a welcoming space for others, but also the exterior. Add some curb appeal to your home with this easy home DIY by painting your shutters. Go bold with a bright pop of color, or more classic with a black, gray, or navy. Whatever color you choose, enjoy making your house a home. 💙
Posts to Spruce Up Your Home
How To Fix a Hole in a Door (video)
Do Peel and Stick Tiles Work?(with videos)
Easy and Cheap DIY Fishing Rod Holder
Bye, Bye Builder’s Grade Bathroom: Easy Update
How To Re Cover a Chair Seat (with video)
Revamp the Lamp with Spray Paint
Design Advice from a ProfessionalÂ
The Best Way to Caulk Baseboard
How To Paint a Straight Line on a Rounded Corner
