If you have wooden shutters around the Windows of your home, you need to paint them every five years or so to keep them looking their best. This isn't all that difficult a task, but you don't want to just pull out a paintbrush and start painting your shutters without going through the proper steps. As you probably know, there is a bit of an art to any sort of painting. Below are some step-by-step instructions on how to properly paint wooden shutters.
- Begin by removing the shutters and taking them to a garage or basement to be painted. You can remove them and paint them one at a time, but you'll probably be better off removing them all at once, painting them, and then putting them back in their proper locations after they have all dried.
- Make sure you clean your shutters thoroughly before you begin painting them. You don't want to paint over dirt or other imperfections, so use some soap and a scrub brush to make sure the surface of your shutters are completely clean before you apply a new layer of paint.
- It's never a bad idea to scrape off the previous layer of paint with a metal scraper, but this isn't completely necessary if the surface is smooth and you are painting your shutters the same color they were previously. Just make sure you use the same type of paint (oil or acrylic) that is currently on your shutters. It's a good idea to use two coats of paint on each shutter.
- Once the shutters have dried completely, you can put them back on your house.
By following these simple steps, you should be able to effectively paint your wooden shutters without hiring a professional and without taking up an entire weekend. You'll be surprised at how just much newly-painted shutters can enhance the way the entire exterior of your home looks.
