No More Hassle: The Ultimate Guide on How To Paint Shutters Without Removing Them?

Painting shutters improve curb appeal while giving the exterior of your house a facelift. That way, you don’t have to spend a lot to remodel your house. However, most people wonder if they can paint shutters without the need to remove them.

Is it possible to do so?

Yes, you can paint shutters without removing them by properly masking off the surrounding areas with plastic and painter’s tape. While it looks like undertaking a task full of challenges, the methods are fairly easy. Read on to find out more about it.

When to paint the shutters?

If you notice that your shutters have become faded or old, you don’t have to worry about replacing them with new ones. You can bring back the original color of the shutters while making your house look more valuable and newer. You can repaint the vinyl shutters with bold highlights or subtle accents.

You can buy new shutters with new color tones different from the old ones. But it will be an expensive solution to your problem. Moreover, most stores carry a limited selection of paint, mostly available in plain colors. Therefore, it is wise to buy new shutters only if the old ones are broken or cracked.

Apart from that, painting the shutters doesn’t need the involvement of an expert. Most homeowners can handle the situation. Still, if you are afraid to climb a ladder, a local painter might be of great use to you. Besides, they have airless paint sprayers that produce remarkable finishes in less time compared to ordinary paint brushes.

Can you paint the shutters without bringing them down?

Yes, you can paint the shutters without bringing them down. It might seem like you have saved a lot of time and energy removing them and putting them back again after painting. But it will take care and more detailed work to produce impressive results.

If you don’t want to remove the shutters, you need to cover the areas around the metal hardware and shutters that meet the house. The decorative shutters that attach to the wall need proper masking.

Or else, the paint could drip at corners and fall into the siding. Proper masking avoids the paint from running between the slats as well.

Even after deploying the right painting technique, the paint can drip from the shutters while you are working. As such, it can ruin the bricks behind shutters or siding. Because many people consider avoiding these risky situations, they unscrew the shutters to paint.

How do you prepare the shutters for the paint?

You may ask any professional painter and they will tell you that preparing the shutters before the painting is an important part of the overall project. How you prepare the shutters for the painting will make visible differences between a flawless, appealing finish and a peeling, unattractive finish. Below listed are the important points to keep in mind.

• Start by removing the old layers of the paint. You can use a good-quality paint scraper or a chemical stripper to remove the major part of the old paint.
• Use quality sandpaper, available on Amazon to sand the shutters. Use it gently without applying too much pressure.
• Use painter’s tape to mask the neighbouring areas so that they become safe from paint spills.
• Consider using a high-quality primer on the shutters by using a decent paintbrush. Also, you can spray the primer on the shutters.
• Wait for some time so that the primer becomes dry. The shutters will look white or gray.
• When the primer is dry, it’s time for you to start painting with the chosen product.

How do you paint the shutters the right way?

Painting your shutters isn’t a complex process and it doesn’t take a long time to complete. However, make sure that you don’t rush into things during the process. If you consider handling the shutters even before the paint has dried completely, think twice.

Recoating the shutters without giving them adequate time can turn your paint job into a disaster. Hence, keep that in mind before moving on with the painting. Follow the steps mentioned below and you will not face anything serious during the process.

• You have to stir the paint thoroughly so that the mix becomes consistent. As a result, you will have the best paint for your shutters.
• Next, you have to use a paint tray. Pour paint in small amounts into the paint tray.
• Take a flat, wide paintbrush and start painting with the grain. If you have solid shutters, get started with the panel at the center while working outwards. If your shutters are slatted, start painting the slats first. Ensure that you don’t allow paint to build up in the corners.
• Remember to paint the shutters in thin layers. Also, keep in your mind that the process of painting the shutters will take a couple of days to complete. So, be patient and follow the steps mentioned.
• Do you want additional protection for the new paint? You can provide extra protection to the paint by adding an acrylic coat or varnish. As such, they will protect the paint from extreme weather and the scorching heat of the sun.

Follow the above-mentioned tips and you are good to go. Trying anything silly during this time might bring undesirable results. In short, looking for a shortcut will only make the task longer.

Dealing with uncured, tacky paint that will build up after a few coats aggressively isn’t worth your money and effort. It is wise not to use spray paint on the shutters because the outdoor environment will degrade the finish in no time.