Giving Those Old Shutters Some Color
Know that there is an easy way to paint plantation shutters. If your window coverings have lost their color over the years, you don’t have to spend tones of money on replacing them, but you can simply repaint them. This will allow you not only to give your old shutters some color and shine, but also refresh the look of your interior. This especially applies to some neutral colored shutters, since white or cream colors tend to get dirty over time or otherwise damaged. Well, this is the perfect opportunity to start plantation shutters repainting project.
Try to plan all your steps before starting the project. This way you will avoid potential problems later on, since once you’ve started painting, it will be too late to go back. This includes getting all the things you need and determining the place you are going to paint the shutters at. Also, since you will need to take down the shutters, make sure to remember (or even write down) everything you’ve done, since this way you will have no problem in putting the shutters back up. Just follow the next few steps and you will have a freshly painted window treatment in no time.
Shutters Painting Steps
- As mentioned before, the first thing you will have to do is detach the shutters from the window. It is important to properly mark each panel, in order of returning them into the right position, once the painting is done. This also goes for hinges and other hardware, since any difference can cause alignment problems. Once you have removed the shutters from the windows, it would be wise to remove all the hardware, like hinges, hooks or knobs attached to the panels. This will only take a screwdriver and a few minutes but it will save you all the time of trying to cover or otherwise mask these or even worse, try to remove paint that somehow ended up there. Also, use this opportunity to check whether any hardware needs to be repaired or replaced.
- The next step is proper cleaning of the panels. Make sure to this thoroughly, since any dirt or debris caught on the surface will not only make it harder for the paint to stick but can also affect how smooth will your freshly painted shutter surface look. This can be done by using nothing more than some mild detergent and some warm water. Finally, do not start the painting before the surface is completely dry.
- The next thing you will have to do is scrape the shutters using some metal paint scraper and some sandpaper. This way you will get a smooth surface much easier to paint. However, do not overdo the scraping since you don’t want to damage the panels in any way.
- Before applying the paint to your plantation shutters, it would be wide to use some water based primer. Covering the entire surface with a thin coat of primer will allow the paint to stick much easier, regardless of which paint has been used before.
- When it comes to the painting technique, you can either use a brush or some spray paint. Although it may seem like fun using a brush, it usually takes a long time (depending on the size of the brush and the size of your shutters), but can also cause potential problems for your shutter’s operating mechanism. Namely, there is a chance that some paint will get into the gaps between the louvers and the frame (no matter how careful you are) which will, when dries later on, affect how smooth your shutters open or close.
- Once you’ve determined how you are going to paint your plantation shutters, prepare the working place. You can either hang the panels which will allow you to paint both sides simultaneously or place them onto the floor, previously covered with some newspaper or an old cloth, which means that you will have to paint one side and once it is dry, turn the panel and paint the other one.
- Finally, you can commence the shutters painting job. If you have opted for a paint brush, use flat brushes in order of applying the paint more evenly. Paint in smooth, even strikes. If you have decided to use spray paint, just shake the can well before you start and apply the paint rather vertically than horizontally. Keep the can about 30 centimeters from the panels and spray the color smoothly with no abrupt moves which can cause smudges and difference in color shades. One layer of paint should do the trick, but if you want a more intense hue, you can add another layer.
In the end of the shutters painting process, make sure that the paint has dried completely and reattach the shutters to the window. If you have previously marked their original position and kept all the screws in one place, this should not be a challenging task. Take a step back and admire your work.
