Home Sweet Home…!

The main value of decorative vinyl exterior shutters is the color that you choose that will contrast or complement the color of the house itself. The best look is to have 3 colors on your home (other than the color of the roof), the main exterior walls, the trim color, and the shutters. The front door of the house could match the exterior shutters, but if you end up with 4 colors that is ok too.

One thing that you should decide right away is how much maintenance you are willing (or want) to do. Paintable vinyl shutters can be ordered that will match any house (some brands, such as Alcoa shutters are paintable in any color). Some people order paintable exterior shutters because they want to match a very specific color, and other people order them because they want the option of painting the shutters a different color later. However, you should also keep in mind that the colored paintable vinyl exterior shutters will degrade and need to be painted every few years just like the exterior of your house. Commercial exterior latex paints are formulated for a life expectancy of 8 – 10 years. Moulded-through exterior vinyl shutters never need paint, so there will be less work to do the next time you paint your house. It is recommended that you spray paint the shutters if you go this route.

If you decide not to get paintable shutters, black and White are by far the most popular vinyl exterior shutter colors primarily because together they can match nearly any house. If you want to “go with the flow”, order white if you have a dark colored house, and order black if you have a light colored house. However, if your house is white with black (or other dark colored) trim, you may wish to add some more color to the house by ordering vinyl window shutters in a shade of red, blue, or green.

Since you will have more choices for buying vinyl exterior shutters on the Internet than if you buy them locally, the best way to decide on the color of exterior vinyl shutters is to order a vinyl shutters color sample. The color sample will contain a “keychain” with all of the available colors for a particular brand, and you can pick them up for as little as $5. Most vendors even give you a credit toward your order so the net cost of the color sample is free. The color sample is made from the same material as the vinyl shutters, so you will be able to touch and feel the material before you commit to a purchase.

Another advantage of ordering vinyl shutter color samples is that they are shaped like miniature exterior shutters. You can step back from the house and hold the color sample at arm’s length to see visualize what the style and color of vinyl exterior shutters will look like on your windows.

After you have looked at the available vinyl exterior shutter colors, you will have a better idea of what is available. If you can’t find the exact color you need, you can always go with black (for low maintenance), or paintable (for an exact match). Of course, that said it is your house so which exterior vinyl shutters will look best is entirely up to you.

Exterior shutters are top-rated window treatment transformers. When remodeling your home, interior design ideas should be balanced with attention to exterior home improvements. With a custom exterior shutter installation, a benefit bonanza awaits both your family, and your furnishings.

1. Curb Appeal Skyrockets With Exterior Shutters

Whether you use window shutters to create a fresh focal point, or to subtly enhance the architecture of your home, the benefit is likely to be seen in an increase in the value of your property. Lightweight, fixed vinyl shutters are inexpensive, yet particularly effective if your aim is simply to add aesthetic appeal. Functional window shutters are more versatile, and feature a number of additional perks.

2. Complement Architecture With Custom Exterior Shutters

Shutter manufacturers thrive on the challenge of designing the perfect window covering for your home. The architecture of your home may come to life with the addition of airy, Caribbean style Bahama shutters. Alternatively, your property may benefit from an introduction to functional fibreglass exterior shutters. These colorful shutters have a wood-like appearance, but are low-maintenance, and often robust enough to warrant storm certification. Perhaps you live in an older home, and are looking for historically accurate window shutter replicas. Home improvement contractors or shutter manufacturers will be able to assist you in making the perfect choice for your property.

3. Set Up A Storm-Shield With Exterior Shutters

Any homeowner in an area known for lashing tropical storms or strong winds, has experienced the devastation that accompanies these onslaughts. The presence of storm shutters or hurricane shutters are reassuring. Wood shutters are commonly seen, as are fibreglass exterior shutters with storm certification. These are reinforced with aluminum, for superb strength. Well-crafted ranges also include a storm bar, which can be engaged from inside your home. This feature serves to protect your window panes. High-caliber aluminum rolling shutters often double as storm shutters.

4. Step Up Security With Exterior Shutters

One of the measures to take if you want to deter would-be intruders, is to install exterior shutters. Wooden shutters can be used for this purpose, or you may consider aluminum rolling shutters. These automated window coverings lock into position when closed. Accordion rolling shutters with their interlocking slats are another popular security choice.

5. Improve Insulation With Exterior Shutters

To have a comfortable home interior, it is important to maximize heat gain during the colder months, while keeping it to a minimum in summer. Shutters are highly efficient in this regard. Wood shutters, or other ranges with operable louvers, offer versatility. Shading is controlled and adjusted according to your preferences and needs. Bahama shutters will refresh you with a cool ocean breeze…

6. Update UV Protection With Exterior Shutters

Functional shutters allow you to limit sun damage to your furniture and furnishings. This constitutes a major saving over time. You will also be spared many a wrinkle, as you will no longer be squinting as a result of glare!

7. Learn About Light Filtering With Exterior Shutters

With window shutters in place, you are able to turn your bedroom into a dark, shady, sleep inducing haven in the middle of a bright summer day. Or how about creating the perfect atmosphere for a popcorn-and-movie session on the living room couch? Whether these are benefits, may become debatable!

8. Protect Your Privacy With Exterior Shutters

If inquisitive neighbors or prowlers are a headache, shutters again come to the rescue. They offer complete privacy when and where you need it.

9. No Noise Niggles With Exterior Shutters

One of the many benefits of an exterior shutter is its noise damping effect. Almost all the shutter styles have this quality. Aluminum rolling shutters are especially effective in this regard, due to the double-walled construction, with its unique foam filling. Shutters with a honeycomb structure are also known for this attribute.

Home improvement projects often focus on bathroom and kitchen remodeling, but exterior shutters seem to deserve a spot on the revamp roster!

This tutorial explains how to paint brand new paintable vinyl exterior shutters and is not intended or recommended for the PVC type of exterior shutters or repainting old exterior shutters. You must have the paint grade shutters for this procedure to work correctly.

First you need to decide whether to spray or brush the paint on with a paint brush. It is recommended that you use a spray system to paint your exterior vinyl shutters, as the result will come out more consistent.

Next is paint selection. There are three basic choices to consider and the choice you make is very personal to you and the style of your home:

1. Exterior flat paint

2. Semi gloss/satin finish paint

3. High gloss paint

Choosing the quality of paint for plastics is different than the paint you would use for painting wood. Whether you are spraying or brushing, I always advise to use relatively inexpensive paints. I recommend this for two reasons. First, you will not have to deal with any moisture issues so the mil thickness of the paint is not important. Secondly, very high quality paints are more globular and intended for use with a roller, which makes the paint too thick for even spraying. Remember that a plastic product is inert and does not absorb or emit moisture vapors so protection from the elements is secondary.

Priming is dependant on the exact type of substrate you will be working with. If the material is a styrene like the Mid-America brand (only color #30) or a high quality copolymer like Alcoa Vintage shutters or other pre-painted product, and if you are using a flat exterior latex paint, you will get excellent adhesion without priming.

If you are using anything other than flat latex, always prime the surface of the exterior vinyl shutters first. The paint supply store will have inexpensive primer (wood primer is fine) and again it does not have to be high quality as it is only to provide adhesion for your top coats of paint.

Follow the directions and pay careful attention to the temperature guideline on the paint can for the best results.

You will need the following items to get started:

1. A pair of sawhorses (or two large boxes)

2. A drop sheet (either plastic or cloth)

3. An equal number of cardboard boxes to the number of exterior shutter panels you are painting (the boxes are for storing the freshly painted exterior shutter panels on while drying)

4. Paint spray gun or for brushing a two inch and a half inch paint brush

5. Paper towels or a clean rag

6. A respirator if recommended by the paint manufacturer

OK, Picasso time to get to work.

Open louver shutters present a big challenge because of the angle of the slats and resultant difficulty of getting full coverage. If you don’t address the space between the slats and you are installing the exterior shutters at eye level or higher, after you install your vinyl shutters unpainted spaces behind the slat will be visible.

If you are spraying, before you actually spray paint on the vinyl shutter use a test area for an even spray pattern and to make certain that the gun is working properly. The side of the cardboard drying boxes will work well for this. To paint louver vinyl shutters, lay the panel face down and begin to spray holding the gun at a forty five degree angle then aim the nozzle directly into the slat cavity. Spray with even strokes and begin before your paint zone and always follow through your paint zone. Go to the other side and repeat. Always inspect for adequate coverage of paint on the exterior shutter before going to the next stage. While the window shutter is face down it’s a good idea to paint the edges to ensure that they will be covered properly. I am always amazed at the missed spots on the edges when I don’t do this.

If you are brushing, you will need the small brush for this job. Paint liberally between the slats, making sure to also paint the sides of the slat about one-half inch. Painting the edges with a brush while the exterior shutter is face down is a good plan as well.

Turn the exterior window shutter over. You do not need to wait for the paint to dry as the back side of the exterior shutter is recessed and will not rest directly against the cardboard box.

If spraying, use the same angle of the spray gun as you used on the back side of the louvers and spray into the slat cavity on both sides. Next, go to the bottom edge of the exterior shutter and angle the gun so you can paint the bullnose (the edge of the louver). Hold the spray gun at about a thirty degree angle and spray from one side to the other in even strokes, again overspray your paint zone to ensure the finish is applied evenly. The next step is to go to the top of the shutter and spray the face of the slat. Here you will hold the gun at a ninety degree angle to the slats (perpendicular to the slat), again over spray your paint zone. Re-spray the edges and paint the stiles (vertical rails). Finish with a second coat, inspect, and re-shoot if necessary.

Brushing is fairly obvious and requires little other than using your two inch brush for the coat of paint. Be sure to inspect the edges of the exterior shutters for full coverage and that you indeed did cover the exterior shutter completely.

Move the freshly painted vinyl shutters onto one of the boxes you set up for the painted shutters to dry and repeat until all of the vinyl exterior shutters are painted.

For more information about installing, removing, and measuring for vinyl exterior shutters visit http://www.shuttercontractor.com/.