A Guide To Repairing Your Exterior Wood Shutters
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If you are a homeowner with shutters, you already know the protection and beautification that they give to your home. But it is also true that exterior wood shutters also require periodic maintenance, simply because they are external to your house and exposed to the weather and elements. In this article, we will give you some step-by-step pointers and recommendations to help you do the best possible job in repairing them --
Step One: Removal Of the Existing Shutters
When you are ready to begin, the first step in repairing your exterior wood shutters is to very carefully remove them from the exterior of your home. If your shutters are located on the second or third story levels, you will probably need to use an extension ladder, so be careful.
Once your exterior wood shutters have been removed, you need to spend some time inspecting the side of your home where they are normally mounted. If necessary, you may need to repaint or otherwise fix up that side of your home -- as, over time, the movement of your shutters back and forth can cause these areas of your house wall to look worn or become damaged.
Step Two: Inspection and Replacement of Damaged Hardware and Louvers
Once you have tended to the repairing or repainting of the external wall of your home, you should now take a good look at the shutters themselves. You should carefully inspect the hardware of your exterior wood shutters -- in particular the hinges and pull knobs -- for signs of wear and replace any items that are broken. You should also carefully inspect the louvers (if you have exterior wood shutters with movable louvers) and replace any that are cracked or warped. You should also replace any broken or rotten louver moving rods (these are usually thin pieces of wood that span the entire length of your exterior wood shutters, which serve to move all of the louvers at one time, keeping them in a uniform position and distance from each other).
Step Three: Sanding and Sealing
Once you have repaired or replaced any broken hardware or damaged louvers or moving rods, the next step is to thoroughly sand and seal the surface of your exterior wood shutters. You should make sure to apply a high quality wood sealant product in order to provide maximum protection from the damaging effects of rain, snow and ice. Carefully follow the manufacturer's directions in preparing the surface of the wood and in applying the wood sealer.
Step Four: Painting and Mounting
Once you have sanded and sealed with surface of your exterior wood shutters, you should next apply one or more coats of paint in colors that match the external decor of your home. Again, if you use good quality paints which are designed for exterior wood surfaces, you will greatly extend the life of your exterior wood shutters. If necessary, and if recommended by the paint manufacturer, you can apply several coats of paint to provide additional protection.
After this, the only step remaining will be to very carefully reattach your external wood shutters to the sides of your home. I would also recommend that during this time you buy a new supply of screws and use them to reattach your shutters -- the old screws may have become damaged, corroded or rusted by years and years of exposure to the weather. Of course, you should make arrangements to take down and work on your exterior wood shutters during a time of the year when the weather is very pleasant, as your windows will not be protected by your shutters during this time.
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