How To Install Shutters Outside That Are Ornamental?

Shutter installation is a simple and cost-effective way to enhance curb appeal in your home. Available in various colors and styles, shutters can be attached to various materials such as wood, aluminum, vinyl, stucco, or hardboard. The direct mount method is the most common and simplest method for mounting shutters, as they are directly attached to the exterior wall.

Exterior shutters can add visual appeal to the front of your home and protect windows against heavy wind and rain. DIYers can handle this project with basic tools they already have in their garage, eliminating the need for costly hardware. Shutter installation resources are available for both fixed mount and traditional installations.

To install shutters, place the shutter face-up on a flat surface suitable for drilling, and mark locations for mounting. Paint or finish the shutters, shim the shutters in place, install the upper hinge pintles, and install the shutters. Shutters on brick, block, or concrete walls can be installed with concrete screws long enough to embed at least 1 inch deep into the substrate.

It is a two-person job, and the process involves removing old shutters, determining the width and length for new shutters, marking the shutter and screw positions, and screwing into the siding and plywood behind the siding. It is recommended that at least three screws hit the studs of the house to ensure a strong grab.

What is the best way to position shutters?

The image shows slats tilted downwards in the bottom section, a position that directs sunlight into the room rather than towards the ceiling. This position is better for bringing light into the room and reducing the effects of the glaring midday sun. Tilting the shutters all the way down is a good position to leave them in, bringing light into the room at all times while mitigating the effects of the glaring midday sun.

On the other hand, with the louvres tilted up slightly, only the slats are visible, providing more privacy. Leaving the shutters in this half-closed position provides more privacy but also light into the home, making the room warmer. Tier-on-tier shutters are ideal for this, allowing you to close the bottom shutters for privacy and keep the top shutters open for light.

To maximize the use of shutters, it is essential to balance the tradeoff between light and privacy. Tilting the shutters downwards can bring as much light into the room as possible without opening the louvres completely. This may even be more effective with white shutters.

Can shutters be mounted outside?

Plantation shutters can be installed as either an inside or outside mount. Inside mounts fit inside the recessed depth of a window opening, while outside mounts attach to the wall or trim surrounding the opening, keeping the inside clear. Inside mounts are easier and more aesthetically pleasing, but outside mounts offer several benefits, including extending depth, hiding imperfections, maintaining tilt-in function, avoiding obstructions, covering French doors, and minimizing light blockage.

How to hang shutters on concrete?

Shutters on brick, block, or concrete walls can be installed using concrete screws that embed at least 1 inch deep into the substrate. Pre-drill fastener holes with a hammer-drill and masonry bit. Masonry walls require masonry anchors. Rustic Shelves and Shutters recommends using 4 to 6 fasteners per shutter, with the first four placed near the corners to prevent wind vibration. Color-matched fasteners can be used flush with the shutter surface for easy maintenance or slightly countersink the fasteners and cover the heads with color-matched wood putty.

Are exterior shutters a good idea?

The installation of custom exterior shutters can serve to enhance the visual appeal of a residential property. This is achieved by providing a polished and unified appearance when the colours of the shutters match the existing colour scheme of the building. In addition, the shutters can also add an individual and distinct touch to the overall aesthetic appeal of the property.

How to install shutter fasteners?

Once all spikes have been returned, each spike should be tapped until the head makes contact with the object, causing a shudder. This action should be repeated until the spikes are fully connected. Once this process is complete, the subject should turn their attention to the next step.

What holds shutters in place?

Shutter dogs, also known as shutter holdbacks or tiebacks, are hardware devices that hold window shutters tight to the wall when open. They pivot horizontally, allowing for easy release and closing. These asymmetrical designs enhance the visual appeal of decorative shutters. Originally hand-forged by blacksmiths in simple shapes like rat-tail, scroll, and Georgetown, they have evolved with the advent of cast iron in the nineteenth century, introducing ornamental designs like shells, flowers, and grapes, allowing homeowners to add personality to their homes’ exteriors.

How do you install exterior decorative shutters?

To hang shutters, use Cortex plug and screw kits with screws and matching PVC plugs. Use the specialized bit to screw the shutters to the house and drill a hole for the plug to fit in. Tap the plug in the hole until flush with a hammer.

For DIY painters, avoid direct sunlight on a warm surface, remove any water and dirt on the shutter, use 100% acrylic exterior latex paint, like Sherwin Williams Pro Industrial Multi-Surface Acrylic Latex paint, and allow the paint to dry for 2-4 days. Avoid exposing the shutters to dew, high humidity, moisture, or rain, and paint directly on the shutter with a brush or roller using Sherwin Williams exterior latex or other exterior latex paint. Allow the paint to completely dry before installing it to your home.

How should exterior shutters fit?

When ordering shutters, it is important to consider the width of each shutter, which should be half of the width of the window opening. Smaller shutter widths can help prevent the house from appearing small or too cluttered. Arch Top shutters are an option for Custom Louvered and Custom Board-n-Batten shutters. When ordering, two height measurements are needed: the overall shutter height (the tallest point) and the shorter height measurement (the arch radius).

The standard arch drop is a 1:1 ratio, meaning the difference in height from one side to the other is equal to the shutter’s width. If the ratio is suitable for your application, the overall height of the shutter is all that is needed.

Can you install shutters without a frame?

Frames are crucial for windows as they ensure the shutter panels hang squarely and prevent sanding or shimming inside the window opening. A perfect square level frame with pre-installed hinges ensures perfect alignment with the shutter panels. Shutter panels stay closed with magnets recessed into the back, and our frames have a metal plate aligned to these magnets to keep the panels closed.

How are shutters secured?

Shutter spikes are a common fixing for decorative shutters made from polypropylene (vinyl). They are made in the same material as the shutter and do not require a wall anchor to fix to the wall. They have a serrated shank that grabs as the spike is inserted into the wall, similar to pushing an umbrella through a hole. They are designed to be tapped into the hole. If movement occurs when using Shutter Spikes, it is due to the size of the hole in the wall.

To remove the spikes, use a thin hacksaw blade and drill out the core using a smaller drill bit. Insert a small sliver of wood to fill the hole and remove any free play. Functional shutters have hinges on pintels that can be easily lifted off the shutter. They are heavy and require assistance when removing them at height, with a mobile tower being the best option for safety.

How are shutters attached?

The vinyl shutter should be attached to the wall in a manner that is both secure and aesthetically pleasing, thus enhancing the home’s overall curb appeal.