How To Paint Vinyl Shutters To Look Like Wood? {2023 Updated}

Do your vinyl shutters appear dated and dull? Do you want to add some spice? Ever wonder if you could paint them? If so, you must have given some thought to how you will need to paint your vinyl shutters.

So if you’re interested in learning more about painting vinyl shutters, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve outlined every procedure, tool, and safety precaution that you need to be aware of in this article. So if you want to give your vinyl shutters a fresh look, read on below.

How To Paint Vinyl Shutters

Why Paint Your Shutters?

Simply restoring your shutters to their original colour can make your home appear younger and more valuable if they are old and faded. There’s also no need to keep them the same colour; you can repaint them as delicate accents or striking highlights to revive the exterior of your property.

You could purchase brand-new shutters in a specific hue, but it would be an expensive option and most home improvement companies only have a small number of plain-colored options. Only get new shutters if the old ones need to be replaced because you’ll need to paint them to achieve a bespoke hue regardless.

Why Paint Your Shutters?

How Much Paint Will I Require?

Let’s speak about how much paint is needed first before moving on to the process. I used nearly the entire bottle to make 8 shutters. If you’re painting over a dark hue, lighter paint colors could need more of it.

How Much Paint Will I Require?

What Type Of Paint Should Be Used On Shutters?

For this project, I used a specialized exterior paint, and even after several years, the shutters have not faded. Latex paint is also an option, but make sure it is outside paint. The paint used outdoors is designed to fade less quickly.

How To Paint Vinyl Shutters?

How To Paint Vinyl Shutters?

Before You Start

To avoid mishaps like someone knocking over the paint bucket or bumping into the ladder, it’s a good idea to set up a work area that can be cordoned off before you start. Simply removing them from the house and setting up a painting workspace in a well-ventilated garage or shed is one of the finest solutions.

Usually, plastic mounting nails or metal mounting clips are used to install vinyl shutters. The shutters can be fairly easily removed if they are mounted with metal mounting clips, but it might be preferable to paint them in place if they are mounted with plastic mounting nails. Examine your shutters and choose the best strategy for the project before you get started.

Painter’s tape must be used around the edges of the shutters if you decide to paint them while they are in place in order to prevent painting the house’s sides or the windows.

Safety Factors

Wear appropriate PPE, such as gloves, closed-toe shoes, eye protection, and other protective gear. If you’ll be painting the shutters in a confined space, such as a garage or workshop, a protective mask is also a smart idea.

You must take the necessary precautionary measures while working on a ladder or on the roof to access the vinyl shutters on the second level because not every set of shutters is situated on the first floor. To help minimize unintentional falls, assign a spotter to maintain stability of the ladder and think about wearing a harness that can be tied off. If you don’t feel comfortable standing on a ladder, think about hiring a painting company.

Why Should Vinyl Shutters Be Primed?

Primers are frequently used for outdoor painting in order to cover seams, conceal joints, and seal the original material. It might be a good idea to apply a primer to cover any flaws and create a solid foundation for the paint if the vinyl shutters exhibit symptoms of disintegration, extreme climate damage, or pitting. For vinyl shutters in good condition, primer is not required because the paint will cling to the vinyl surface without any issues.

What you’ll require

Resources / Tools

  • A paintbrush
  • Hacksaw
  • Pliers
  • Cloth dropped
  • Caulking gun
  • Ladder
  • Protective gloves
  • Protective eyewear
  • Protection for breathing
  • Bucket

Materials

  • Soap
  • Painter’s tape
  • Nails for mounting plastic
  • Caulking with silicone
  • Primer (optional)
  • Exterior latex paint

Instructions

Step 1: Take The Vinyl Shutters Off (Optional

Simply move around the house and take the vinyl shutters off of their mounting clips if the shutters are fastened with metal mounting clips. To cut through the shutter loks on shutters that have shutter loks fitted, pull the vinyl shutter away from the wall by about an inch.

It’s crucial to use pliers to remove any residual pieces of plastic mounting nails after cutting through one to release the shutter and to seal the holes with silicone caulking. In addition to prepping the region for the reinstallation of the vinyl shutters, this aids in guarding the house against bug infestations and water damage.

Step 2: Cleaning The Shutters

Before painting window shutters, the dirt and mildew that has accumulated on them must be washed away. They can be cleaned with a garden hose or a power washer; the power washer is recommended if there is peeling paint. Vinyl, unlike wood, can be thoroughly cleaned with a power washer without causing damage.

Use a rough scrubbing pad and warm, soapy water to first scrub them. However, if mildew is present, you can add a little bleach to the mixture to assist eliminate mildew stains. Harsh cleaning agents are not necessary.

Step 3: Before Painting, Prepare the Area

Before painting, be sure that neither the primer nor the paint will drip onto the roof or the floor, land on the side of the house, or land on a window. If the vinyl shutters have been taken down, cover the entire area with a drop cloth to safeguard the workbench and floor. In order to capture any stray droplets that may fall, remember to tape around any vinyl shutters that are still in place. You should also place a drop cloth beneath the shutters.

Step 4: Prime And Paint The Vinyl Shutters

 After a thorough cleaning, it should be fairly simple to evaluate whether the vinyl shutters require a coat of priming before painting. Or if their surface is sufficiently smooth for direct painting, then they may not need priming at all – just give them a little sanding. It’s important to keep in mind that any significant deterioration, ageing, or pitting indicates that the vinyl shutters need to be primed before painting.

Rollers are not a viable choice because vinyl shutters frequently include slats. If more primer is required, apply it evenly with a paintbrush and let it substantially dry as directed by the manufacturer. The shutters can normally be painted one to four hours after this.

The shutters are ready for painting once the priming has dried. The best exterior latex paint for vinyl shutters is one that is compatible with vinyl and provides adequate UV protection. Each shutter should be completely covered with the paintbrush to ensure a thick, even coat of paint. The paint typically dries to the touch in about two hours, but it can take up to 48 hours to fully cure.

Step 5: Now Reinstall The Vinyl Shutters

If the vinyl shutters were taken down, they must be put back up once the paint has fully dried and set. If the shutters were initially mounted with metal mounting clips, this ought to be quite simple. The shutters are merely slipped into place after being hooked into the clips.

To achieve a snug fit, you must drill new mounting holes for the shutter lock fasteners and tap them onto the wall. You might need to replace the mounting holes with metal fasteners if the shutters were installed with plastic mounting nails. To prevent the shutters from sliding, make sure the hole is the proper size so that the shutter lok fasteners will catch the sides of the hole.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answer is that vinyl window shutters can be painted with duration paint. I’ve done that many times with this stuff. However, the store assistant was right when she said that applying black paint over a much lighter tint could cause warping. When vinyl is painted with a colour that is darker than the manufacturer’s original finish, the vinyl may warp, especially if it is exposed to direct sunshine all day. A dark-colored vinyl siding can experience the same problem. In the summer, black paint absorbs a lot of heat and becomes extremely hot. Your plastic shutters may experience issues as a result. While painting your shutters black doesn’t always increase the chance of them warping, the retailer could not honour the paint warranty if it does. You should be able to get assistance from the store regarding vinyl-safe paint colours. I don’t advise painting your shutters black, largely because of worries about durability. Even though Duration is a very sturdy product, black paint will fade much more quickly in the sun than other colours.

Answer: Yes, provided that the paint is suitable for use on vinyl. Spray paint in a can be used to paint up to two or four window shutters, but you’ll need several cans for more than that. Instead of utilizing rattle cans, I would just rent an airless spray bottle for $50 to $75 and spray them that way. Use a sprayer instead of a spray can to complete the shutters more effectively and more quickly.

Answer: On the vinyl shutters, I would use Emerald, Super Paint, or Duration instead. On vinyl, all three products are suitable. Although the datasheet for that product doesn’t specifically state that the paint can be used on vinyl, I have never used All Surface Enamel on shutters. I frequently use the three products that were suggested for shutters. Although expensive, Duration and Emerald offer exceptional durability. The cheapest of the three is Super Paint. For all of my outdoor painting tasks, especially those involving shutters, I use Duration.

Wrapping It Up!

I’d say that painting your vinyl shutters is an enjoyable project in the end. You should follow the instructions exactly as they are outlined in the text above. Use the appropriate tools and equipment. Lastly, and most importantly, pay attention to the safety advice. I advise hiring a professional to paint the vinyl shutters for you if you find the task challenging.