Painting Shutters...

I am looking to paint the shutters and window trim on the house.

1) I was going to take the shutters off, but changed my mind. I will mask and paint them in place, especially since 4 of the 5 windows with shutters are second floor. I don't have any reason to believe that there are any issues behind the shutters (excessive mold/mildew, insect nests, etc). Is there any pressing reason I SHOULD remove the shutters?

2) I was going to use foam mini roller to apply paint to shutter faces. Any comments on that?


Thanks

 

Removing the shutters will allow you to paint them easier than trying to cut to the house siding. They are likely only held on by 4 screws.

What material are the shutters made out of? They look like they may be vinyl.

 

If vinyl they make special "hot" primer that bonds extremely well and will allow you to use a quality exterior paint without fear of the paint peeling!

 

To my knowledge, they are vinyl. They appear to be held by shur-lok or shutter-lok type fasteners. These apparently have to have their heads cut/chiseled off and be replaced on reinstall. Cost for replacement fasteners is at least $25, and the fasteners will have to be painted on reinstall. All things considered, I am thinking of just leaving the shutters on, cutting up some cardboard, and wedging the cardboard between the shutters and the vinyl siding on the house to keep the new shutter paint off the siding.

Edit: Note that there is trim around the window that has to be painted, too. It isn't just the shutters. So I will have to mask and paint around the window anyway.

 

I will be using Sherwin-Williams Emerald paint, which is supposed to be self-priming.

 

That won't work for you. You need a special bonding primer like this. The pros might recommend something better, but this is just one example.

 

Drat, I have another issue... There is caulk on the window trim that I have to paint. It is 30yo. It is still solidly adhered to the surfaces it is applied to, but it is weathered and cracked (though not crumbling). I am guessing it is a silicone caulk. I was thinking that the paint might take care of it, but I don't know about its ability to adhere to that caulk. I definitely don't want to remove and replace the caulk on all the windows. Also, that would would involve removing the caulk, painting the surface, and then re caulking, which raises the question as to whether the caulk will adhere to the newly painted surface. I suspect I will be calling SW tomorrow....

 

You might be right, as regards the vinyl, although it is weathered. Something else to confirm with SW.

SW has their own primer, although they don't sell quarts of it. SW has one of their sales on now.

Edit: Use of primer MIGHT solve the caulk issue.....

 

It looks like colored caulk which is likely paintable. Most silicone I have seen is clear or white.

 

Which is good for drywall, your dealing with a unique material, I painted some shutters 20 years ago using vinyl primer and still drive by and see that they are still holding color, your choice but be warned!

I have heard good feedback on this primer!

Stix® Waterborne Bonding Primer SXA-110, Primer

 

A quality latex house paint generally adheres fine to clean vinyl. BIN is the only primer that will adhere to silicone caulk [might take 2 coats] but I' not convinced it's silicone.