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Expert Painting Tips : Painting Plastic Shutters

Finishing touches make all the difference when it comes to the overall look of your home. The window boxes full of colorful flowers, the paver stones winding through the backyard, and the classic shutters adorning your windows.

Even though these “finishing touches” may be subtle, they still deserve the proper attention and upkeep needed to keep them looking great, and your home looking fresh and well-put-together.

If you are noticing that your plastic shutters are in need of some touch-up work, investing in some paint and elbow grease should be all it takes to make them look like new again. However, there are a few tips you’ll want to keep in mind as you’re working.

Mark Masica, a color and paint expert at Hirshfield’s, offers these tips for painting plastic shutters:

  • Consult the guidelines: The most important thing to keep in mind when buying or painting plastic shutters is to refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Some may need to be primed, while others may require a specific kind of paint. Most plastic shutters will call for a good quality, 100% acrylic paint.
  • Choose your paint color carefully: Be cautious when going darker with the color of your plastic shutters. Darker colors absorb more light, causing the plastic to warp and ripple. You can always go lighter with your paint color, but consult the manufacturer’s guidelines or an exterior paint professional when considering going more than a few shades darker. (Check out Mark’s picks for the best exterior paint colors for your home.)
  • When in doubt, prime: Older shutters need to be thoroughly cleaned and usually require a coat of primer before painting. When in doubt, always go with a coat of primer. It’s cheap insurance and can never hurt.
  • Coordinate accordingly: When selecting a color, keep in mind the colors of the shutters typically matches the color of the outside of the inside door. Meaning, if your front door (as opposed to your storm door) is painted red, your shutter would also be painted red. This creates harmony in the exterior color scheme of the house.

As we finish up all of our summer home improvement projects here in Minnesota, be sure to also keep an eye on the temperature and weather conditions. For expert advice on ideal weather conditions for exterior painting, check out our post, When is it too Hot to Paint Outside?

Hirshfield’s is your local Minneapolis-St. Paul paint retailer. The paint experts at Hirshfield’s are here to help you with everything from window-treatments to paint colors. Hirshfield’s manufactures paint right here in Minneapolis.

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