I Think You're Asking For Trouble ...

Post Reply | Watch this Post

Hi Ben,

I'm going to say something bold here to start, and go from there. But once you get through my response, I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.

Typically, one would buy plastic shutters because they're maintenance free AND they're less expensive than wooden ones. Additionally, one of the reasons that colored shutters are SOLID in color (not just top-coated, or something) is because they weather. And as they weather, they will tend to keep their color (because they're solid in color.) Hence, why would one want to take a totally maintenance-free shutter and convert it into one that is no longer maintenance-free?

I would suspect that your shutters, like mine, are exposed to the weather. I would bet that the paint job, no matter how well it's done, will last 1-3 years. Now, your maintenance-free shutters will require regular maintenance. If you have that kind of time to unhang, prime, paint, and rehang your shutters, then I say go for it! But if you're like me, you'll ponder the thought that my time is more valuable than that, and opt for NEW maintenance-free shutters that come in the color-of-choice.

Now, to answer your question, you'll need to remove your shutters, clean them, prime them, and paint them. Do realize that plastic expands and contracts quite a bit, and DARK shutters expand more than LIGHT-colored shutters. This means that the paint job is going to go through a LOT of movement. And over time, they'll need to be redone. If you insist on painting your shutters, maybe you should buy wooden ones and it won't matter because they're made to be painted.

Hopefully, you understand what I'm trying to say here. I do wish you well. My best to ya and hope this helps.

Jay J -Moderator

PS: God Bless America!