Installing Exterior Shutters On Your Home

If you have an idea that you want to put to work, and you want to install exterior shutters, than all you have to do is find the right way to hang them. This can be done with some simple tools, and the right materials. The first step you will want to do is placing the shutters next to the windows of the house, and marking the desired locations. You can also mark locations of shutter loks that will be going on your shutters themselves. If installing on brick, you will want to make sure you locate holes for each of the loks over mortar lines to ensure the proper placement. The loks should be placed in consistent places on your shutter to give a more decorative look. (Shutter loks are the pins that hold the shutters in place.)

If you have smaller shutters than you can go with a lower amount of shutter loks, but the usually recommended amount is between four and six. You should mark, and pre drill the holes in the shutter before you attach them to the side of your house, a ¼” drill bit will do the trick. You can then place them against the wall, and drill into the side of the house to around three to four inches deep.

If it is in brick than you will want to drill the holes deep enough so the lok doesn’t bottom out. This is the time where the shutter loks can be inserted along your shutters. These will be able to hold the shutters alone without any help from other hardware.

Do not over tighten these loks, you should tap them to ensure they are snuggly in place, and will not come lose. If you need to remove the shutters for any reason, then they can be removed by a hacksaw blade slid behind the shutter to cut the lok off at its shank.

Once you've got the shutters installed, make sure to take care of your investment by doing regular maintenance on them. Vinyl shutters don't need much more than a simple inspection once or twice a year. Just take a quick look at them to make sure they aren't cracked or faded, and you can run a damp cloth over them to remove any dirt or debris.

Wooden shutters need to be varnished or painted on a semi-regular basis to make sure that the wood is not allowed to rot. Cracks in the paint means that water is going to get onto the wood, and this will inevitably lead to rotting. If you see any cracked or flaking paint, take the shutters down, sand the paint off, and then repaint them. Doing this will guarantee your shutters will look great for years to come.