You may have found yourself wondering how to paint vinyl shutters if your
old shutters are old and faded or if your just ready for a change. You may
also be planning to purchase new vinyl shutters and want to paint them so
you can get that specific color that may not be available as a standard color
directly from the manufacturer. In either case, this is a great article that
will help you learn the process to get the best results when painting vinyl
shutters.
If you are purchasing new vinyl shutters that you plan on painting yourself
make sure you purchase 
paintable shutters. Most vinyl shutters, including
those sold on the shelf and the big box retailers, are made from a vinyl material
known as polypropylene that paint does not adhere well to. Instead most manufacturers
will offer a paintable vinyl shutter which is made from a polystyrene that
is much better for paint adhesion.
If you already have polypropylene shutters, it may still be possible to paint
them using a product known as Krylon Fusion. Krylon Fusion is a paint originally
designed by Sherwin Williams that promotes adhesion to plastic surfaces. We
recommend using the Fusion for Plastic Outdoor Primer and then painting over
it with any exterior grade latex based paint. Kyrlon Fusion is available in
a spray can that will make it easy to apply evenly without runs, drips, or
streaks.
If you have polystyrene shutters you can use any exterior grade latex based
primer and paint. Typically, one coat of primer and two coats of paint will
be more than sufficient. For best results, the paint should be applied using
a spray method as to ensure a nice even coat and prevent runs, drips, and
streaks in the paint. We recommend Sherwin Williams Adhesion Primer B51 W
8050 WHITE, 6501-32590. Be sure NOT to use any type of vinyl based primer
or paint!
When painting vinyl shutters it is important not to expose the shutters to
direct sunlight before, during, or immediately after painting. The ideal temperature
to paint vinyl shutters is between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also
a good idea to clean the vinyl shutters using a mixture of ammonia and water,
1 cup per gallon. Make sure you allow the shutters to dry thoroughly after
cleaning before painting.
Painting vinyl shutters can be a hassle and messy. Most homeowners paint
vinyl shutters with a brush which is time consuming and leaves runs, drips,
and streaks. Did you know that you can order custom color painted vinyl shutters
directly from ExteriorSolutions.com? We have developed a spray method for
painting exterior vinyl shutters in a professional paint booth with exhaust
equipment. By hanging the shutters in the booth we make sure to cover all
sides evenly. Plus we can match any paint color with the manufacturers paint
name or number, paint formula, or a sample color that you mail to us. We then match the color and use several healthy coats of paint, allowing the paint to dry in between each coat. The spray method that we use applies the paint evenly without runs, drips, or streaks. We also paint the mounting hardware for the best finished look. Our painted shutters come standard with a 25 Year Finish Warranty.