How To Paint Vinyl Shutters

When I bought Flip 5, both the windows and the shutters were a rusty red color- and I hated it. But now that the windows have been replaced, the red shutters had to go! I didn’t have it in the budget to purchase new shutters (they’re shockingly not that cheap!), so I needed to work with the existing red shutters- but give them a new look so I decided to paint the vinyl shutters. Painting shutters can be an easy, cost effective way to improve your curb appeal!

How To Paint Vinyl Shutters

This post is sponsored by Wagner Spraytech. The thoughts, projects, and opinions are all my own. I’m grateful for companies that support this blog. This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small percentage from those purchases, & I appreciate the support.

Step 1: Thoroughly Clean The Shutters

Cleaning is an important cant-miss step because most shutters, like mine, have several slots that accumulate dirt & grime. I sprayed 409 on the shutter & then used an old dish scrubber to clean. I then rinsed off the shutters with a hose and let dry in the sun.

Step 2: Use The Right Paint

Not just any paint will do. It’s important to use a paint that is designed for exterior & tough enough to withstand the elements. I had some leftover paint from the garage door project, and it’s absolutely the best paint you could use for this project!

Step 3: Use a Wagner FLEXiO 3000 Paint Sprayer

This is not a project you want to use a roller or brush on. The key to getting a smooth, streak-less finish is to use a paint sprayer, but it’s also helpful with reaching all of the crevices in my particular shutter style. I used the Wagner FLEXiO 3000 because it has an adjustable spray pattern and holds plenty of paint to knock out painting several shutters at once!

I painted 3 coats total on each shutter. I left them to dry in the sun in between each coat. The PPG Breakthrough dries fairly quickly. I didn’t worry about painting the backside of the shutters since nobody is going to see them (I like lazy short cuts!). After they had sat outside drying and were totally dry to the touch, I brought them inside and let them cure for a few days.

Step 4: Install The Shutters

After the shutters cured, I hung the shutters back up! I used the same exterior screws to install the shutters. This was such a fast & easy process! I used a handheld screwdriver instead of a drill because I always tend to slip with the drill, and I didn’t want it to scratch the shutters.

Step 5: Touch Up Paint On Screws

I reused the old screws and some had red screw heads & others were rusty, and I wanted them to be unnoticeable on the shutters. My tip to touch up the screws is to get a little paint on a Q-tip and dab it on the ends of the screws.

After many projects, including that garage door makeover, the curb appeal at Flip 5 is finally improving! I had a vision for a modern black & white house, and slowly but surely it’s getting there. From rusty red to modern black, I love how the magic of paint can transform anything- even curb appeal!

Updating the existing shutters was a very budget friendly project (free!) that made a huge impact! This quick & affordable DIY project is an easy way for any homeowners to transform the look of their home!