When looking to upgrade your home, focusing on window treatments is always a good idea. Fortunately, homeowners have a wide variety of blinds and shutters to choose from so that, no matter what your particular design goals might be, you will always be able to find one you like. In many homes, both on the inside and outside, wooden plantation shutters are the best option. Not only do they provide a great aesthetic, customization options, and awesome durability, but it is also pretty easy to learn how to install plantation shutters. A free afternoon should give you plenty of time to follow instructions and install them on your own.
- Measure Accurately
- Paint or Stain
- Attach Hinges
- Mark Shutters
- Mount!
The old saying “measure twice, cut once” is particularly true for plantation shutters. Because they are custom built, rather than pre-fabricated, accurate measurements are a must. For inside mounts, you will have to measure from the sill to the top of the window, the width, and to a location for hinges. Outside mounts will require height and width, but could vary a bit depending on the style of the casing.
After making the proper measurements and making any cuts or adjustments that you need is the perfect time to paint. While some might want to wait until after shutters have been mounted to do so, that could be a mistake because certain areas will be hard to reach. Plus, there’s a good chance that you’ll spill on the window, wall, or floor, especially if you use a stain.
Sometimes, hinges will come with the shutters you buy and other times you’ll have to make a quick run to the hardware store. Either way, installing hinges properly is vital for making sure shutters fit and function properly. Attaching them to the frame is relatively simple, as the location does not need to be precise and should only require a couple of screws.
One of the most important steps when learning how to install plantation shutters is knowing where to drill for mounting on hinges. You can do that by taking super-accurate measurements or simply placing the shutter in the window and eyeballing the spot. Either way, those markings are vital for making sure the shutters line up with hinges and mounts.
The last and most rewarding step is actually mounting your shutters. Thankfully, it is also one of the easiest since, if all measurements are correct, you will simply have to place the shutters in the window and insert screws.
Though the process of how to install plantation shutters might seem simple, a bit of know-how is always helpful. If you have little or no experience with that type of DIY project, then patience will be a must. However, anyone who is at least somewhat capable with tools in their hand should be able to handle the work.
