It’s all about the money, money, money when doing home improvements, isn’t it? Even something as simple as purchasing one set of shutters can break your budget wide open. When my family moved into our home, I really wasn’t in love with the green vinyl shutters around our bedroom window. Green’s nice. However, the fading annoyed me. Plus, they clashed with my bluish roof.  I wasn’t going to spend a lot of money for new ones, so updating vinyl shutters on my own was the only solution!

Updating Vinyl Shutters

I’m not known for my do-it-yourself projects. People were shocked I wanted to not only take on the vinyl shutters, but also the front door. Needless to say, once I told other people about my projects, I was surprised to learn you can’t paint vinyl and high gloss front doors and expect the paint to stick. I nodded, like I knew all of that already, and quickly called my mother to ask her what the hell I should do first.

Always Ask Seasoned DIYers

Mom’s always good for home improvement help, and guidance. She said “let’s head to The Home Depot and find a base coat, and the color you want to use on everything.” Perfect!

Apparently, painting over vinyl requires specialized primer. Mom knew there was a product that would be good to use, she just wasn’t sure what the name of it was. We asked someone in the paint department at The Home Depot. The answer? Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer. It would stick to ANY surface, including vinyl shutters. Victory was mine! If only it had been that easy to find the actual blue color I wanted for the shutters.

Picking a paint color

I knew the exact blue I wanted, but it was in my head. None of the options from my preferred paint brand matched. I wandered over to a different brand and finally found it, and had to talk mom into just going with the other brand for this project. I had to have the right blue, or I’d forever be wishing I could paint them again! I’d already spent five years with the green ones I didn’t completely enjoy, I didn’t want to spend another five years with a color I didn’t love. She relented.

Off to the woman who would mix me up a great color. Her first question to me, which completely surprised me “What brand of paint do want this color in? This one, or a different brand?” I looked at mom, she looked at me and I squealed out the brand I much preferred and said “I had no idea you could mix it with a different brand.” The woman responded “Yeah, we can do anything now. Super high tech now.”

Prepping the vinyl shutters

Mr. Sunflower took the shutters off the house, and power washed those bad boys. I wanted all the mold/moss off of them – we live near a large body of water, and honestly, mossy stuff grows quickly on EVERYTHING. The green shutters were power washed, then left to dry for a week in our garage. I like to make sure things are dry…… okay, I procrastinated until the weather was a little warmer, and the sun was shining. SUE ME!

Once the shutters were dry, I set up shop on the front lawn. I placed an old plastic tablecloth on the grass, put down a few rocks to make sure the plastic didn’t fly away. Then I went to town with my Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer.

It was fairly warm and dry out, so the shutters dried quickly.

What color did November Sunflower choose to update the vinyl shutters?

Once the primer was dry it was time to break out the fabulous blue color I’d chosen, while I tortured my mother at The Home Depot.

Doesn’t it remind you have the crystal blue waters in the warmer tropical regions of the world. I applied the gorgeous blue paint with a regular brush for the main parts, and then a smaller sponge brush to get in the shutter’s little nooks and crannies. I also had the kids help out with a small watercolor art brush. It worked well, they got in the little spots before I came by with the larger brush. When I missed small spots, they were there to do touch-ups!

Totally on my Own

The paint dried quickly, and the second coat went on much faster. The kids had abandoned me to go play. Dirty flat leavers! However, it was my DIY project and failing wasn’t an option. It didn’t matter it was hot as hell, and the sun was beating down on me, and no one was around to get me any water……I was GETTING THIS DONE!

Mission Completed

Oh yeah, see those shutters? I did that! After the shutters went up, our home suffered a flood. My projects kind of stopped for a few weeks, but now I’ve decided to get the ball rolling and do the front door. I don’t know how long it’ll take me to get it done, but I will get it done.

If you’re interested in painting on vinyl, and you’re not sure what to use, I recommend purchasing Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer. I’m a total novice when it comes to painting, indoors or outdoors. I’m totally not the normal DIY Project person, so take it from me, the product worked well! Even better? The shutters still look fantastic after hanging on the house for the last four months.

Do you love my shutters? Do you have vinyl shutters you want to update? Head over and make the primer purchase on Amazon.com. Below is my personalized affiliate link. It just means if you click on it, then make the purchase using my link, you’ll help support NovemberSunflower.com with a little income. It’s not a lot, just a little bit, and it doesn’t change the cost for you at all. It just means you’re helping me earn my keep here, and it allows me to continue to bring amazing articles to all of you!