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Once we have decided we are up to the job of installing our self install DIY shutters, one of the main ingredients for success is to choose the right tools for the job. This means the tools will help us to facilitate the best results for installing shutters and the finished work will look as professional as possible, as though we had a full installation service!
It's not a major installation job fitting your own shutters, if you have ever installed a kitchen or other similar DIY project then fitting shutters is a walk in the park, you just have to be prepared! The essential tools required for self install shutters are pretty basic, you're going to need:
- measuring tape
- step ladder
- power drill (ideally - although a traditional hand-held mechanical drill will do - does anyone still use these apart from me!?)
- hammer
- Seriously that is all the tools you'll need!
All the rest of the hardware for fitting your self install shutters should come from your DIY shutters supplier. These may include some frame fixers, screws and small nails or panel adhesive.
Depending on the material of the shutter and the window you can use either a power drill, recommended for plastic or metal windows, or alternatively handheld drills are good to work with wood if you don't have a power drill handy. check out your local tool merchants or online stores for the best prices on power drills. If you don't have a drill already you could opt for chuckless drills these days for a really quick change of bits.
Your first and most important step which you will have already accomplished hopefully(!) is to correctly measure the window or door for self install shutters. Help yourself with the ladder for easy reach to avoid guestimating your measurements and get in with the action at all areas to provide fully accurate measures of the width and height of the window or door for your perfect fit of the shutters. You will have performed this step in order for your new shutters to have arrived all at the correct size! But depending on the shutter supplier, you might have to double measure and check the packages you receive to make sure you fixing the right shutter in the right place. Obvious as it sounds these kind of mistakes do happen!
Just in case if possible, allow yourself a spare number of frame fixers and screws, and although not essential it is advised to secure the mortise and tenon joints of the frame either with small 15mm panel nails or alternatively use a PVC or similar wood adhesive for a tighter more permanent finish.
For the perfect finishing touch with your self installation shutters job, the shutters can be painted after hanging to make them longer lasting and ensure that their quality endures. Many if not most shutters come fully finished in various shutter colours and styles of stain, however unfinished wooden shutters are becoming more popular these days. If you are going to stain or paint your own DIY shutters, it is recommended that you choose the brush and paint according to the material of the shutter. There are a variety of paints for interiors and exteriors just make sure you pick the right one for this application. If you do not want to take a risk with the colour, choose a clear varnish for wood or a neutral colour for other materials. Generally you'll want a strong professional brush of about 50mm (depending on your shutter slat sizes) and use natural hair brushes where possible - although modern synthetic brushes are pretty darn good these days of course. When you have figured out your tools for the job don't forget to read our article about choosing diy shutters and make sure your chosen supplier will be able to get the right shutter styles you want.
We're going to go into even more detail about hanging your own shutters in another article, but we hope you found this useful as an introduction! Remember, you can always contact us with any shutter questions you have about DIY shutters!
