My wooden shutters are faded and peeling. Can they be saved or do they need replacing?

Sun and rain wear out the finish first and then the wood. The paint peelsPeeling paintWhen paint loses its grip and lifts off in flakes or sheets. It is almost always a sign of a problem underneath, usually damp or poor preparation., the wood is left exposed, turns grey and cracksCrackA split or gap in render, concrete, a wall, a coating or wood. Fine cracks are usually only on the surface; ones that grow, keep reopening or run diagonally need attention.. But as long as the wood underneath is sound, the problem is on the surface and the shutters can look good again.

On these shutters the paint had peeled and the wood was left exposed to the weather, especially at the bottom. The old paint came off with a sanderSandingSmoothing a surface with sandpaper or a power sander to remove bumps, loose old paint or gloss, so the new paint or varnish grips well and comes out smooth. and scraper until sound wood showed. Then a primerPrimerThe thin first coat that goes on before the main material. It binds dust, seals the pores and helps paint or waterproofing stick firmly. went on, which seals the grain and gives a good base, and finally the top coat.

If you want the grain to show, a clear or semi-transparent finish goes on instead of paint. On another pair of shutters, the sun had stripped the colour from the wood, which had gone greyWeathered (grey) woodThe grey, rough layer wood develops when it is left unprotected in sun and rain. It is surface wear and usually comes off with sanding. and cracked. It was sanded back until it was clean and given a finish in a warm wood colour that protects it from sun and rain.

Keep in mind: press a screwdriver into the bottom rails and the joints, where water sits. If the wood is soft or crumbles, it has rottedWood rotDecay of wood caused by fungi when it stays damp for a long time. Rotten wood goes soft, gives when pressed or crumbles, and can't be saved with paint., and that piece needs repairing or replacing before any painting. How much of a shutter can be saved only shows when someone looks at it up close.