Restoration Step by Step

Every piece of wood wears in its own way, but the order of the work is much the same. Let's follow it on a set of old painted shutters that were sandedSandingSmoothing 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., primedPrimerThe thin first coat that goes on before the main material. It binds dust, seals the pores and helps paint or waterproofing stick firmly. and repainted instead of being replaced.

1. Taking them down and protecting the area

On this job the leaves were taken out of their frames and worked on standing up or laid flat, with cardboard protecting the floor. With a leaf out of its frame, the sanding and painting reach every side, including the bottom ends, which you don't see but which take the most water.

2. Scraping and sanding

Old paint that isn't holding comes off with a scraper, and then the wood is sanded with a power sander. The aim is to reach sound wood and not leave ridges of old paint that would show under the new coat. On the louvres and mouldings, where the sander doesn't fit, it usually takes sandpaper by hand.

3. Repairs

Sanding reveals what the wood has been hiding. Small holes 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. are filled with wood fillerFillerA fine paste or powder that fills holes, fine cracks and dents so a wall, ceiling or piece of wood is smooth before it is painted. and sanded again so they don't show under the paint. Joints that have opened up need tightening. RottenWood 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. spots need a different approach: the damaged wood is cut out and new wood is fitted, or, if the damage is extensive, the leaf is replaced. Which of the two applies is decided at that point, on the wood itself.

4. Primer

Once the wood is clean and dry, the primer goes on. It seals the grain so the paint isn't soaked up unevenly, and gives a firm base for the coats that follow. Primer doesn't come out even, because the wood doesn't absorb it the same way everywhere. That's why the coats of paint come next.

5. Final coats

Then come the coats of paint or varnishVarnishA clear or semi-transparent finish for wood that lets the grain show through and protects it from sun, rain and wear., with a light sanding in between where needed. The bottom ends and the edges need the same care as the front face, because that's where water gets in first. Hardware such as hinges and handles is either protected or painted too. Once everything is properly dry, the leaves go back in place.

In the end, the same shutters that had been peelingPeeling 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. had a clean, even colour again.