Woodwork
Weathered Wooden Shutters Refinished
Shutters that had turned grey and cracked in the sun were sanded and given a warm wood finish again.
Step by step
1. Before
The sun had stripped the colour from the wood, which had gone grey and cracked across the panels.
2. Sanding and finishing
The wood is sanded back until it is clean. Here the left leaf has just been sanded and the right one already has its final finish.
3. The result
Both leaves have their colour back, and the finish protects the wood from sun and rain.
Questions this job answers
My wooden shutters are faded and peeling. Can they be saved or do they need replacing?If the wood underneath is sound, they can usually be saved: sanded back to clean wood, primed and painted, or given a clear finish. Wood that has rotted and gives under pressure needs repair or replacing.Should I paint or varnish my wooden shutters and door?It depends on the wood and on what you want to see. Paint covers the wood and hides old repairs. Varnish lets the grain show, but it needs clean, sound wood underneath.My wood has gone grey and cracked. Does that mean it's rotten?Not necessarily. Greying and fine cracks are usually surface wear from the sun and come off with sanding. Rotten wood is soft, gives when you press it, or crumbles.