How to Make Beautiful Exterior Cedar Shutters

There are so many different ways to build your shutters. I'm going to show you one of the easiest ways to create gorgeous shutters. You'll need to get some weather resistant lumber such as Redwood or Cedar. These types of lumber hold up for many long years in the elements.

I prefer to use Cedar, because it's most attractive. Now you need to decide how many shutters you need. Measure each window from top to bottom. Measure only the windows that you plan to use your shutters on. Now decide, how wide you want your shutters according to how big your windows are. Usually anywhere from sixteen to twenty four inches wide would be plenty.

You can purchase your lumber in several different widths. Calculate the amount of wood you'll need to complete the project. If you get four inch width you'll need at least four strips of wood to make each shutter including an extra piece to make the cross boards.

Cut all of your boards to fit each window. Then take your pieces and put them side by side to make the rectangular shape. Measure across the width of your boards and cut two or three strips to that size. Now measure the length of your shutter and place the two or three strips evenly onto your shutters. Mark where they go with a pencil.

You can sand and finish the wood with a polyurethane if you choose. Place the strips down first. Choose which side is most attractive and face that side down over top of the strips. To make your shutters stronger I personally would use screws. Make sure that you get the right length screw so the screw does not come through the front. Also get a screw that can tolerate the elements

Once you've screwed all of your shutters together turn them over and see if any screws happened to have come through if so back them out. Now you have some beautiful homemade shutters that look as if you've paid a fortune for them. Hang your shutters with screws.