In preparing your home for the upcoming season of extreme weather or hurricane, the expense and cost of installing hurricane windows in Deerfield Beach, FL, can get pretty high. Fortunately, doing things yourself can always help you save tons of money from having to pay or hire a professional someone to install hurricane shutters for you. Some people choose to build their own protection or hurricane shutters to save money. Hiring a professional to install your hurricane windows can be the best solution as you prevent risking safety or improper installation of windows. However, there is always the option of building things yourself. Here is a simple guide on how to build slatted shutters.
Prepare the Materials Needed
First things first, wear your safety glasses. After doing so, proceed to measure the needed measurements depending on your window project. Cut one by four to the dimension you obtained. Make multiple cuts of these measurements to easily follow the succeeding process. You might also need to cut several pieces longitudinally down to 1 and 5/8 inches wide for the frame surrounding each window shutter. Here are the materials you will need for this project:
- 1-by-4 cedar
- Paintbrushes
- Clear spar varnish
- Jig
- Blue chalk
- Wood Glue
- Miter Saw
- Ultimate Wood Glue
- Worktable
- Nails
- Circular saw
- Paint (preferably black)
- Brad Nail Gun
Prepare the Wood and Assemble the Slats
In order to accentuate the natural beauty of the wood, seal the slats with the clear spar varnish, then proceed to paint the framework with the paint of your choice. After drying the painted pieces, assemble the slats.
Prepare the Trim Boards
Align the miter saw at a 45 degree angle, then cut the trim boards to this angle on each of the edges. Use the blue chalk to mark the jig board so that the trim pieces will be installed with a quarter inch of overhang exceeding the slats.
Attach the Trim Pieces to the Slats Before Covering the Ends
Using strong wood glue and at least a single nail attached through every slat, secure the trim pieces to the slats. Assess whether the pieces are strongly attached before covering the ends. In covering the ends, you will add at least a quarter inch strip on the slats’ edges to cover the ends and the quarter inch overhang.
Finish the Process by Adding Touch-up Paint
Using the paint of your choice, patch up and make the necessary final touches around the edge of the shutters and let the air dry your work.
After carefully following the instructions above, get ready to impress your neighbors with your DIY hurricane slatted shutters. Before talking to your trusted window company regarding your hurricane windows in Deerfield Beach, FL, you may check out simple guides, such as the one mentioned above, and assess whether you can do the job to save money. Regardless of your plans on whether you should hire a professional for the installation of your windows or do the job yourself, it is important that you have sufficient knowledge so you can easily follow through with the installation process.
