Question on Vinyl Shutters

[freebird914]

I bought some vinyl shutters 15x59 (58.5) My opening is actually 15x58 can I trim off .5 inches and what would be the best way to do this ?

I really want to build some useable shutters in the future, Has anyone done this ?

Suggestions ?

Thanks

 

[Mustang1167]

I've cut vinyl siding with a circular saw. Used a plywood blade installed backwards in the saw. Idk if trimming shutters would require a different method.

 

[rlitman]

I thought all vinyl shutters were hollow. You cannot cut any part of them. It would be like cutting into a hollow core door.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I bought some vinyl shutters 15x59 (58.5) My opening is actually 15x58 can I trim off .5 inches and what would be the best way to do this ?

I really want to build some useable shutters in the future, Has anyone done this ?

Suggestions ?

Thanks

Does it really matter that the shutters are .5 inches longer than the opening of the window frame?

I don't think anyone would even notice that. When you install them just split the difference and put them .25 inches higher than your opening in the window frame.

And as rlitman said, most of those are hollow. My house has shutters and half of them are the old wooden ones and half are the newer vinyl ones. If you put them side by side they don't look exactly alike, and the vinyl ones are a bit longer than the wooden ones.

But because they are installed in sets, and each side of the house used all wood or all vinyl shutters, they are all matched on each side, and no one has ever noticed they are different.

If you try to cut a half inch off, you will have to take a quarter inch off the top and a quarter inch off the bottom to make the outer frame look even. And if you do that you will cut off the bottom and top supporting material and the shutters will look like ****, as well as they will warp along the top and bottom edges.

Jim

 

[mmb617]

I used to work for a building materials distributor that sold a lot of vinyl shutters. I've never seen any that could be trimmed to fit because as the others have mentioned they are not solid. Cutting off the end will leave it open on that end.

 

[bczygan]

More important, to have them look right, is that they be of a width, that the two shutters would fill the total width of the window opening.

But most plastic shutters are not. They are narrower and just for decoration.

They do make real working shutters and the hardware needed to operate them,

Did you know that a fixed louver shutter, that is operable, should have the louvers set so that when open against the wall, the water is directed toward the wall. That way, when they are closed, the water is shed.

Bill

 

[Karl's Garage]

Everyone has said what needs to be said here, but I agree. Split the difference and hang them. Do not cut vinyl shutters.

 

[SH7mi]

I really want to build some useable shutters in the future, Has anyone done this ?

Suggestions ?

Thanks

Not too difficult to make shutters. I have true cedar shutters on my house. The shutters are basically 2x6 cedar plank milled which run vertical fastened together with a whaler (horizontal board 5/4x4) cut to fit the size of each window. The hinges are offset to accommodate the shutter closing properly as to not hit the window. Shutter dogs are also required, these are installed on the wall below the shutter to hold it open.