Installing Decorative Vinyl Shutters and Choosing the Right Hardware
Identify the shutter and fastener type, check the wall surface, and follow the instructions for that exact installation.
Installation begins with identifying the shutter style, fastener type, and wall surface. Vinyl spikes, Shutter-Loks, and metal screws use different instructions. Board-and-batten shutters may also have different mounting locations from louver or panel shutters.
Check the package before starting
Lay out the shutters and supplied hardware, and compare them with the product description. Mid-America’s current brochure lists Shutter-Loks and screws with its standard louver, panel, and board-and-batten products in the standard color program. Specialty products and other color programs can have different hardware packages, so check the exact item.
Plan the position
- Hold the shutter beside the window and check its top and bottom alignment.
- Confirm a clear mounting area and identify the surface behind the siding.
- Mark the mounting points using the manufacturer’s layout for the selected style.
- Use the specified hole sizes, depth, fasteners, and any required anchors for that wall surface.
- Secure the shutter without overtightening or distorting its face.
The manufacturer’s instructions take precedence over a general checklist. Perfect Shutters publishes separate directions for spikes, screws, board-and-batten, and other designs. Do not use one drilling pattern for every shutter.
Separate fasteners from decorative hardware
Installation fasteners secure the shutter to the building. Decorative hinges and S-hooks add a visual detail. They do not turn a fixed vinyl shutter into an operable one. Functional hinges, pintles, and holdbacks belong with shutters designed to use that system.
For a replacement, identify the existing fastener before removing it. Follow the maker’s removal method rather than pulling the shutter away from the wall.
Read the Perfect Shutters installation instructions or find the appropriate guide in Mid-America’s resource library.
