Shutter Painting & Restoration

Our Approach

Shutter painting requires patience, methodical working, and exceptional attention to detail, particularly with louvred designs where each individual slat must be coated on both faces, both edges, and both ends to provide complete protection. We begin by carefully assessing the condition of the existing paint system: if it is sound, well-adhered, and free from defects, we clean the surface with sugar soap, abrade with fine-grit sandpaper to provide a key, and overcoat with the appropriate finish. If the paint is failing — flaking, peeling, crazed, or built up to the point where it obscures moulding detail — we strip back to bare timber using Speedheater infrared paint removers that soften old coatings without scorching the wood or releasing the toxic fumes associated with heat guns on lead-painted surfaces. All hardware — hinges, shutter bars, stays, catches, and fastening bolts — is removed before painting begins, allowing us to coat every edge, rebate, and hidden surface that would otherwise trap moisture and promote rot. For exterior shutters, we use microporous paint systems from Teknos and Sikkens that allow moisture vapour to escape from the timber while remaining waterproof against rain on the surface — this breathability is critical for shutters that are exposed to London's frequent rainfall and rarely dry out completely during winter months. Interior shutters receive a fine eggshell or satinwood finish that resists fingerprints, withstands daily handling, and is easy to wipe clean. On managed estates such as the Grosvenor and Cadogan estates, we work strictly within the specified colour palette and obtain all necessary written approvals before any work begins.

Materials & Brands

Our shutter painting specification draws from the best professional timber coatings available for both exterior and interior applications. Exterior shutters are finished with Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior Gloss or Satin, which provides outstanding weather resistance and colour retention in London's demanding climate; Teknos Aquatop 2600, a high-performance water-based topcoat favoured by heritage joinery specialists for its microporous breathability and excellent flow; or Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus for natural timber finishes where the grain is to remain visible through a translucent stain. Interior shutters are painted with Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell for its beautiful depth of colour and sophisticated sheen; Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell for its exceptional durability, wipability, and resistance to yellowing; or Benjamin Moore Advance for its self-levelling properties that produce a factory-smooth finish by brush alone. Primers are selected based on the condition of the timber: Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer seals knots, stains, and old tannin bleed; Dulux Trade Quick Dry Wood Primer provides excellent adhesion on bare softwood; and Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is used where an all-purpose water-based primer is appropriate. Timber repairs use Repair Care or Ronseal High Performance Wood Filler for structural patches, and Liberon wood hardener to consolidate soft, partially decayed areas.

Property Considerations

Shutters on listed buildings and within conservation areas must be repainted to match the approved colour — typically a specific shade of white, cream, or heritage colour stipulated by the estate management company or the local planning authority. In Belgravia and Mayfair, Grosvenor Estate specifications dictate exact colour references and finish types, and we carry these standard colours on our works vehicles for immediate matching. The Cadogan Estate in Chelsea maintains its own palette, as does the Crown Estate for properties around Regent's Park. We are thoroughly familiar with all of these requirements and handle every aspect of the approval process on the client's behalf. Access is often the primary practical challenge for shutter painting: exterior shutters on upper floors of four- and five-storey London townhouses may require scaffold towers, cherry picker access, or rope access for individual shutter removal and refitting. We survey each property, specify the safest and most cost-effective access method, and arrange all necessary equipment and highway licences where scaffold overhangs the pavement. For interior plantation shutters, we can paint them in situ or remove them to our workshop for spray finishing — the workshop option delivers a superior finish and avoids masking and overspray concerns in furnished rooms.

Frequently Asked Questions