How to Make Shutters and Window Boxes
If you have plain exterior walls, shutters with a matching or complementary window box will give your home a handcrafted look. You probably won’t put a window box in every window. But by making shutters for all the windows on the most public side of your house and by adding a window box or two, you can quickly give your house a unified look.
Use very rot-resistant wood for both the shutters and the window box. Choose high-quality lumber that has been well dried, or your projects may warp during hot weather. A project like this will take about a day.
Make a Window Box
Small window boxes – no more than 5 inches deep and wide – can simply be screwed into the side of a house. A larger box must be supported from underneath, or it will fall apart and could damage the siding.
The box probably will look most attractive if it is as wide as the window, including the molding. Plan to set it just below the bottom molding of the window, unless you expect to have tall foliage – in that case, set it lower.
Cut the bottom from pressure-treated plywood, and drill a series of 3/8-inch holes, about 6 inches apart, for drainage. Cut the 1×8 end and side pieces so they fit outside the bottom and cover its edges. Attach the ends and sides to each other and to the bottom, using glue and 1 5/8-inch screws or 6d galvanized nails. Drill pilot holes to avoid cracking the wood.
At a copy center, enlarge one of the patterns until it is the size you want for your box. Cut a 1×8 face piece to cover the front of the box. Trace the design on it and cut it out using a drill and a saber saw. Attach the face piece with glue and screws or nails.
Install the 1×2 top trim pieces with their outside edges flush with the outside edges of the box. Miter-cut the corners, and attach by drilling pilot holes and driving 6d galvanized nails or 1 5/8-inch screws. Give the box two coats of exterior paint. Fill with 1-2 inches of gravel, followed by light topsoil with plenty of peat moss or other organic matter.
To support the box, purchase decorative brackets. Follow the instructions for installing the bracket.
Choose or Make Shutters
You may find shutters that suit your needs. Vinyl shutters need little maintenance but are available in a limited choice of colors. To make your own shutters, cut two 1x4s and two 1x2s to the width of the shutter, and two 1x4s to the height of the shutter, minus 7 inches. Make the top and bottom pieces by laminating a 1×4 and 1×2 together for each. Use glue and drive 1 ¼-inch screws every 6 inches or so. Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood.
Lay the pieces upside down on a work surface, with the 1x2s on top. Position the side pieces to make the complete frame. Measure for the side 1x2s, cut, and attach them using glue and 1 ¼-inch screws. As you work, check to be sure the sides remain parallel and the corners square.
Cut the plywood to fit in back. Use the template from the window box to mark fir cutting a decorative detail. Behind the cut detail, glue a piece of ¼-inch plywood to cover the hole. Cut a horizontal middle piece and glue it in place, driving screws from the back side of the plywood.
