How to Install Shutters Without Drilling Into Siding

Key Points

Are you thinking of adding shutters to your home but don’t know how to choose the look without drilling holes in the siding? There are options for choosing shutters without a permanent commitment.

Lisa is considering installing shutters on her home but doesn’t want to drill holes that she’ll regret.
She’s unsure of how to decide the best color or style of window shutters.
Siding clips, which are designed for electricians or cable TV installers, can snap into vinyl siding without causing damage.
Siding clips can be used to temporarily hang the shutters and assess their appearance without committing to drilling.
Photoshop or similar photo design software can be used to visualize different shutter styles and colors before installation on the house.

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Key Points
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Transcript

LESLIE: Lisa in Michigan is on the line and might want to install shutters without drilling holes in her siding. What’s going on at your money pit?

LISA: So what I wanted to do is I wanted to put shutters on the house but I’m not sure which color or which style.

TOM: OK.

LISA: But the only way to fasten the shutters is to drill into the siding.

TOM: Oh, interesting. OK.

LISA: So I don’t really want to do that because if it doesn’t work out, then I have holes in my siding.

TOM: Get a hole in your siding, yeah. That’s a good question. Hmm. Got to get creative on how to install shutters without drilling into siding.

Well, let’s – let me ask you this: if you put the shutters up, are they all going to be about the same size?

LISA: Yes.

TOM: Well, then, I don’t think it really matters, because the – you could make sure that the drill pattern is the same no matter what style shutter you put up.

LISA: But I may find out that shutters don’t work at all.

LESLIE: Now, Lisa, do you have any friends who are good at Photoshop?

TOM: Yeah, exactly.

LISA: OK. I just didn’t know if there were any fasteners that locked into the …

TOM: To the siding? You know, there is a – there are types of fasteners that are designed to snap into vinyl siding without causing damage. And they’re often used by electricians or cable TV installers. And they’re actually called “siding clips.” And basically, they’re designed to kind of hold a wire. And they clip under the siding so you don’t have to actually pierce the siding. You may be able to find those and install some of those clips and then try to figure out a way to hang the shutter to the clip, at least temporarily, so you can have an idea as to whether or not it looks good and you’re happy with it before making that commitment.

So, look for those vinyl-siding hanging – “sliding clips,” they’re called. And maybe that will get you where you want to go. Or as Leslie said, “Best bet: learn Photoshop.”