Refurbishing Shutters

[Dan Armstrong]

I have about eight custom shutters to rebuild. They are the swinging "real shutter" type with slats, originally made from pine, and about 15 years old. They are extra long almost 8 ft so replacement is $$$. We live in Georgia (hot and humid) so they have rotted in the bottom 6-12 inches where the sprinklers wet them daily but the shrubs keep them shaded and slow drying. I have a full shop so my plan is to re-mill new bottom pieces from PT pine. Finally my question is this: I need ideas on a method to splice in the new rails (approx. a 1.5 x 2.5 section)that can stand the brutal Georgia sun. Oh yeah, don't tell me to whack the shrubs, already did that.

[Keith]

First I am gald you cut the shrubs. Second, a couple if ideas for joining the new sections. If you have a router and table, try finger joints or lap joints or dowls and absoulty use Gorrilla glue. If you think it's needed, buy those flat steel bars with the 4 or 6 screw holes and attach them to the backs.