Darkened Shutters? Professional Brightening and Discoloration Removal

Over time, shutters can become stained, darkened and discolored from mold, mildew, water damage, pollution, UV exposure and natural weathering. Instead of tolerating dingy shutters or replacing them unnecessarily, professional brightening services can safely remove discoloration and restore shutters to like-new brightness. This article explores processes for brightening darkened shutters through cleaning, bleaching, discoloration removal and refinishing.

Assessing Darkened Shutters

The first step is thoroughly inspecting shutter condition and identifying the causes of discoloration:

• Check for dark streaking or black/gray spots indicating mildew growth. Look for associated surface pitting.
• See if there is any swelling, warping or soft spongy wood signaling water damage.
• Note if shutters have an overall grayish cast or sooty dullness from pollution and UV exposure.
• Determine if color changes stem from the wood itself or just the finish coating.
• Try to match current color tone to common discoloration causes.
• Look for any white residue from efflorescence or lime runoff stains.

Proper diagnosis guides appropriate brightening techniques.

Cleaning Away Built-Up Grime

Before brightening, accumulated dirt, grime and loose paint must be cleaned off:

• Use power washing with diluted cleaners to remove surface pollutants and biological growth.
• Scrub mildew stains with deck wash containing sodium percarbonate to lift out discoloration.
• Brighteners containing oxalic or phosphoric acid help strip away gray wood oxidation and chalky residue.
• Abrasive tools remove failing finishes exposing discolored wood below.

Thorough cleaning prepares shutters for maximum brightening results.

Stripping Off Old Finish Layers

If the original wood substrate needs brightening, all existing finish layers must first be stripped away:

• Alkaline chemical strippers dissolve multiple coating layers for removal.
• Infrared heating lamps soften old finishes before scraping away.
• Media blasting with baking soda, dry ice or soda effectively strips finishes without damaging wood.
• Sanding or hand scraping gradually abrades through finish layers down to raw wood.

Stripping provides access to discolored wood fibers and pores for proper brightening penetration.

Bleaching Away Dark Stains

Once stripped and cleaned, various bleaching techniques lighten stained wood:

• Oxygen bleaches like sodium percarbonate safest for delicate woods, works slowly.
• Hydrogen peroxide-based brighteners act more quickly but raise wood grain. Requires sanding smooth.
• Oxalic/phosphoric acid solutions draw out dark oxidized wood tannins. Neutralize after use.
• Two part lye-based bleaches effective on gray weathering stains but higher risk requiring precautions.
• Concentrated deck brightener cleaners contain lightening agents that scrub away ingrained discoloration.

Pro bleaching maximizes discoloration removal while balancing wood integrity risks.

Corrective Staining, Toning and Coloring

Where discoloration persists after bleaching, corrective coloring treatments help achieve an even appearance:

• Adding supplementary stain color atop bleached sections to even out tone variation.
• Penetrating oil-based toners alter undertones and even out color.
• Tinted varnishes and wood stains add uniform tinting as they seal.
• Custom color matching and precision spray staining address difficult remaining spots.
• Opaque paint or solid color stains conceal all remaining flaws.

Layering bleaching with toning and staining offers limitless brightening and color correction abilities.

Sealers and Clear Top Coats

After bleaching and staining, fresh clear finish coats protect the renewed appearance:

• Natural wood brightening requires UV inhibitors in sealers to prevent re-darkening.
• Use spar varnish on exterior wood for moisture protection.
• Painted shutters benefit from primer first for ideal paint adhesion and coverage.
• Acrylic paints and enamels formulated for exterior use provide durable protection.

Sealing in the fresh brightened color retains results and prevents quick re-staining.

Hiring Professional Brightening Services

While DIY options may work temporarily, professional bleaching, toning and refinishing offers:

• Ability to thoroughly strip away failing finish layers down to bare wood.
• Expertise brightening and lifting stains without excessively damaging delicate wood.
• Wider range of effective and aggressive bleaching agent options.
• Precision spray finishing for immaculate and consistent coverage.
• Stain mixing and coloring proficiency to correct unevenness.
• Familiarity with finish compatibility to prevent adhesion issues.
• Tools, safety training, and waste management infrastructure.

Pro brightening provides stunning revitalization shutters can’t achieve at home.

Maintaining a Bright Finish

To sustain brightened finishes long term:

• Inspect annually for early dark spots and streaks. Catch issues before major restaining occurs.
• Wash gently using soft brushes, wood cleaners and low pressure rinses. Avoid abrasives.
• For natural wood, reapply penetrating UV inhibiting sealers every 2-3 years.
• Immediately clean any mildew outbreaks before discoloration sets in.
• Spot treat scratches and nicks to prevent moisture entry and decay under finishes.

Diligent maintenance preserves the renewed brilliance professional brightening achieves.

Don’t Replace, Revitalize!

Tired of having dingy, grayed shutters detract from your home’s aesthetics? Our experts specialize in brightening services using the latest processes to remove years of discoloration, restore original brilliance, and protect with long-lasting finishes. Let us revive the beauty of your shutters. Contact us today for an evaluation and estimate!