Scavenger Chic

Rustic Shutter Arbor DIY

• By Joan
• November 2, 2017
• 5 Comments

Back in September of last year I got a message from a neighbor of mine telling me about the local salvage yard giving away  a bunch of their mismatched shutters.  I was sure that by the time I would be able to get there that there would be none left, but I was pleasantly surprised and managed to load up about 15 shutters.

I’ve been working on shutter projects ever since and I still have a few left.

All the supplies needed are based on shutters 18″ in width.  You may have to adjust your lengths if you have wider or narrower shutters.

• 2 matching shutters  (18″ wide)
• 3 2×4’s  or pallet side pieces, cut 2, 48″, and  2, 18″ (the width of the shutter)
• 4, 8 ft  2×3’s or 2×4’s
• top arbor pieces, you can use 1×6’s,  1×4’s or pallet wood pieces  … cut 6 pieces about 38″
• deck screws

My 2×3’s were left over from my son’s wedding arbor.   The wedding arbor was beautiful but not really built to last.  Many of the sticks were not the freshest, so that arbor was dismantled before we even got home.  I kept all the support posts…I can always use a piece of wood. 

I thought I had the 4 long  pieces leftover but one was too short.  Back to the store to get one more 2×3.

I’m using regular lumber because that’s what I had on hand, but you may want to consider using treated wood to last longer.

Lay out the 4, 8 ft 2×3’s next to the shutter.    Leave about a foot of the 2×3 above the shutter.

Start screwing in the deck screws especially where there are crossbars on the shutter.

Stand the shutter up and finish screwing.

In the area where you left the extra foot, add the 18″ piece of pallet wood or 2×4.  Use more deck screws to attach.

My plan all along was to paint the entire arbor when I was finished (I was thinking white) but I kind of liked the dark shutter with the walnut stained wood. So instead of painting, I ended up staining the new 2×3 and those last 18″ pieces.  This is a stain and varnish combo, varathane.

It was at this point when I realized that this thing was getting kind of heavy.  It was much easier to drag the arbor outside now and assemble it  in place rather than trying to move it once it was constructed.

I chopped the bottom corners off of the 48″ pallet wood sides and screwed it to the 2×3’s.

Flipped over and attached the remaining 48″ piece.

For the top of the arbor I’m using a few pieces of old decking.  Cut 6 pieces 38″ in length.

You could cut the ends with just a straight angled cut, but if you like a fancier edge, cut a pattern from  stiff paper and transfer it to the 1×6 ends.  Cut with a jigsaw or scroll saw.

Mark where those top arbor pieces hit the 2×4’s.

Cut out a notch about an inch in depth.  

If your first board fits, you can use that as a pattern to mark the remaining boards.

Use even more deck screws to attach these final arbor pieces.

Have a great day and a fantastic weekend.  Stay inspired.

As for what I did with the rest of those shutters (and a few more) you can find those below.

SHUTTERS

Shared at DIY Salvaged Junk Projects,

 Metamorphosis Monday, Wow us Wednesdays,

Talk of the Town,

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Double Shutter DIY Wardrobe Soda Can, Vintage Number Labels Pallet Wood, Shutters and Thingamajigs Maryland Flag DIY Table