Rustic Shutter Arbor DIY



DIY Shutter Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

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

 

Stick Wedding Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

Flipped over and attached the remaining 48″ piece.

DIY Shutter Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

DIY Shutter Arbor

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

DIY Shutter Arbor

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.

DIY Shutter Arbor

 

DIY Shutter Arbor

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

DIY Shutter Arbor

 

DIY Shutter Arbor

DIY Shutter Arbor

DIY Shutter Arbor

DIY Shutter Arbor

DIY Shutter Arbor

 

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 MondayWow us Wednesdays,

Talk of the Town,

 

 

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