How To Paint Window Frames

Painting windows takes a little patience and a steady manus, but it'due south super rewarding when you see the finished result and sure to help bring all lovely window dressing ideas to life. Whether you're painting timber window frames or more than modern uPVC, this DIY can transform the look of your home, inside and out, and information technology'due south much cheaper than investing in new windows birthday...

Judy Smith, Crown Paints Color Consultant notes how. 'Painting window frames and surrounds is an easy and cheap way to update your home and introduce some much needed colour.'

Certain, it'southward non a job for the faint hearted but, our tried and tested technique will prove y'all how to paint windows to get the very best finish, with ease. The primal is skilful preparation of grade, plus, using quality materials and tools.

'The wonderful matter virtually this feature of the firm is that it brings in the natural lite, so you lot can become equally light or as nighttime as you wish. I personally love the effect a bright shade of mustard yellow creates, equally it reflects any natural light you accept coming through and almost glows in the sunshine. For the same reason, if you'd like to achieve a bold window look, a gloss paint volition exist more effective than a matt cease, as it reflects lite more than.' Says Smith.

What kind of paint do yous use on windows?

If y'all're painting timber window frames, you'll want to await for the all-time paints for wood and if yous're painting uPVC windows, spray paints are the best method (more on this below). Information technology's not only about what will give you a nice finish and the best colour, but it's besides about what will help protect your window frames and prolong their lifespan. 'When choosing products for your window painting projection, make sure y'all choose paint that is suitable for the kind of surface yous're working with. For wooden window frames, opt for a multi-surface product that'due south suitable for wood, to ensure the paint sticks to the surface and allows it to breathe. Pigment suitable for wood has also been specifically formulated to protect the surface and avoid peeling and cracking if exposed to the sun.'

How to pigment windows

Follow experienced renovator Sian Astley'southward how-to video below to achieve a professional terminate with timber window frames and apply our step-by-step further downwards to try it for yourself – whether your windows frames are wooden or uPVC.

Yous will need:

A few small paint brushes
Paint (water-based paints are platonic for timber and have a quicker drying fourth dimension than solvent-based formulations)
Toothbrush
Sandpaper
Small plastic pot, such as a used, simply clean yogurt or soup pot
Scraper
Masking tape
Cloth and water
Screwdriver/drill

Find out more about how to maintain timber windows on our dedicated page.

1. Choose your color

The await you lot become for is of course totally up to you lot. Smith says, 'The window surround and frame do not need to lucifer other skirting and woodwork in the room. One stand up-alone window feature will create a existent focal point and can, in some cases, add a bold dissimilarity. Information technology is important to paint window recesses and frames using the aforementioned colour, to create maximum affect and really make the shade yous've chosen pop.

2. Clean the window frames

Before you begin painting windows, wipe the frames down with a clean, damp fabric to make sure there'southward no dirt or debris on the wood or plastic. Yous may like to use a sugar lather for a deeper clean, which will also help the primer and pigment attach better. Lay a dust sheet nether the window if needed.

See how to clean windows like a pro.

iii. Sand abroad any rough edges

This is a really important stride when painting windows then don't go skipping information technology! Use a small piece of medium-grade sandpaper to sand away any rough edges or grooves in the timber or uPVC window frame, which could show up through the paint and create an imperfect consequence. Work on minor sections at a time and use your finger to feel where the crude parts of the frame textile are.

iv. Castor off any dust

In one case you've smoothed the surface, use a clean, dry paint brush to castor away the dust, making sure to remove it all and so none goes into the paint. You tin can fifty-fifty use a toothbrush to become into corners or narrow areas.

bright yellow painted timber window frame from Crown

v. Remove handles

You lot don't desire to get paint on your window fittings, so it's all-time to remove them at this phase. Simply use a drill or screwdriver to remove the screws and gentle pull the handle out. Continue the handle and screws in a safe identify until you're ready to reattach them.

bedroom window in 1700s new england farmhouse

6. Mask off the expanse

For perfect straight lines and to make sure you lot don't get pigment on the window itself, use masking tape to mask off each window pane, ensuring you lot stick the tape as close to the frame as possible.

7. Utilize a primer

This is a step that is worth the extra time and endeavour, as an undercoat will ensure the finish lasts. Enquire your local DIY shop if they tin can apply some dye to your undercoat if y'all've chosen a specific color as the top glaze. For example, if y'all're painting your timber window frames in dark gray, you could use an undercoat, which has had some grayness added to information technology. For white finishes, stick to a simple white undercoat.

8. Pigment the start coat

Now you lot're ready to paint the window frames in your choice of color. Start in one place and carefully piece of work away from this and around the entire frame. Avoid starting in 1 place and jumping to another, which could result in 'dry lines' and create an uneven cease. Use a minor brush and a little corporeality of pigment and pigment thin layers, rather than a thick coverage. Leave the first coat to dry completely.

Acquit in mind that timber windows are made upwardly of pieces of wood that run in unlike directions. Different flat matt emulsions, gloss and satin paints tend to more readily bear witness upwardly drips and brush marks so work from top to bottom and accept intendance around the corners of the window frame.

Paint in the management of the forest grain, using light strokes and take care non to overload the brush with paint, spreading each coat thinly. Use a small-scale one-half-inch brush (or a cutting-in brush) for awkward areas and and so switch to a slightly wider (effectually 2") brush for other areas.

Freshly painted window frames look great against dark walls

ix. Carefully end the summit coat

Apply the terminal coat of paint, ensuring that this is also a sparse layer. Make sure that the whole window frame is as covered. Leave to dry.

x. Reattach fittings

One time dry, carefully remove the masking tape. So, use a screwdriver or drill to put the handles back into place and admire the results of your perfectly painted window frame(due south).

Should yous pigment uPVC windows?

If you're thinking of painting your uPVC windows, the beginning thing you accept to know is that it'southward best not to paint yours if they are newly installed. You'll need to wait at least 12 months after installation then that the terminal layer of plastic (usually added during the final manufacturing process) wears off, allowing the pigment to take to information technology. Information technology'south worth noting too that some professionals think painting uPVC windows will reduce their lifespan since sanding them downwards, may crusade the pigment to chip and scissure overtime. Somewhen, their efficiency may be reduced which could really touch on some abode insurance policies. To reduce any dissentious furnishings on your frames, make certain you cull paint that is resistant to UV as mentioned and check your insurance too!

Otherwise, this can be a brilliant mode to update modern windows fabricated of this hard wearing cloth, which is an affordable alternative to wood. If y'all're proficient to go, you lot desire to employ a paint that volition attach to plastic surfaces and that has added UV filters to stop whatever bleaching, wear and tear.

The best method to achieve a professional finish is to follow the method in a higher place as with timber window frames, simply to use a spray paint instead to employ the color.

See more on painting outside of a house .

Give information technology a endeavour!