Painting - Window Frames

Tools you’ll need:

• Paint stripper (optional)
• Sander and sandpaper
• Paint scraper
• Good quality exterior paint (consider gloss as it’s tough and resistant) or a wood varnish or stain
• Paint primer (for wood)
• Paintbrushes (a few varying sizes is ideal)
• Wood filler (if required to repair any flaws in a wooden window frame)
• Step ladders

Time:

Depending on the size of your window frame, it could take up to two hours.

Skill level:

Easy for DIY beginners

Safety first:

Always have a dust mask to hand when you sand any areas.

Painting your window frames? Learn how to get that professional look

Shabby window frames, clad in peeling faded paint, can make a house look tired and unkempt. But getting them looking brilliant again doesn’t necessarily require a team of decorating experts - provided you’re up to the job. Painting window frames gives an instant fresh update, and makes an impressive difference to the overall look of a house - both inside and outside.

What’s best - paint or varnish?

This is a question of personal taste. A sparkling coat of white enamel adds a light, contemporary feel to wooden frames, especially if they are large bold frames. While a coat of varnish - either a clear coat or a stain (available to match all sorts of wood types, from mahogany to oak and beech) - looks great on smaller modern window frames. Before making your choice, consider your style and décor theme. Clear varnished windows are complementary to cottage, farm style homes, as they are natural and have an earthy appeal. White painted window frames in a modern decorated Victorian house would look grandeur and striking. Yet, wooden frames clearly varnished would match beautifully with solid wood flooring, giving a more simplistic feel.

Getting started

Once you’ve chosen either paint or varnish (or a wood stain), you’ll need to prepare the window frames thoroughly before getting started. The result will be disappointing if you skip this vital stage because your final work will simply bubble and peel off in a short time.

Preparing the surface

Step 1:

• You can either use a sander (medium grit sandpaper) to remove any traces of paint (especially peeling paint).
• Paint stripper is also another option of removing old paint.
• When using paint stripper ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Step 2:

• If sanding, make sure you’ve removed all flaking paint.

Step 3:

• Repair any imperfections in the wooden frames. If there are small holes you can fill them up with wood filler or putty (available from most DIY and hardware stores).
• Once dry sand the filler down so it’s level with the surrounding wood.
• If there’s a small amount of wood rot use a chisel to scrape it out and then fill the opening with wood filler or putty.

Step 4:

• Thoroughly wipe down the window frame, remove any dust, grease or dirt.
• Before you begin painting, use masking tape and cover any fittings. If possible, remove the fittings so they don’t get accidental splashes of paint.
• Stick masking tape the window’s edging to protect it from paint and to give a seamless finish between wood frame and glass.

Step 5:

• Apply a coat of primer (make sure the primer is compatible with wood).
• Applying a coat of primer gives the top coat of paint a bond to adhere to.
• It’s a very important part of the surface preparation before you begin painting.

Step 6:

• Once the primer has dried (read manufacturer’s instructions) apply a first and a second coat of paint.
• Apply the paint sparingly, dabbing only the tip of the paintbrush into the paint.
• If you apply too much paint it will run and dripping, giving you a far from perfect finish.