A bad paint job can diminish the value of your windows and even the value of your home. If you use the wrong kind of paint, it can cause the material of your windows to deteriorate faster and make them less effective. At Arch City Window, we’re all about windows that do their jobs correctly and look great, so we would hate for that to happen to you.
Here are some tips to paint your windows correctly:
Check the Windows Beforehand
Some manufacturers of vinyl windows do not want you to paint their windows, and so painting them can void your warranty. Depending on manufacturer, painting your windows can actually indirectly damage them. This happens because when you paint the window you can make it absorb more heat. Obviously, when more heat is absorbed then it’s built for, it will deteriorate and break down.
If you have light-colored vinyl, try to keep it light colored. It’s similar to a t-shirt – when it’s a warm day, you’ll feel a lot better wearing a white shirt than a dark grey or black.
Check the Paint, Too
You’re going to need to find specific paint that works for vinyl windows. Your manufacturer might even have some recommended options that are safe for your windows. When in doubt, ask them. As we mentioned earlier, painting with the wrong paint can void your warranty or break your windows. The only thing worse than broken windows are broken windows that are no longer under warranty. You’ll need primer AND paint, so make sure both are good.
Another thing to consider is your interior and exterior paint. It’s smart to go with neutral, light colors because they will go well with almost everything. If you decide to paint your main window lime green, it might not look too good!
Dry, Clean, Sand
No, we’re not talking about your favorite beach. Now that you have your paint and primer all ready, you need to make sure the windows are ready to be painted. Take a look at our other post about the proper way to clean your windows beforehand. It requires a strip applicator/sponge, squeegee, and some soapy water and a rag. After it’s cleaned, make sure the windows are completely dry.
Once the windows are dry, you want to sand the vinyl until it feels a little bit rough. This is because vinyl naturally isn’t easy to paint. It’s built to withstand water – like rain. That’s one of the reasons why it’s used for windows. Be sure to clean off any excess dust before you paint so it goes on smoothly.
Tape and Prime it
Get some painter’s tape and cover the edges near the glass, plus any glass that you think will get wet from the paint. Again, make sure you have vinyl-safe primer and paint everything down. We recommend using something like a sponge to avoid brush marks that will naturally happen unless you’re an experienced painter. Step back and let the primer dry.
Painting Time!
Once the primer is dry, it’s time to paint. Yet again, make sure that you’re using vinyl-safe paint. You can use the same technique as you did with the primer, except you’ll probably need to do two, maybe three layers of paint. Make sure to let the paint dry before you star the next layer!
Painting your windows can certainly make them look better. If you do it the wrong way, it could also make them look worse. There’s a lot of things to consider when painting your windows. If you have a two-story house, be sure that you’re using a safe ladder to reach the upper windows and that you’re physically fit enough for the task. It could take you multiple days, especially depending on the weather.
If your windows are too far gone or still don’t look good even after painting them, it might be time for new windows. If that’s the case, head on over to Arch City Window and see how we can help!