4 Tips for Painting a Window

The weather’s just right for getting an interior paint job done, whether it’s a full room or just one window.

When you attempt to do a smaller project on your own, keep these tips in mind:

1. Prep the Area

You want the paint to adhere to the surface as best as possible. For a wooden window frame, wipe it down with a household cleaner first, and then sand with 120-grit sandpaper. This process removes older paint and smoothes out raised grain. If there are any curves or contours, go over them with a sanding block.

Does the wood have any holes or places where it meets the wall? Fill these areas in with putty and caulk, respectively.

Then, prime the bare wood. This later improves adhesion. However, before you add the paint, make sure this coating dries overnight.

2. Inside Out

Always work from the inside of the window out, and do the rails before the stiles. As you apply the paint, begin from the tip of the frame and go around.

Once you’ve painted the inside frame, then raise the lower sash and drop the upper sash. To paint, begin with the upper sash first, starting from the crossbar.

Once you’ve finished these components, paint the casings and sills.

3. Trim

When your home’s windows feature trim, save it for the last step. As with painting the inside frame, here, it’s best to begin from the top corner, where the trim meets the wall. Then, paint the face of the trim.

Once you’ve painted all components a first time, let it dry before adding a second coat. This layer assists with giving your window more uniform coverage.

4. The Glass

Even after you’ve painted the frame, the job isn’t quite done. There’s a chance you might have gotten some paint splatter onto the glass, so, for a clean finish, clean or scrape it off.

Some recommend using a putty knife in this instance. To do so without scratching the glass, spray the area first with glass cleaner, and then, gently scrape the paint off the surface.

When it comes to interior paint jobs, having the pros do it produces more consistent results, makes less of a mess, and ensures the job gets done in a timely manner. For any interior painting services, contact M. Brett to learn more or to schedule an appointment.