How to paint wood windows

Repainting wood windows is essential for keeping them sufficiently protected from the weather but it can also be a great way to alter their appearance. When painting them, however, it’s essential to prepare them first.

Preparing timber windows to be painted

To maximise results, it’s important to prepare your windows properly first. Follow the step-by-step method below to prepare your wooden windows:

• Give the frames a good clean – get yourself a clean, soft cloth and wipe away any grime from the window frames. If you’d like a more thorough clean, use sugar soap, which will also help the primer and paint to adhere better.
• Then sand them down – Rough edges or grooves in the frame can affect the quality of the paint finish. By using a small piece of medium-grade sandpaper and working on small sections at a time, however, you can remove any rough parts of the wood.
• Remove any dust – grab a clean, dry paintbrush and remove any dust that’s been left behind from sanding. For the narrow areas and corners, use a toothbrush instead.
• Remove any window fittings – removing the window handle, any stays or other fittings at this stage will stop you from getting any paint on them. You should only need a screwdriver or drill to remove any screws keeping any fittings in place.
• Apply masking tape – Masking off each window pane will ensure you don’t mistakenly get any paint on the glass and it will ensure for straighter lines. When applying it, try to stick the tape as close to the wooden frames as you can.

Painting wooden windows

Now that your windows are well-prepared, it’s time to move on to painting them.

• Apply an undercoat – you can avoid this step if you want to, however, an undercoat is worth the extra effort because it will help your finish to last longer. If you’ve chosen a particular colour for a top coat, it’s also worth heading to a DIY store to see if they can apply some dye to the undercoat.
• Add the first coat – using a small brush and painting in thin layers, start in one area of the window frame and carefully work your way around it. Also, do not start in one place and then move to a different one otherwise you risk an uneven finish. Once the whole frame is covered, leave to dry.
• Paint the top coat – making sure to paint in another thin layer, carefully apply the top coat of paint. Be sure to cover every part of the window frame equally, before leaving to dry.
• Reattach the fittings and remove the masking tape – carefully remove the masking tape before grabbing your screwdriver or drill again. Next, refit any of the window furniture you removed earlier, sit back and admire your handiwork!

How often should you paint wood windows

If you’ve just had a set of timber windows fitted on your home, we recommend giving them a coat of paint during the next 18-24 months. After that, however, you should give them a fresh coat every 6-8 years. If your timber windows are located in an area where they undergo heavy weather exposure, you might need to increase the frequency of painting.

For timber windows Warrington, look no further than Reddish Joinery

As manufacturers and installers of wooden windows for more than 50 years, Reddish Joinery is a leading window specialist. So, if you’re searching for timber windows Warrington or if you’d like more information on window care, give us a call on 0161 969 7474 or contact us online.