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How To Paint a Window
This article will be limited to specific tips about painting windows. It is a companion article to "How To Paint Woodwork" which covers the general tips and techniques for painting all woodwork and should definitely be read along with this one.
If a window has been "painted shut" because of previous coats of paint, try cutting it open with a putty knife. It may take tapping on the handle of the knife with a hammer to break the paint seal. Check the interior and exterior side, there should be a small gap between the window sash and the casing or track. Slide a putty knife or similar type cutting tool around the window in this gap to break paint that may have previously seaped in and dried there. While you have the window open check to make sure it will open and close easily. Newer windows usually have metal or vinyl runners that can be lubricated. The wooden tracks of older windows may need to be scraped clean and then lubricated with WD-40 or paraffin wax.. Do not use silicone lubricants. Paint does not adhere well to surfaces that have been exposed to silicone.
How To Paint a Double Hung Window
First remove all of the hardware, it is much easier to remove these small parts than to paint around them. A basic rule of painting anything is to paint the farthest part away from you first and work toward yourself. To paint an interior window, lower the upper sash and paint the lower half of it, then push it back up to paint the top half. The upper sash should be completely painted and pushed almost into place, leave a small gap for drying. The bottom sash is then painted, lowered almost in place and then the top edge of it is painted. Now begin painting the frame, starting at the top and working your way down. Be careful to allow as little paint on the tracks as possible, wipe it off while the paint is wet. Do not shut the window yet. Leave a small space at the top and bottom until the paint is fully dry. Later, check to make sure the window is not stuck. If it is, the paint will not be hard to cut loose and then the window can be shut. When the paint has dried, spray the tracks with WD-40 (not silicone spray) to lubricate them. It is a good idea to check the windows again after a couple of days to see if they can be opened. The steps for an exterior window are reversed. The bottom sash should be painted first because from the outside it is the farthest away.
How To Paint a Casement Style Window
Casement windows seem awkward to paint at first because the hardware limits the movement of the window and so it is hard to reach the entire surface. This problem can be solved. Take a close look at the hardware and there will be a release to free the window. In many cases the arm is pushed down as the window is opened and once it comes to the release point in the track, it pops free. Now the window can be moved back and forth making it easier to reach all the surfaces. These windows should have weather stripping around them and it is best to remove this if possible. If the stripping does not remove easily do not force its removal, just be careful and paint around it. Any missing weather stripping should of course, be replaced to prevent drafts. These windows should not be closed tightly before the paint has completely dried, they are very difficult to free if they have been painted shut.
How To Paint a Divided Light Window
This type window is very common in traditional style homes. It is a window, double hung or fixed, that is made of many small panes of glass held together with stiles and mullions in a window sash. The stiles run horizontal and the mullions run vertical. The number of parts to paint seem overwhelming. To make painting easier follow the tips given above for the double hung window. Also develop a pattern. Paint all the stiles across a row, then the mullions on the right, then left and the bottom stile of that row last. Do each row of panes this way, working down each sash. This method reduces fatigue because your position will change less. It will also reduce missed parts when you paint in a pattern. Try to keep paint off the glass for a neat looking job. If the paint does not flow from the brush smoothly, add a small amount of thinner to the paint. Add thinner in small amounts until the paint releases from the brush easily. These type windows and doors are time consuming to paint but with practice they do get easier. |
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