How to Paint Around Windows

As with all painting jobs, the more preparation you do now, the less work you'll have to do later. And of course the window will look nicer, too.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Caulking Guns
• blue "safety" masking tape
• Primers
• Angled Paintbrushes
• Single-edged Razor Blades
• Window Paints
• Sander Paint Scrapers
• Drop Cloths
• Drop Cloths
• Ladders
• Ladders
• Household Rags
• Angled Brushes
• Caulks
• Glazing And Spackling
• Putty Knives
• Sandpaper
• Sandpaper
• Screwdriver Sets

1. Look for loose, flaky paint and remove it with a paint scraper and/or sander - all the way down to the wood if necessary. Sand down the areas you plan to paint.

2. If you're going to paint the outside of the window also, check the glazing between the glass and the frame. (Glazing is the putty that seals the window and holds the glass in place.) If it's cracked or crumbling, replace it.

3. Check the outside for other areas where water could enter between the window frame and the house - or even within the window itself - and caulk as necessary.

4. Remove or tape over all the hardware you can, such as locks, handles, latches or hinges.

5. Put blue 'safety' masking tape on the glass next to the surface you're going to paint. It makes cleanup easier.

6. Use primer if you've exposed any raw surfaces. Choose primer appropriate for your surface (wood or metal).

7. Follow up with a coat of semigloss or glossy paint. It's durable and easy to clean.

8. Use an angled paintbrush and work from the top down. Paint the window frame first, then the trim on the wall around it. Make sure you don't paint windows shut (see Tips).

9. Scrape off any paint that has gotten on the glass with a razor blade made for this purpose after the paint has dried at least enough to be tacky. Gently run the razorblade, edge first, between the painted surface and the glass, then lay it flat (like a spatula) to scrape the rest of the paint off the glass.

Tips & Warnings

• If the window is double-hung (windows slide up and down behind each other), paint each window separately, allowing one to dry before painting the other, and leave them open a bit while drying so they don't stick to each other or the frames. Don't paint the vertical grooves on the side where the windows actually slide.
• Vinyl-covered windows cannot be painted with anything at all.

on 11/22/2005 I've lived in an older house for over 11 years. Painting older windows takes a LOT of time. By the time you have scraped, sanded, re-glazed, primed, and re-painted, you could easily have spent several hours on one window. Before you decide to paint, give serious consideration to purchasing and installing new maintenance free windows. I wish I would have done it years ago!