How to Paint a Window Like a Professional

Painting old wood or metal trim windows can be a real pane. (Pun intended) Here are some professional tips and tricks to expedite your job and help you to achieve astatically pleasing results.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 2 1/2 inch metal putty knife
• sand paper 150 grit
• sand paper 220 grit
• Kilz Brand spray primer
• tack cloths
• blue masking tape
• masking paper
• masking machine (optional)
• paint can lid remover
• dust mask
• oil based paint
• 2 1/2 inch paint brush (natural white bristle ox hair brush) Purdy Brand recommended
• old, frayed paint brush
• 1 gallon paint bucket
• Penetrol Brand Oil Paint Conditioner
• paint strainer bag
• wooden paint stir stick
• cloth or plastic drop cloth
• new razor blades
• clean, lint free rags
• paint thinner (mineral spirits)
• shop vaccum or broom and dust pan
• Non-streaking window cleaner
• paper towels
• water

1. Preparation for painting is time consuming and not much fun but without the proper preparation your job quality will be shotty.
2. Clean window and frame to be painted with a damp, lint free cloth. Don't worry about streaks, you are to be concerned with dirt and debris. Let Dry.
3. Cover flooring with drop cloth.
4. Use your putty knife to remove any old paint that is flaking. Do this by holding your putty knife at a 45 degree angle and scraping over the old painted surface. Switch directions and repeat. Use enough pressure to do the job but avoid gouging.
5. Next fold a standard size piece of 150 grit sand paper in half width wise, and tear at the crease. Tri-fold each piece to prepare for use. This gives a sturdy sanding surface. Put on your mask.
   
   In simi-long strokes, sand the painted surface until smooth. Try not to "burn" thru the entire paint surface as it will provide a good base for your next coat.
   
   When your sand paper gets "full", switch sides.
6. Switch to the 220 sandpaper and repeat. When the sanded paint feels even and baby smooth to the touch you are finished.
7. Use old paint brush to dust off the window then wipe down with a tack cloth to remove all dust.
8. Tape and mask the window glass and the surface i.e. interior or exterior wall around the window. This is most easily done with a masking machine.
9. Shake your Kilz spray primer can vigorously for at least 2 minutes. If the can is cold, float it in hot water for 5 minutes and then shake.
10. Use long even spray strokes to evenly fog coat the window frame. Repeat if necessary to get a solid coat. Never apply a thick coat as this will create runs. Even if you remove the run it will cause the final paint coat to run. Let dry for approximately 10 minutes.
11. Run your fingers over the primer coat. It should be dry and smooth with a fine "grit" over the top.
    
    Use your 220 grit sandpaper to gently sand and remove this grit. This should only require 1 or 2 very light passes with the sandpaper. Do not burn thru the primer coat or you will have to re-prime.
12. Use your old brush to dust the window frame and wipe with your tack cloth to remove primer dust.
13. Remove the tape and masking paper from the window panes.
14. Shake your oil base paint in the can for approximately 30 seconds before removing the lid. Use your paint can opener and open the can. Stir with your wooden stir stick until mixed thoroughly.
15. Wipe out your bucket with tack cloth. Strain the entire gallon of oil based paint into the bucket.
16. Add Penetrol to paint. The ratio should be approximately 1 part paint to 1/10th part Penetrol. Stir with paint stick to mix well. When you lift stir stick from paint the remaining paint will run off of the stick. When this paint hits the other paint in the bucket it should immediately smooth out. If you see a "track" add more Penetrol. Repeat till mixed properly.
17. Use your ox hair paint brush. Dip the 1st 1/4th into the paint. Never dip the entire brush bristles into paint. Gently "flip" the brush from side to side once and the excess paint will come off.
18. In long strokes, brush the oil base paint over your window frame. Do not worry about cutting in the window panes. You will run over the panes approximately 1 inch with the paint. This will allow you to save much time and to paint the surface evenly.
19. The paint application should go fairly quickly using this method. The paint should flow smoothly with no brush lines.
    
    Wait approximately 30 minutes and apply your second coat of paint if needed.
20. When done painting the window, use a razor blade to "blade" the paint from the window glass. Do this by holding the blade between your thumb and pointer finger at a 45 degree angle and gently run it on the glass with one edge to the wood or metal frame. Blade about 6 inches and then wipe the blade on a clean, dry, lint free rag to clean. Repeat until all of the paint is removed from the glass.
    
    This will not scour the glass if done correctly. The glass must be moist i.e. the paint coat in this case; therefore it is preferable to do this before the paint sets up.
21. When done painting, put unused paint back into can. Put Penetrol rags in water and seal in can. Clean brush and bucket with paint thinner. Store brush in it's original wrapper.
22. Paint should cure to the touch in 8 hours. Longer if the temperature is cold.
    
    Let the paint set up for a few days and then use a glass cleaner and paper towels to clean the glass.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint and blade one window before moving to the next window.
• When cleaning your brush with thinner, clean till the thinner runs clear.
• You can let the thinner sit for about a week. The paint will settle to the bottom. Pour thinner from the top back into thinner container and seal.
• Do not apply oil base paint when there is moisture in the air and do not use water during preperation as it will cause the oil to seperate i.e. fisheye.
• Danger! Rags, steel wool or waste soaked with Penetrol may spontaneously catch fire if improperly discarded. Immediately after use, place rags, steel wool or waste in a sealed, water-filled metal container.
• Be sure to wear your mask when sanding. Older oil based paints may contain lead.
• Rinse yourself with water thoroughly after using thinner as it may dry out your hands.
• If you get thinner on your clothes, rinse as it may cause burning.