Author: albedo 100

If it’s time to freshen up your window frames with a different color or just a new coat of the same color, using spray paint is a quick and easy way to get the job done with little mess and few tools. Here’s how to spray paint a window frame.

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Needed Tools to Spray Paint a Window Frame

Protective paper or cardboard

Drop cloth

Rag

Protective mask, eyewear, and gloves

Masking tape or painter’s tape

Sandpaper (40 grit, 80 grit) and dusting brush

Spray primer

Spray paint

Steps by Step to Spray Paint a Window Frame

Step 1. Prepare

Place a drop cloth under your work area, protecting any surfaces or furniture nearby. Taking the time to protect the area around where you are painting makes clean up easier and prevents you from having to do touch-up painting to other surfaces. Remove any fixtures, such as locks or latches, and all curtains or blinds. Be sure to keep track of any screws or other hardware used to attach these fixtures to the window. Inspect the frame for damage. If the frame is wooden, look for potential rot or softening, and if it’s aluminum look for oxidization or corrosion. If the frame is damaged, it may need to be repaired or replaced. Remove the window frame, if possible. If not, cover the reveals, surrounding walls, and other windows with protective paper or cardboard using masking tape or painter’s tape in order to protect them from accidental overspray, You can get the complete guides on WCMA Window & Door. If you cannot remove the window frame to a well-ventilated space, make sure that the room you are in is well ventilated. In addition, always wear a protective mask and eyewear when sanding any surface—whether the window frame is wood or aluminum—and whenever you are using spray paint. Use a clean, dry, lint-free rag to thoroughly wipe down and clean the frame, removing any dust, grime, or other debris. Measure and cut pieces of protective paper or cardboard to fit the glass panes. Use the masking tape or painter’s tape to attach the protective paper or cardboard to the panes. To ensure that the tape forms a seal with the glass, press firmly but gently on it with a straight edge, such as a putty knife. This is particularly important in the corners, when you tear the tape to start a new length. If any of the glass is exposed, it may get paint on it.

Step 2. Sand

Using a coarse-grained sandpaper (40 grit garnet), remove any existing paint on the frame’s surface. Wear gloves to guard against splinters. It is best not to use a sanding machine for this, since doing so may remove too much of the delicate wood or aluminum, and it may not be able to reach into the corners and inner edges of the frame. Use finer 80 grit paper to finish the wood and prepare it to grip the primer and paint. When sanding, use short, smooth motions and always sand with the grain of the wood. If the frame was not painted before, skip the coarse sandpaper and go straight to the finer paper. Clean off any dust using a dusting brush.

Step 3. Prime

If the frame is wood that was previously painted and then sanded, it is advisable that you use a primer. If the frame is aluminum or wood that has never been painted, you must use a primer or the paint will not adhere and dry evenly. Shake the primer can until you can hear the metal mixing balls inside and then continue to shake 10 to 15 more times. Hold the primer can’s nozzle five to eight inches from the surface and apply the primer in a single, thin coat, moving evenly and in a steady motion. If needed, apply a second thin coat. Allow the primer to dry fully (depending on how many coats you applied and the temperature and humidity, this will take between one and two hours).

Step 4. Paint

Shake the spray paint can until you hear the metal mixing balls and then continue to shake 10 to 15 more times. Hold the nozzle of the can at five to eight inches from the surface. Starting at the top of the frame and working your way down, apply a single coat of paint in long, smooth strokes. Allow the first coat to dry for 20 minutes. Inspect the color, coverage, and smoothness of the coat. If necessary, apply one or two more coats, working in the same fashion. Be sure to wait 20 minutes between coats to allow the paint to dry sufficiently.

Step 5. Clean Up

About 12 to 15 minutes after applying the final coat—so before it is fully dried—carefully remove the masking tape or painter’s tape and the protective paper or cardboard from the glass, reveals, and surrounding area. While the paint is still tacky and not fully dried, use a straight edge, such as a putty knife or razor blade, to scrape it off. If overspray is allowed to dry on the glass or other surfaces where you do not want it, use a paint thinner or paint-removing solution applied to a clean cloth to dab it off. Be careful not to accidentally remove paint from your newly painted window frame. Once the paint is fully dry (depending on how many coats you applied, as well as the temperature and humidity, this might be 24 to 48 hours), reattach any fixtures, curtains, or blinds that you removed and, if you necessary, rehang the frame.

If you spray paint a window frame, the entire project will take less than an hour of active work, followed by about a day of waiting for the paint to dry. Overall, that’s not a very large investment amount of time or labor in exchange for some beautiful, freshly painted window frames to brighten your home.