When you take into account every element of the exterior of your home, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the window frames aren’t exactly a big deal. They’ll be pretty quick and easy to paint given the relatively small surface area, therefore can be left as something of an afterthought.
Big mistake!
The truth is, unless you approach things strategically (and with a few tips from the experts), painting exterior wooden window frames can become an absolute nightmare. Which when you think about it makes perfect sense, as you are dealing with the trim that surrounds the one external feature of your home you absolutely do not want to get even a single spot of paint on.
So in order to help make things as painless as possible, what follows is a brief overview of seven tips that could at least make the process a little bit less nightmarish:
Tip 1 – Start Early
First of all, it’s crucial to remember that after you have applied each coat of paint, you will need to keep your windows open for some considerable time. As such, it really isn’t a good idea to start too late in the day – not unless you want to keep your windows open all night! For the same reason, be sure to keep an eye on weather conditions at the time.
Tip 2 – Protect the Glass
There is an endless range of accessories available these days for protecting each pane and keeping paint out of the picture. However, the quality of the masking tape you use and the accuracy with which you apply it can and will make a big difference. If you are using the very best stuff out there which leaves no sticky residue but offers outstanding protection, feel free to go nuts with it to protect as much of your glass as necessary. Proceed without the necessary protection at your own risk!
Tip 3 – Use the Correct Equipment
One of the biggest mistakes people make when going about DIY window painting is that of using any old brush to try and get the job done. Which is in every instance a perfect recipe for getting paint absolutely all over the place and still not producing a quality results. There are angled sash paintbrushes and a variety of precision brush types available for a very good reason – so use them!
Tip 4 – Prepare the Surface
As is the case with the rest of the house, you’re going to need to make sure that the surfaces to be painted are adequately prepared before going ahead. This is not the kind of place you want to scrimp on the preparation either, given the precision of the process that follows. This is the kind of job you need to take your time with and choose your weapons strategically. The last thing you want to do is cause damage to the window frames themselves, or worse still the glass panes.
Tip 5 – Take Your Time
It’s the number one rule that applies to pretty much every paint job across the board – assuming you would prefer to produce professional quality results. You need to take as much time as necessary when painting exterior window frames, as this is the kind of precision project that simply cannot be rushed. Well, you can rush it if you like, but you are guaranteed to come away with results you aren’t exactly proud of.
Tip 6 – Work From the Top Corner
If you are right-handed, you’ll find things much easier to deal with if you start from the top left-hand corner. By contrast, if you are left handed, you should still start from the top but from the right-hand corner. It’s simply a case of working in a manner that reduces the likelihood of the rest of your arm and your body in general coming into contact with the surfaces you have already painted.
Tip 7 – Clean as You Go
Last but not least, don’t fall into the trap of ignoring the spots, splatters and general mess you make along the way, with the intention of cleaning it all up at the same time afterwards. This is definitely an option, but trust us when we say that you will find things so much easier to deal with if you arm yourself with a damp sponge and deal with the mess you make, as you make it. It’s just so much easier than scraping the living daylights out of your windows when the paint has dried.