Painting
wood in windows and doors
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Painting wood in windows and doors
When to Paint
All new windows must be finished with paint or stain within 30 days of installation. Exterior wood surfaces need a minimum 2 coats of high quality exterior grade paint or UV blocking stain. All interior surfaces require a minimum 2 coats of paint, stain or varnish.
Most windows need re-painting every 4 - 5 years. Wood located in southerly and westerly elevations have the greatest exposure to the sun's ultra violet rays and may require painting earlier. Check periodically for dullness, drab finish, dark spots, fading, cracking or raised wood grain, blistering, or chipping. If your wood window shows any of these symptoms, re-painting is required.
Which paint to use?
Depending on your desired finish, your paint dealer can recommended the best paint/primer or stain formulated for wood.
Remember the product should not only protect against the elements but have the porosity to allow moisture to escape, thus reducing blistering and peeling. Use a high quality product as your windows are subject to severe moisture and ultraviolet exposure.
Lacquers are not recommended for finishing the interior of wood windows and doors. This includes the wood sash, jambs, and casings, as well as the wood liners attached to our aluminum and vinyl windows, patio doors and entrance systems.
Preparation
The most critical task is preparing the surfaces for good adhesion. For peeling or blistering surfaces use a scraper or wire brush to remove all loose and scaling paint. Be sure all remaining old paint is adhering well to the surface. To assure a smoother end result, sand edges of peeled spots until they blend with the bare surfaces. Sand all checked or raised grain wood.
Re-nail wood strips that appear lose, and replace damaged window stops.
Caulking
Check for cracks or openings where water might enter, especially where siding butts to the exterior window casing and undersill. Check windows stops that may have swelled and lifted due to inadequate protection, and caulking which may have lost it's adhesion for creating an effective seal. Cut away and scrape all caulking that appears cracked, dried out, and generally degraded, before applying a fresh seal of caulking. Consult your paint dealer for a good commercial product that is compatible with the recommended paint/stain selection. NEVER CAULK WET SURFACES .
Cleaning Prior to Painting
After completing the preparatory work, wipe down the entire surface with a damp rough sponge or stiff bristle brush. Allow sufficient time for drying before applying paint - NEVER PAINT WET WOOD. Wipe down surfaces only once you are satisfied the caulking has dried or "surface skinned" hard enough to not damage the newly applied seals.
Overlap your paint about 1/6" onto both interior and exterior glass surfaces using a "painter's edge". This will protect the seal. Do not break this paint seal when removing excess paint or finish from the glass, or when cleaning.
Painting
Consult your paint dealer for the best type of brush to use. Do not paint weather-strip or hardware. When painting the edges of the sash and/or inside parts of the frame, make certain these areas are dry before closing the window. Some paints will react with the weather-stripping causing the sash to stick. To prevent sticking, keep the sash open while finishing and do not close windows or replace the sash until all surfaces are dry. Remove weather-stripping and lock window if security is a problem. Some paint hardeners can take up to 30 days to cure, it is best to leave sash open as often as possible for that period.