Window painting

Window painting is mostly about timber windows: old box sashes in pre-war tenements, windows in houses, and premises where switching to uPVC is not an option because of conservation rules or cost. A well-restored wooden window looks better than a new plastic one, but only if the paint goes onto properly prepared timber.

Stages of painting a window

• removing handles and masking the glass and hardware with tape or film;
• stripping flaking paint, sanding the frames and removing the dust;
• filling cracks and gaps with wood filler, replacing crumbling putty around the glass;
• priming, then two coats of wood paint or woodstain;
• removing the tape, cleaning the glass and refitting the handles.

The price is per square metre of window, and the time depends on the number of glazing bars, the state of the old paint and whether the outside is being painted too.

What to watch out for

Most damage comes from paint put onto damp or dirty wood, and from painted-over seals and hinges. The window then sticks, will not close, and the paint peels off in sheets after the first winter. The outside is painted in dry weather and within the temperature range the paint maker gives, so in autumn and winter the handyman may suggest another date. Old paint may contain lead, in which case it is sanded wet with dust extraction.

What to prepare

Take down nets and curtains, move furniture away from the windows and make sure a window can be left open while the paint dries. In the job, give the number of windows, rough sizes and whether both sides need painting.

Common questions