Priya Kapoor
Painting sash windows can be a fun and rewarding project, but it's important to do it right to ensure a long-lasting and attractive finish. Sash windows are high maintenance and require regular painting and repair work to protect them from the elements and prevent issues like mould and paint peeling. Before painting, it's crucial to prepare the surface by priming any bare areas and curing the glazing putty. When painting, use a small brush for the small, detailed areas, and be careful not to paint over the seals or the glass. This guide will take you through the process step by step, ensuring your sash windows look their best for years to come.
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What You'll Learn
Preparation: Sanding, stripping, and cleaning
Preparation is key to achieving a good finish on your sash windows. Before painting, spend some time on sanding, stripping, and cleaning the window frames.
If the existing paintwork is in reasonable condition, a good overall sanding may be all that's needed. Sanding the woodwork will smooth the surface and prime it for a new coat of paint. Start by removing any old flaking paint, paint bubbles, or old paint drips with a scraper, handheld wire brush, or nylon wire abrasive. Then, use course abrasive sandpaper, followed by finer sandpaper (150- to 180-grit) to smooth out the surface and remove any remaining paint. Pay close attention to all the little crevices to ensure a uniform finish. If the wood was previously painted and you suspect it may contain lead (especially if painted before 1978), it is recommended to use a lead test kit and follow safety procedures for lead paint removal. Do not sand lead paint, as it must be removed by a professional or sealed permanently.
If the existing paintwork is in poor condition, you may need to strip everything back to the wood before repainting. Paint stripper can be applied to the surface, left to sit, and then scraped off, taking the paint with it. Stripping saves time and effort compared to sanding and is less likely to damage the wood. However, if you plan to show off the wood grain and not repaint, you will need to remove every last drop of old paint, which may require a combination of sanding and stripping.
After sanding or stripping, use a paintbrush or tack rag to remove any dust from the window frames. Then, wipe over the surface with white spirit to remove any lingering dust and grease.
Before painting, it is also important to remove the hardware from the window frame. Pull the bottom sash up and push the top sash down as far as it will go. This will give you access to the middle bar where the lock is, as well as the sash cords, which you will need to paint first.
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Priming: Applying primer to bare wood
Priming bare wood is an important step in the painting process, as it seals the porous surface and ensures the paint adheres properly. Without primer, the topcoat may crack, peel, or streak. There are several types of primer to choose from, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.
Oil-based primers are ideal for bare wood as they provide a smooth finish and excellent adhesion. They fill in any small damaged sections of the wood and are especially suitable for exterior use, as they can withstand moisture and extreme temperatures. However, oil-based primers have a long drying time and can be messy to work with, so be sure to lay a drop cloth and have a thinner-dampened rag on hand to quickly clean up any mistakes.
Latex primers are another option and are easy to clean up. They are quick-drying and produce little odor, but they may not adhere as well to the wood as oil-based primers. If you are painting new drywall or drywall patches, a latex-based drywall primer is recommended to seal in the porous surface.
For stained or weathered wood, a stain-blocking primer is necessary to prevent the stain from bleeding through the paint. A shellac-based primer, such as the Blockade white shellac sealer primer, is a good option for heavily stained wood. If you are painting over a previously stained surface, be sure to sand the surface smooth before priming and painting.
When priming bare wood, you can use a brush or a roller, depending on the size of the surface. It is important to ensure the surface is completely free of dirt, dust, and grime before priming. Allow the primer to dry completely before proceeding with the topcoat.
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Painting: Techniques and tools
Painting sash windows can be a fun and rewarding project, but it requires some preparation and the right tools to achieve the best results. Here are some techniques and tools to help you get started:
Techniques:
- Preparation is key: Before painting, ensure your windows are properly prepared. If there is old paint, scrape away any loose paint first. If you need to strip the paint completely, use a paint stripper and a putty knife to remove crumbling paint. Be cautious when dealing with lead paint; seal the room, wear protective gear, and ensure thorough cleaning afterward.
- Primer: Primer is essential for a long-lasting finish. Apply a coat of primer to any bare areas of the sash windows. Use a paintbrush to apply it evenly. For external work, you can thin out a coat of Dulux Weathershield undercoat with white spirit. For internal work, acrylic-based primers or primers designed for bare wood, like Tikkurila's Akva, are suitable.
- Painting technique: Choose a high-quality paint suitable for sash windows and external use if needed. Use a sash window brush with a pointed tip to reach the corners easily. Start by painting the glazing bars of the outer sash, then the lower crossbar, and finish with the side rails. Work in sections, exposing unpainted areas as you go. Do at least two coats for the best finish.
- Overlap onto the glass: To seal out moisture, slightly overlap the paint onto the glass. This will prevent moisture from seeping behind the putty. You can use masking tape to protect the glass and ensure neat edges, but make sure to remove it before the paint dries completely.
- Draught-proofing: Consider draught-proofing your sash windows to reduce air leakage and improve insulation. You can install DIY draught seals or engage specialist firms to carry out repairs and install effective brushes or seals. Thick curtains are also useful in reducing draughts.
Tools:
- Paintbrushes: Use a sash window brush with a pointed tip for ease of painting in the corners. Smaller paintbrushes (12-25mm or ½ - 1 inch) are ideal for the detailed work of sash windows.
- Paint: Choose high-quality paint suitable for sash windows and external use if necessary. For internal paint, you can use Benjamin Moore's Advanced Satin or Scuff X.
- Primer: Dulux Weathershield undercoat (external) and Tikkurila's Akva (internal) are recommended.
- Dust sheets: Use dust sheets to keep the area clean and catch any paint drips.
- Sandpaper: Use fine glass paper (at least 240-grade) to lightly sand primed or undercoated surfaces, removing any dust or imperfections.
- Masking tape: Use masking tape to protect the glass and create neat edges between painted and unpainted surfaces. Alternatively, use a straight-edged strip or a homemade strip of stiff plastic.
- Gloves and respiratory protection: When working with paint and sandpaper, it is important to protect your hands and lungs from dust and chemicals.
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Sealing: Brush seals and draught-proofing
Brush seals are generally made from fine nylon fibres, but there are also urethane foam seals encapsulated in a polypropylene sheath. Seals are available in varying sizes to fit different gaps. If the parting bead is used to carry the vertical seals, be careful not to paint over them, or they will become clogged and ineffective.
Parting beads with seals come in two forms: plastic or timber. Timber is more expensive, especially if you are reusing the original bead. Plastic beads are usually only available in white, and if painted, the paint will not withstand friction from the sash moving against it. This will result in white streaks, especially if a dark colour has been used.
The gaps around an average sash window can be equivalent to an aperture of ten or more square inches, so draught-proofing is important to increase comfort and reduce heating bills. The cost of draught-proofing will generally be recouped within 5 to 25 years.
There are specialist joinery firms that will take your sashes out, repair them, and insert long-lasting brushes or other seals around the edges of the sashes. This will result in less air leakage, fewer draughts, and a noticeable reduction in noise from outside.
To draught-proof your windows, you could also consider secondary glazing (an internal light metal sash window), or thick curtains. Less successful methods include a flexible metal strip nailed to the runners and surface-mounted rubber seals.
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Finishing touches: Waxing and maintaining
While painting sash windows, it is important to prepare the area by laying dust sheets and taping off areas that should not be painted on. It is also crucial to sand the woodwork and remove old paint, dust, and grease. Once the window is painted, it is essential to leave it open until the paint is completely dry.
To achieve a smooth and long-lasting finish, proper preparation is key. This includes ensuring the working area is clean and protected, using dust sheets, and taping off areas like window panes, handles, and locks. It is also important to remove any loose paint and sand down the surface of the window frame using medium-grit sandpaper, focusing on rough patches and areas with old paint.
After painting, it is important to leave the window open until the paint dries. This helps prevent the window from becoming stuck due to uncured paint. Regularly moving the frames up and down is also advised to avoid sticking. If the window must be closed, it is recommended to reopen it as soon as possible to prevent paint from drying and causing the window to stick.
To maintain the beauty and functionality of sash windows, periodic maintenance is required. Over time, the paint may chip, peel, or crack, exposing the timber to moisture, which can lead to rotting. Therefore, regular maintenance and repainting are necessary to protect the wood from weathering and preserve its appearance.
Additionally, when painting, it is advised to use thin layers of paint instead of thick coats. This allows for more even drying and reduces the risk of drips. Applying two to three thin coats of paint will yield better results than a single thick coat.
Finally, when painting the sash window, it is important to ensure that the paint slightly overlaps onto the glass to create a watertight seal. This prevents moisture from seeping behind the putty and causing damage.
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Frequently asked questions
You should use a good-quality primer to seal the wood and provide a sound base for the topcoat. You can use a small brush for delicate areas and a larger brush for the frame.
You can use water-based eggshell or gloss paint for the topcoat. Make sure to apply at least two coats to get the best finish.
Preparation is key to a good finish. Ensure your working area is clean and protected. Lay down dust sheets to protect the floor from paint splashes and tape off any areas you don't want to paint. Remove any old flaking paint, bubbles, or paint drips.
First, remove any hardware from the window frame. Then, pull the bottom sash up and push the top sash down as far as it will go. Paint the middle bar where the lock is and then paint down the sides. Pull the bottom sash back down, leaving a gap to paint the top. Paint the rest of the bottom sash, then pull the top sash down slightly and paint the rest of the top sash.
