by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: March 12, 2013

Although general painting is easy for the average homeowner, there's one area that people like to avoid, though it's extremely important. Keeping windows looking good as well as maintaining them so that they function correctly is essential. The window trim is awkward for several reasons. One is that the window may be a moving part, and the other is that there is always a chance of getting paint onto the glass. That's where people tend to make their worst errors, though they don't have to. With a little ingenuity, preparation and correct application, this area is easy to paint.

Preparation of window trim

All surfaces need to be prepared, and that includes scraping any paint that may have flaked, filling and generally getting the surface ready to take undercoat and top coat paint. If areas of wood are exposed because of weathering, these may also need to be primed. For the preparation, take medium grain sandpaper and rub down the frame. If the window has putty, then this may need replacing in areas where the putty has failed. Examine the trim carefully for areas that need filling and extra putty, as it's important that these are done before the painting is performed. For exterior window trims, an exterior grade wood-filler will be required, whereas for interior filling, homeowners can use a wood filler suited to the interior. Check the packs in the store to find the correct one and always adhere to the instructions.

The area that surrounds the window needs to be prepared, but so does the framework which holds the window in place. This should all be done at the same time. Open the windows and clean down are dirty areas, rub down and fill any areas which need it. Look also at the sills especially if these are built into the window. When all areas are filled and sanded, do use a dust brush to clean off the whole area before any paint is applied. A fine-grain sandpaper is used between dry coats to help the paint to adhere.

Painting

There are several remedies to stop paint getting onto the windows, though the best is careful attention to the way the painting is performed. The window framework should be painted first. Then the top of the window and the edges should be be painted before the two faces of the window are tackled. Then start at the top of the window panel and work across this area, using brush strokes that follow the grain of the wood. This is an important rule to adhere to when painting. For a window, the best brush is an inch wide brush as this holds sufficient

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