How to paint window frames

If you can see any gaps between the frame and the glass, use a putty knife or a sharp spatula to apply a filling material, like a multi-purpose putty or an acrylic glazing sealant. Give the filling material plenty of time to dry.

Remove locks and handles from the frame. If you’d like to be able to open and close the window while painting, you can leave one screw in. You may even find that opening and closing the window a few times helps to loosen the paint.

It’s time to use your putty knife again – this time, to remove any loose, flakey paint. Find the loosest part of the peeling paint and get under it, lifting and scraping as you go.

When you’ve removed as much of the paint as you can, lightly sand the frame with a medium grade (P120-180) sandpaper – this will remove any remaining bumps and will also slightly roughen the surfaces to help your new coatings to stick. (We recommend you wear a face mask during sanding to prevent breathing in any dust.)

With the prep almost finished, it’s a good time to give the area a good clean. Use a vacuum to remove any paint scraps on and around your window frames, and then wipe them down with a damp cloth to get rid of any remaining traces of dust.

Once your windows are clean and dry, you’re ready to prime. Any areas of bare wood should be primed with a water-based wood primer, such as Dulux Water-based Gloss Primer for Wood. If your window frames are metal, choose a specialised metal primer. Once your primer is dry, you’re ready to start painting!