Many homes across the country have uPVC window frames holding their windows in place. The material is cheap to use and effective, and so is used in the majority of properties in both window and door frames. There are plenty of benefits to having uPVC window frames, but the main one is the ability to paint them. uPVC, or unplasticised polyvinyl chloride, is very paintable, meaning that you can paint uPVC window frames relatively easily, giving your house a refreshed look, upping its kerb appeal, and even increasing the UV protection that your window frames have.
What paint works on uPVC window sills?
While uPVC window frames are fairly easy to paint, the material does require specific paint. In order to paint uPVC, you will need to have fully prepared the surface and you must use a solvent-based paint that is specifically formulated for hard plastics. Using any other paint, like oil-based paint, will result in poor adherence and subsequently a poor finish.
It is absolutely key to use the right paint on your uPVC in order to obtain a professional finish. Some of the top brands for uPVC paint include:
- Zinsser Allcoat Exterior
- Kolorbond uPVC paint
Along with your paint, you may need to prime your uPVC window frames. Usually, you can find this out by checking out the manufacturer’s instructions. If you’re hoping to change brown uPVC windows to a lighter colour, you may need multiple coats in order to achieve your chosen colour. Alternatively, turning white uPVC windows grey will require less coats of primer.
Spray paint vs. ordinary paint for painting uPVC
You will likely see when shopping for uPVC paint that there is a huge range of paints available. Some of these will be spray paints. Likewise, if you look at uPVC painting services near you, you will likely find that most professionals will offer uPVC window spraying services rather than painting services. So why spray paint uPVC windows? Why not use brushes to paint uPVC windows instead? Well we spoke to Sketch Spray to get a few answers, spray paint has a range of advantages:
- Spray paint provides better coverage on uPVC window frames
- It will be much quicker to use a sprayable paint than applying it with a brush, especially if you’re painting multiple uPVC windows or large window frames
- A brush does not provide the flawless perfect finish that spray paints do; brushes often cause brush marks, paint drops and can even shed brush hairs into the paint during the painting process, impacting the finish on your uPVC windows
How to paint uPVC window sills
You can hire a professional uPVC painter to paint uPVC windows for you, but if you’re confident enough to want to paint your uPVC window frames yourself, here’s how to do it. Painting uPVC windows isn’t hard, but it does take some preparation and time, so make sure that you have enough patience and spare time before you begin painting uPVC window frames.
1. Clean the surface
uPVC windows are exposed to the elements all day every day, so inevitably they get a little bit grimey. It is important to remove any dust, dirt, debris, and grease from your uPVC window sills before you begin to paint the window frame. This will help to ensure that you have a nice smooth uPVC surface to paint on.
To clean your uPVC window frames, simply use a damp cloth and hot soapy water, and wipe the uPVC surface down. If during this process, you notice any holes, you will need to fill them. You can fill holes in uPVC window frames and uPVC doors with caulk or filler.
2. Protect the other areas
Once you have cleaned the uPVC surface and it is completely dry, you should begin to cover the areas around your uPVC windows. This helps to ensure that none of your paint will get on the glass and brick or render around them when you paint uPVC window frames.
To do this, you can use painter’s tape or masking tape and either tarp or specialist coverage paper. Ensure you cover all of the areas that you don’t want to get paint on, and that will make the process of painting uPVC much easier.
3. Use primer if needed
As mentioned above, not every uPVC paint will require primer. Check the manufacturer’s information to see whether you need to apply primer to your uPVC windows before you begin to paint uPVC.
If you do need to use primer, you can spray it on with long strokes. Once the uPVC windows are fully covered, leave to dry completely, and then go in for another coat. If you are looking to go from brown uPVC windows to a light colour, or from any dark colour to a lighter tone, you will need more coats of primer. It is important to ensure that you apply the primer evenly in order to get a professional finish.
4. Paint uPVC window sills
It is now time to paint uPVC windows. Painting uPVC window frames can either be done with a brush or with spray paint. If you want to paint uPVC windows with a brush, you should:
- Use a high-quality brush in good condition
- Paint uPVC in only one direction
- Be careful that you do not let the brush from paint drops on the uPVC windows
- Use long strokes of the brush to limit brush marks
You will need to apply one coat evenly with your paintbrush to the uPVC windows. Once you are satisfied that you have achieved an even base coat, you should leave the first coat to dry. You will then need to go in to paint on another coat, which you can then leave to dry. Usually, you will need more than two coats to achieve the perfect finish and to ensure that your colour is as vibrant as you’d like. A minimum of three layers of paint on your uPVC window or doors is a good rule.
Alternatively, if you are using spray paint to paint uPVC windows, you do not have to worry about only painting in one direction, or trying to protect the uPVC windows from paint drops, as this is much less likely to occur with spray paint. Simply use long strokes of the airbrush or canister along the window frames, being sure that you are painting uPVC and not the covers on the wall and glass.
Once you have one coat, you should leave the window frames to dry. As soon as the coat is done drying, you can go in and continue to paint uPVC windows, adding another coat. Keep going like this, applying more coats to your window frames until you are happy with the colour that you have achieved on both the window sills and the window frame.
After that you can go ahead and decorate your windows and sills with your favourite nik naks.
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