Can You Paint Aluminum, Wood or Vinyl Window Frames?

Faded, chalky or peeling window frames make a whole house look tired, and replacing windows is expensive. In many cases the frames can be painted instead. Whether that works, and how long it lasts, depends on what the frames are made of. Here is what to know about exterior window frame painting for the three materials you will find on most Toronto homes.

Wood frames and sills

Older houses in Toronto often have wood windows, wood sills or wood brick moulding around newer windows. Wood takes paint well, but it is also the material that suffers most when paint fails: water gets in at the sills and lower corners, and rot follows.

• Scrape and sand loose and peeling paint.
• Repair small areas of soft wood; badly rotted sills may need a carpenter.
• Prime bare wood so the finish coats bond and moisture stays out.
• Caulk the joints where frames meet siding or brick.

Well-maintained paint is what keeps wood frames from rotting, so repainting at the first signs of peeling saves bigger repairs later.

Aluminum frames and capping

Many homes from the 1970s and 1980s have aluminum windows or aluminum capping bent over the wood frames. Over time the factory finish goes chalky and dull. Aluminum can be painted if it is prepared properly:

1. Wash off dirt and the chalky surface layer.
2. Scuff the surface to remove the gloss.
3. Apply a primer made to bond to metal.
4. Finish with exterior paint suited to metal.

Painting aluminum capping is a cost-effective way to change your trim colour without replacing windows.

Vinyl frames

Vinyl can be painted with paints made for vinyl, but there are limits. Dark colours absorb heat, and vinyl can soften and warp in strong sun, so many paint makers restrict vinyl-safe colours to lighter shades. Painting vinyl may also affect a window manufacturer's warranty, so check before you paint. In many cases, cleaning vinyl frames gives a better result than painting them.

Painting frames from the inside

The inside of your window frames, casings and sills uses interior products and is usually painted together with trim and doors. See our door and window frame painting service for the inside work.

When replacement makes more sense

Paint will not fix fogged double-glazed units, failed seals, cracked frames or widespread rot. If your windows are drafty or the glass units are failing, replacement may be the better investment, and painting can wait until the new frames or trim are in.

Choosing a colour for window frames

Window frames can blend in with the walls or stand out as a feature. Dark frames, such as black or charcoal, are popular on modern renovations and make windows look crisp, but they get hotter in the sun, which matters for vinyl. White and cream frames suit traditional Toronto brick and Victorian trim. Test the colour on one frame first and look at it from the street.

Painting frames alone or with the whole exterior

Window frames can be painted on their own, but it is often more efficient to do them during a full exterior repaint, when ladders or staging are already in place and the trim colours can be planned together. If you are only doing the frames, group all the windows into one job so the set-up time is shared.

Keeping frames in good shape

• Wash frames and sills once a year to remove dirt and pollen.
• Check the caulking around frames every spring and redo gaps before water gets in.
• Touch up chips on wood sills before bare wood is exposed to a winter.
• Keep weep holes at the bottom of window frames clear so water can drain.

Not sure what your frames need? See our exterior window frame painting service or book a free estimate.

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