DIY: Window Trim Painting Tricks
Do you dislike the task of having to paint window trim in your home? Or maybe you don’t know how to go about how to paint the trim around windows, especially if don’t want to seal the window sashes shut with paint.
Lots of up and down of the sashes, waiting for them to dry, moving the sashes again, then once they are done, you get to move on to the jambs.
Not only this, but you also have to time painting the sashes or moveable parts on a window or sliding glass doors for the right kind of weather. Painting window sashes on a rainy day, or in the heat of the summer or on a cold winter’s day is not recommended.
In this post you will learn a few DIY window trim painting tricks along with my how to painting process that will make your old, stained or discolored window sills, sashes, trim as well as the trim around sliding glass doors look new again in no time.
These painting tips can be used both on interior window trim as well as when you need to paint the exterior window and door trim in and around your home.
Here is the before shot of one of the interior windows and doors that I painted. The brown trim is so old that the sealing finish was worn away. All that remained was the stain.
Dark stained or painted trim that outlines windows and doors can make a room look smaller. I made it over with white paint so the room would feel more spacious, light and airy.
How to Prep and Paint Window Trim
Painting the molding or trim around the windows in your home doesn’t have to be a chore. As with most paint jobs, getting a professional look—without making a mess—starts with the right products, tools and techniques. When you follow these window painting tips you can have beautiful window trim in no time.
For Best Results When Painting Window Trim
- Use a big brand name primer and one paint formula. If painting over a stained finish, make sure the formula has a stain blocker in it.
- Buy a 1 or 2-inch angled sash brush to paint the trim. Buy the best quality you can. Purdy brushes are the best and come in a wide variety of widths and types of bristles.
When giving window trim a fresh new look with paint, don’t forget to consider replacing the sash locks of cranks on the windows with new ones.
Most home improvement stores sell them in metal and painted finishes.
My casement crank-out windows are made by Pella. I went directly to the local dealer in my area and bought new white cranks for all my windows.
Newer windows that have mullions on grids in them pop out. If you can remove the grids, the remove them before painting.
If you can’t remove the mullions, then you will have to paint them. Use a 1″ angled brush to paint them. It will make the job easier and get less paint on the glass.
How Do I Choose the Right Type of Paint for Window Trim?
The specific type of paint needed will depend on what type of trim surrounds your windows. Window trim can be made from wood, vinyl, aluminum, or steel, Choosing a paint that’s compatible with your type of trim will help achieve durable and lasting results.
- Wood – Use a premium exterior gloss paint, either oil or acrylic. For interior wood trim, choose a high-quality latex gloss paint or a latex paint and primer in one formula.
- MDF – This becoming a popular material for interior window trim because it’s easy to install and resists moisture damage. The same paint used on interior wood (high-quality latex gloss paint) can be used on MDF trim.
- Vinyl is usually reserved for the exterior of a house and paired with vinyl siding. Its impermeable surface won’t hold standard paint; those suggested above would eventually peel off. Instead, look for an exterior gloss paint specifically made for vinyl.
- Metal trim is also typically found on a home’s exterior and paired with metal siding. Choose an exterior gloss paint labeled for use on metal. Some of the best metal paints contain rust-resistant chemicals that will help prevent rust from forming on your trim.
- If your window trim is unfinished, you’ll get the best paint adhesion if you apply primer before painting. Like the paint you choose, the primer should be compatible with the type of trim you’re painting.
Materials Needed to Paint Window Trim
- Paint – All in one paint, primer and stain blocker in one formula in a semi-gloss or gloss finish. Glidden has one called: Total
- Wood filler
- Caulk and caulk applicator
- Putty knife
- 100 and 220-grit sandpaper
- Angled paintbrush
- Drop cloths
- Pointy Cotton Swabs
- Painter’s tape
How to Prep Before Painting Window or Door Trim
The reason I dislike painting windows so much is that there is way too much detail and you have to be careful not to paint the sashes or sliding doors shut.
The hardest part of any paint job is the prep work. When you take the time to get the window surface prepped right, you are setting the project up for success.
How to Prep Window Trim for Painting
- Remove Peeling Paint
If there is any peeling paint, remove it first with a paint scraper or 60-80 grit sandpaper.
- Sand trim smooth
No matter the type of window trim, if it’s been painted once before, start with a 150-grit sandpaper to smooth away any edges where that old layer of paint flaked to reveal the bare surface.
Next use 220-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. If you’re painting unfinished new trim, use only the 220-grit sandpaper to rough up the trim enough for the paint to adhere. The surface does not have to be sanded to the bare wood.
- Clean Off Sanding Grit
Use a tack cloth or vacuum to remove the sanding grit.
- Wipe Surface
Wipe the surface down with a damp soapy rag or cloth and then repeat with clean water to make sure all dirt and grease are gone. Let dry.
- Apply Caulk Where Needed
Apply new caulk to the exposed seams. For caulking to efficiently seal the seams and gaps in window trim, it needs to be applied and smoothed into the crack.
To achieve a professional-looking finish, run a bead of caulk in the seam and then use a wet finger or an ice cube to smooth the caulk.
- Fix Gaps and Seams
Apply new caulk to the exposed seams. For caulking to efficiently seal the seams and gaps in window trim, it needs to be applied and smoothed into the crack.
Using this technique, To make the trim look like a pro painted it, after your first coat of paint is dry, check for nail holes and gaps along the length of the trim. These gaps are easier to spot after the first coat of paint is on.
For instance, the trim around the door in the room had a big gap between the face piece and the side pieces of molding. I filled these in with caulk and then used my finger dipped in water to smooth the caulk.
My favorite caulk to use is called DAP Alex Plus Easy Caulk. I like it because it comes in a CheezeWiz style container that makes it so easy to use. No caulking tool needed.
After the caulk is dry, then apply the second coat of paint…. no more unsightly gaps and nail holes.
- Caulking TIP
To achieve a professional-looking finish, run a bead of caulk in the seam and then use a wet finger or an ice cube to smooth the caulk.
To ensure your line of caulk will dry smooth, you can run an ice cube down a line of just applied caulk to smooth it so it blends in with the wood.
How to Paint Window Trim
Once the window trim is prepped for paint and dry, the surface is ready to apply the paint.
- Remove or use painter’s tape to cover any window cranks or locks.
- Apply paint using an angled sash brush. Let dry.
- Sand – Go over first dry coat of paint with 220 grit sandpaper to remove any imperfections. Clean off grit with a tack cloth or damp rag, let dry.
- Apply a second coat of paint. Let dry.
- I used two coats, and added a third coat on the inside bottom trim section of the window that had some dark water staining along it. I added this last coat to block and ensure that the wood tannins will not come through the paint.
Pro Window Trim Painting Tips That Will Make the Job Easier
I have painted dozens of windows and rely on these window trim and sash painting tips to ensure I get the job done well.
Removing Overpaint from the Window Glass
After painting or as you’re working, you may end up getting paint on the window glass. After the final coat of paint dries completely, here are a few ways to remove overpaint or splatters that get on the glass.
- Scrap it off with a glass razor blade scraper – Position the blade parallel to the edge of the trim and, using a straight motion, scrape the dried paint right off the glass.
- For any hard to remove paint, spray the glass with glass cleaner or water and the run the scraper over the glass.
When to Remove Painter’s Tape Around Painted Window Trim?
When using painter’s tape around window trim using latex paint, remove the tape before the paint dries. If you don’t, you may end up pulling off some of the paint when you remove the tape.
If your latex paint has dried – Before removing the tape, run the blade of a utility knife between the tape and the wall, trim, or glass. This will break the bond between the tape and painted area and will lessen the chance of pulling the paint off the newly painted surface.
No Painter’s Tape?
When you prefer not to use painter’s tape to mask the glass on a window, try this tip that will keep paint off the glass as you paint.
Before painting, apply chapstick or a thin very thin coating petroleum jelly around the edges of the glass right where the it meets the trim using a pointy cotton swab. Chapstick is easier and less messy.
When all the paint is dry and you clean the window, any paint that may have gotten on the glass wipes away easily with a paper towel – no razor blade scraper needed.
The Best Window Trim Paint Brush
To get a smooth finish when you paint window sills and trim is a 1-1/2-inch stiff angled paintbrush that is made to cut-in. I bought a Purdy one at Lowes. It made a HUGE difference. The stiff bristles are very precision-like and don’t splay out.
Wipe Excess Paint Off Before Applying to Window Trim
When painting anything, not just window trim it is always best to pour enough paint from the can into another container. This will help keep the paint in the can pristine and free of dirt and dust.
On the container you will be using to dip the brush, place a rubber band around the container. The rubber band acts as a place to wipe the excess paint off the brush instead of using the rim.
If using the main paint can, doing this helps keep the rim clean so the lid can go back on the can perfectly when you are done painting.
How to Clean Up Paint Drips the Easy Way
To make quick clean up of drips, paint bleed along edges where the painted trim meets the wall, use pointy style cotton swabs called Precision Tips.
The pointy tips are perfect, much better than using the regular cotton swab shaped tip.
Wet the tip and then twirl where there is a smudge of wall paint on the ceiling or wall next to the window trim.
Having the pointy tip makes it easy to swipe right into the crevice along the ceiling line and clean up the smudge without affecting the wet paint on the wall. Without the pointy tip you would not be able to get right up to the trim without wiping some of the wet wall paint off trying to take care of the smudge.
I keep the swabs in my pocket when I paint – as I seem to always get paint where it doesn’t belong.
In the image above I show where I got a few brush marks on the wall when painting the trim.
A quick swipe with the point in the crevice cleans up the paint perfectly and doesn’t touch the wet paint on the trim.
Newly Painted Window Trim
The newly painted window trim make the windows look fresh and new.
How do you feel about painting trim in your house? Do you have any painting tips or painting tricks to share with me and my blog readers?
Now the only downside of painting trim is that where the newly painted trim meets the old trim around the doorways – the old color looks dingy.
Time to paint more trim.
