Are you planning to paint your home? It is not advised to paint vinyl, the beauty of vinyl is it requires very little maintenance. However, wood trim and other window types can be painted.
If so, you’ll want to avoid having your window exteriors clash with your chosen paint color.
Aside from rubbing you the wrong way whenever you witness a poor color combination between your windows and the rest of your home, poorly painted window exteriors will also hurt your home’s curb appeal. This could adversely impact your bottom line when you eventually decide to sell your house.
You might have already painted your home or purchased new windows and learned too late that your chosen colors clash.
Whether you’re planning to paint or trying to improve upon clashing colors, take solace in knowing you aren’t handcuffed to a home exterior you don’t enjoy. Nor do you need to pay the sometimes bank-account sinking prices for a replacement.
Instead, you can paint your window exteriors to better match the color of your home at a more affordable price than replacements.
None of this is meant to suggest challenges and hiccups don’t exist when you take this course of action.
Painting your window frames requires thoughtfulness, strategizing, and an awareness of the related pitfalls. Below, we’ll dive into the nuances of this topic and how to navigate the various obstacles involved.
(Note: We’ll be referring primarily to vinyl window exteriors with our advice).
Painting Window Frames Is A Process With Multiple Steps
Window exteriors are typically comprised of material like vinyl.
As a versatile, high-quality plastic, vinyl can withstand excess moisture, corrosion, rust, and abrasion. With this information comes some good news and bad.
The good news? Your windows are more likely to last a long time.
The bad news? You can’t merely add a layer of your preferred-colored paint to your window exterior and be done with it. The paint can’t adhere to the vinyl directly. Adding a primer is a must–even if your paint is “vinyl-friendly.”
So, remember to add that first priming layer to ensure the most seamless window-painting process.
Inspect For Chipping And Scratching
Window exterior wear-and-tear isn’t usually something you must worry about too much. Most homeowners keep their windows closed because their heat or AC is running.
Unfortunately, once you’ve primed and painted your window exteriors, it catalyzes chipping and scratching.
No–that doesn’t mean a gentle breeze will scuff up your vinyl exteriors. Instead, it dictates your need to keep your eyes open for peeling, scratching, and chipping over time. Doing so will inform you of when it’s time for a touch-up.
Be Aware Of Functionality Issues
When you purchase windows–vinyl or otherwise–they’re designed to open and shut seamlessly and securely.
Adding a new layer of paint disrupts the initial design, impeding how easy it is to use the windows. You’ll increase friction, causing challenges when trying to open them.
It’s entirely possible to paint your windows shut if you aren’t careful, and it can make the prospect of getting some fresh air incredibly frustrating.
Once You Scuff Your Vinyl Siding, You Can’t Restore It
It’s necessary to sand down your window exteriors before adding your primer, permanently damaging the vinyl and scuffing its smooth surface.
The primer and paint will theoretically restore some of the quality. Still, priming and painting can’t return the vinyl to its original iteration.
In other words, there’s no turning back once you’ve sanded down your vinyl.
Color Influences Functionality
Aesthetics are obviously of high importance to homeowners–as they should be. It’s your property, and you’ve worked hard for it. Plus, things that look good improve our mental health. Psychology Today cites how viewing beautiful objects helps with mood regulation.
All the same, you must ask yourself how much you’re willing to let form impede function.
On the above note, dark frames are sought after by many homeowners these days.
Darker hues are undoubtedly ideal in many aesthetic scenarios. Yet, they also cause vinyl frames and glass to crack and warp. Form inhibits function entirely in this instance.
Alternatively, almond, white, beige, and tan-shaded window frames are your best bet for repelling heat and avoiding warping and cracking. They’re also neutral colors that blend well with most paint colors, allowing you to choose almost any shade for your home’s exterior.
Will You Void Your Manufacturer’s Warranty By Painting Your Window Frames?
Warranties–like anything with fine print–can complicate matters surrounding the product they’re designed for.
The above notion extends to your windows and whether you paint their exterior. More often than not, altering your windows in any shape or form after buying them will void the factory warranty.
This isn’t necessarily a game-changing issue, depending on the situation. Your windows might be in optimal condition. Perhaps you’re not planning on replacing them in the foreseeable future, and the chances of damaging them are negligible. The warranty might be irrelevant in these instances, and voiding it could make sense.
Perform a risk-reward analysis here.
Replacements cost $467 to $1,333 per window. Those prices could–for some–be low enough to justify the risk of voiding your warranty. To the more budget-conscious homeowner, such a risk could seem preposterous.
Weigh The Value Of Replacement Windows
Say you’re a bit put off by the idea of voiding your warranty, but you’re not happy with your window exteriors and how they mesh with your current paint job.
Ask yourself if investing in replacement windows in the color you want makes more sense.
The upfront installation cost will be more (we’ve already discussed the price range). However, the long-term investment of shelling out for replacements could yield substantial returns.
After all, you won’t diminish the quality of your window exteriors (i.e., there won’t be peeling, warping, cracking, or functionality problems). Plus, you won’t be voiding any warranties.
Don’t Forget About Your Roof!
As much as the color and design of bricks, facades, and siding may impact the overall aesthetic of your home, so does your roof.
Remember to factor in your roof and whether your chosen color meshes with it when mulling over painting your windows and home exterior.
These details can determine whether your window-painting decision pans out and pays off. All home exterior components should harmonize to offer your desired aesthetic. Want to learn more about roofing designs? AGR is a roofing expert with 20 years of industry-leading experience. Contact us with questions about your roof; we’ll happily offer valuable insights and answers.
