For video tutorials, visit us on Instagram and TikTok:
https://www.instagram.com/coastal.hills.haven
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Video tutorials:
2025 External window tutorial - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO7xVWCj9Dt/
2025 Fixing a damaged patch - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPxT_FSD4Tw/
2025 Window painting Q&A - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPNrCoNj2NU/
2023 Internal lounge room windows - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxylCS5hhh8/
2023 Internal lounge room windows - https://www.instagram.com/reel/C51pYejBV0f/
2021 Internal guest room window - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CVW-Z8fBLMB/
2021 Internal bathroom windows - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CMguFH3hzWA/
Visit our instagram for more detailed stories, just look for the "windows" and "windows 2" highlights.
We have been paining the windows frames in this house since 2021 and my method hasn’t really changed overtime. However, I only did my first exterior window in 2025 and I know people are always curious (link above).
What we use:
1. Cleaning - microfibre cloth, a Rubbermaid (to dislodge dirt), pipe cleaners and cotton tips to get into tiny places.
2. Prep - Scotch Tape or Frog Tape, Promask Kraft Masking Paper, scalpel.
3. Primer (if using).
4. Paint - We use Deluxe Metal Shield Epoxy Enamel in Gloss Vivid White.
How we do it:
1. Thoroughly, clean the window frames, tracks and glass. This is the key to success, along with precise taping up. Use a microfibre cloth, a Rubbermaid (to dislodge dirt), pipe cleaners and cotton tips to get into tiny places. I just use a normal bench spray to clean the frames and tracks and a window cleaner spray for the glass.
2. Test if the window frame has been painted with water based or oil based paint by dabbing some methylated spirits on a light cloth and rubbing hard. If it comes off, it’s water based and you can buy a water based primer. If not, it’s oil based and you need an oil primer that can etch to oil based paint.
3. Tape up the frame leaving only the areas you want to paint. This is the hardest part and takes time and the patience. Line the tape up as precisely as possible to ensure no overspray or bleeding. It’s so important to get this right and one thing that helps with precision, especially on any rubber parts, is a sharp scalpel. Brown Kraft style paper is also elite compared to using newspaper like I used to. We get ours from Go Industrial - https://goind.com.au/products/promask-kraft-masking-paper
4. Cover all surrounding walls and floors by taping down plastic drop sheets or more brown Kraft paper.
5. Cover the actual windows by taping down sheets of brown Kraft or butcher's paper (or newspaper if you don't have anything else) making sure the edges meet the taped areas. Firmly smoothing it down.
6. Then it’s time to paint. I use Dulux Metal Shield Epoxy Enamel in Gloss Vivid White. It doesn’t require you to prime or sand the surface unless it’s flakey, rusty or similar. If the surface is smooth and clean, you’re good to go. We did 4 coats to really cover the primrose yellow. Very gently and slowly spray the primer (if using) on the frames using small spurts from 15cm away. Too much will cause drips. It’s a bit tricky. If it drips, quickly wipe it and redo it. Have a metho dabbed cloth on standby just in case.
7. Let each coat dry completely (see paint can instructions) and repeat the process with the spray paint with as many coats (drying time in between) as you need to achieve the coverage you're after. White paint over primrose yellow usually takes 3 to 4 coats.
8. Allow to dry for 24 hours then remove all the paper and tape carefully. Have a sharp scalpel on hand to carefully cut and release any thick areas of paint so you don't rip the paint off.
9. If you do accidentally cause a tear in the paint, spray some paint into a piece of paper and use a small smooth brush to repaint the same amount of coats (with drying time in between) onto the damaged spot - example here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPxT_FSD4Tw/?igsh=eDdsd3AyazZrOWp2
Note: We’ve done all our internal windows (some over 4 years ago) and none of them have bubbled or flaked. If you scratch it with something rough, the paint might come off but ordinary daily window use has been fine, including cleaning. Let’s see how it holds up outside before I tackle the huge windows out the front.
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