Windows Refinishing

General Safety Advice

For every manual sanding process we recommend to use eye and mouth protection, gloves and appropriate close fitting clothing. When you are going to use a sanding machine, we also advise to use ear protection.

A Note of Caution is Important Here:   If you are doing this work on an older home that you suspect has been painted with lead based paint, it would be best to have a paint chip tested for lead. If the test result comes back positive, hire a professional to remove the paint. You can do the rest of the job once this dangerous material has been removed from the site.

Basics

It is easier to refinish windows when they are put in a horizontal position.

Step 1: Remove the Old Paint

Use a scraper to remove loose paint chips and sand smoothly. For tough jobs with multiple layers of paint, use 50 grit sandpaper to remove the majority of the material. Then sand with grit 80 to remove the rest of the paint and leave a smooth surface. Be careful not to gouge the wood as it will only require extra work later on to fill and repair those gouges. When only a light coating of paint has to be removed, start no coarser that 120 grit. The coarser you start, the more you have to sand  with finer grits to get a smooth uniform surface. Let the sandpaper do the work. Use straight motions following wood's thread pattern. Don't apply too much pressure and don't forget that new sandpaper is very sharp.

Step 2: Prepare the Surface

Now that you have removed all of the old paint you need to sand the surface smooth removing the coarser grit sanding scratches and or to smooth any damaged areas that may have required filling with wood putty. If hand sanding use a Sanding Block to hold the sandpaper or even better an Abrasive Sponge, a very effective product to do the job properly. It will help you generate a smooth flat surface. To get into tight corners, you can fold a piece of sandpaper over itself and use the exposed edges to get into those tight areas. For this step and for most woods used to make window frames and trim, you will need to start sanding with a 80 - 120 grit  High Performance Paper and then finish with 180 grit Finishing Paper to leave a uniform smooth finish that will help the primer bond to the wood.

Step 3: Prime the Surface

To get the best results in any painting project it is important to prime the surface with a primer compatible with the paint or finish you have chosen for the final top. A sealer not only helps to "seal" the wood and protect it, but it is usually less expensive than the final material and helps to bond that coating for better, longer lasting results. After applying the primer - let it dry and then sand it smoothly using an anti-clogging sandpaper like Finishing Paper 240 grit.

This will remove any dust that may have settled on the surface while the primer was still wet as well as remove any wood fibers that may have risen when applying the coating. This is a common occurrence when using water based finishes on wood and removing these "raised" fibers will ensure the smoothest finish. Now you are done and ready to apply a new colour.

Step 4: Paint the Piece

Follow recommended procedures from paint manufacturers for the best results.

Good Luck!