Author Topic: Painting Aluminum Windows  (Read 997 times)

jc4

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Painting Aluminum Windows
« on: September 26, 2018, 12:09:23 PM »
I have '70's aluminum windows. My wife wants white windows. I figured I'd try painting white rather than replacing.

As I understand paint won't stick.

Potential steps:
Clean
Sand
Acid Etch
Metal Primer
Paint

I have to clean / paint. From online reading, people recommend 1 or more of sand, acid etch, and prime. All 3 is probably overkill.

Any experience and recomendations out there?


Jon Bon

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Re: Painting Aluminum Windows
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2018, 02:20:35 PM »
I have '70's aluminum windows. My wife wants white windows. I figured I'd try painting white rather than replacing.

As I understand paint won't stick.

Potential steps:
Clean
Sand
Acid Etch
Metal Primer
Paint

I have to clean / paint. From online reading, people recommend 1 or more of sand, acid etch, and prime. All 3 is probably overkill.

Any experience and recomendations out there?

I remember my aluminum windows would frost over to the point where there was 1/2 an inch of ice on them.  I am sure you have considered and discarded replacement. That is what I would do before I put time and money into 40 year old windows.

Just a good clean surface and some good SW paint and I think you would be fine.




jc4

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Re: Painting Aluminum Windows
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2018, 04:44:11 PM »
Yea. We don't see that much cold here.

I figured we're out $400-$600 for new wood windows, and a lot of work. Figured I could paint them for $40 or so and 1/4 the time it'd take me to replace them.

We're also happy with their functionality. They're just metal colored.

Sibley

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Re: Painting Aluminum Windows
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2018, 08:51:05 AM »
I have aluminum window surrounds, which I plan to paint next year. Proper cleaning, primer, and paint I believe will work fine. Just do your research on the details.

Jon Bon

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Re: Painting Aluminum Windows
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2018, 12:26:30 PM »
Yea. We don't see that much cold here.

I figured we're out $400-$600 for new wood windows, and a lot of work. Figured I could paint them for $40 or so and 1/4 the time it'd take me to replace them.

We're also happy with their functionality. They're just metal colored.

Go for it!

Also get a blade to clean up any paint that winds up on the window glass.