Painting exterior window trim is a fun way to make your home and your windows have some personality. The trim around your windows is usually a paintable surface such as wood or a composite material. Many homeowners choose to hire professional exterior painting services to ensure a flawless finish. Most customers will use a second color or a trim color when they paint the window trim, which often matches the gutters and other trim on the home. Depending on the type of material you’re painting, you may need to do some additional prep work. If you are painting older window trim, you may also need to follow lead paint laws when prepping them for paint.
Painting Window Trim: Key Considerations
We do see a few different types of trim around windows that can be painted. The most popular exterior trim is wood. If you have new or bare wood trim you should make sure you use a quality primer on it before painting it. If the trim is peeling or having other issues you should sand it down until it is not peeling and make sure it is primed. You should also make sure the surface is very clean and dry and all gaps are caulked prior to painting.
Some window trim is made of a newer composite material similar to Hardie Plank siding. This trim is a great option as it is much more likely to hold up over time. These products often come primed from the factory but it is always a good idea to prime it again prior to painting.
You can also have vinyl or metal trim around exterior windows, but these are not very common or at least don’t usually get painted. If you are painting vinyl trim you should make sure it is very clean and dry and then apply a bonding primer before painting. We recommend only using very light paint colors with vinyl as it can get very hot and melt with darker colors. Metal trim is similar to vinyl as far as the process goes for prep and painting.
How to Prep Window Trim for Painting
Every surface you paint on the exterior of your home should be very clean before you do anything else. You can pressure wash or hand wash the trim on the exterior of your home as long as it gets clean. Make sure it is completely dry and the weather conditions are right for the products you are using. Many exterior paints can be used in weather down to 35 degrees but I prefer to wait until the temps are in the 50’s to be safe.
If you have any loose paint or other issues with the old paint you should scrape and sand down the surfaces until it is no longer an issue. If this leaves any type of bare wood or other surface it should be primed before painting using the appropriate primer for the surface. All primers are not created the same as they can have many different purposes. Understanding the reason you need to prime is the key to knowing which primer to use.
Protecting the areas around your window trim are also important when painting. You should plan to protect the ground and the siding around the window trim that is getting painted. If you are talented you might just get away with covering the ground below you in case of spills. If you are nervous you should mask off the siding around the trim and the actual window frames to avoid any messes. Drop cloths are great for covering the ground and painters tape and paper or plastic can be used to cover the surfaces on the building.
How to Paint Window Trim: Step-by-Step Guide
You should always buy professional quality paint tools if you want professional results. Painting window trim is no different when it comes to the tools needed. I recommend a 2-3 inch brush for window trim made for latex paints. Most good brushes will cost you between $20-$30. A good brush will help the paint lay down evenly and it will not leave bristles in the paint. You can apply window trim paint with a good quality roller cover too. You should plan to spend around $6-$10 for a good quality roller cover that will make your job easier. Cheap roller covers and brushes can really make your job much more difficult.
We always recommend using two coats of paint on any exterior trim. The most popular trim paint we use is Sherwin Williams Duration Exterior paint. It is a very thick product that can withstand the weather. You have many choices and brands to choose from but using a higher quality paint makes sense as you are not needing a lot of paint for this type of work.
Painting Window Trim Exterior vs. Interior
Making sure that you do the right prep work for exterior window trim is crucial in how long it will last. Doing multiple coats and a primer coat if needed is very important. Caulking any gaps and letting the caulk dry prior to painting is also required.
If you are painting interior window trim the process is very similar but you will need to use a high-quality interior enamel paint. Interior trim is also sprayed for a finer finish in many cases but it can also be brushed and rolled and look pretty good.
Painting Window Trim Black: Embracing the Trend
Many homeowners like to use a darker window trim to make the house really stand out. It can look great with the right combination of colors. Darker colors do tend to have more problems if they get direct hot sun on them such as paint blisters. Latex house paints tend to stay pretty soft and flexible to move with the temperature changes which is what you want it to do. Black and other dark colors tend to get so hot they can lose adhesion to the surfaces and peel easier. If you get direct hot sun on part of your home you may want to consider the color of the trim.
Need Professional Help Painting Window Trim?
If you are comfortable doing your own painting projects you can likely handle painting the window trim on your home. In many cases, it may be less expensive to hire a professional painter to do the work as they have all of the needed equipment to reach all of your windows and to prep them correctly. Working with an expert that does this type of work will pay for itself in the long run. If you’re in the Portland Metro area, please reach out to Absolute Painting for a consultation on your exterior painting needs. We are happy to help!
