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Field Guide: Exterior Window Painting

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Below is the process that we have specifically developed with our local Sherwin Williams for our painters to restore old wood windows WITHOUT removing the sash from the window. Yes, it would be best practice to remove them; however, to do so is sometimes cost prohibitive. This is a method that will perform the needed maintenance on the windows, be eligible for Sherwin William’s lifetime warranty, and allows our Neighbors (we don’t have customers) to do much needed work on more windows.

If you do want to remove it to bare wood and deglaze, we highly recommend using a Speedheater over a heat gun and check out this video.

(For our process in Spanish click here)

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The following process is for our on-site, exterior window restorations and part of our Lifetime Exterior Renovation. This is the difference between putting color on a window and prepping & painting a window that we can all stand behind the quality of work. 

  1. Any products outside of those specified and provided must be approved by Old Home Rescue prior to use. 

  2. Follow Manufacturer’s Specifications on all products

  3. Clean the Surface

    1. Pressure washers are NOT used to prep for paint application

    2. Remove all surface contamination by using the following; 

      1. Walls should be wet down with garden hose & nozzle

      2. Mix 1 gallon water, 1 cup bleach, & 1 cup TSP-PF

      3. Working in sections, clean from bottom to top to avoid streaks

      4. Rinse walls with garden hose and nozzle before solution dries

      5. Allow to dry until wood as 15% or less moisture level

  4. Prep the Surface

    1. Cover the work area with plastic or drop clothes to collect paint debris

    2. Existing loose, peeled or checked paint must be scraped with a pull scraper to a sound layer. 

    3. Feather sand any rough edges from peeling paint with a sanding pad to improve the final appearance and adhesion.

    4. Removal of old paint runs

    5. Set nail heads on wood where exposed beyond surface level

    6. Remove all unused fasteners & hardware

    7. Repair rot with up to a golf ball sized quantity of Abatron WoodEpox BEFORE priming or a primed replacement board. Damage or rot exceeding epoxy threshold should be communicated to Old Home Rescue

    8. Repair minor cracks with Aqua Glaze or exterior painter’s putty AFTER spot priming.

    9. Caulking should be completed AFTER priming

  5. Glazing Repair

    1. Replace any broken glass with 1/8” double strength flat glass or reproduction wavy glass, as specified. Pin glass in place using glazing points with at least 2 glazing points on each side.

    2. Remove failed glazing that cannot be maintain from the glass bed. Protect historic glass, ensuring not to break any additional glass.

    3. Glass beds should be primed with oil based primer BEFORE glazing. 

    4. Putty glaze glass with Aqua Glaze

    5. Fill cracks in glazing with Aqua Glaze

  6. Spot Prime

    1. Spot prime bare wood with oil based primer 

    2. Sand as needed between coats.

    3. Air, surface and material temperature must be above 35 degrees for 4 hrs after application

  7. Prime the Surface

    1. Brush the entire surface with 1-2 coats of Sherwin Williams Primer Rx Peel Bonding Primer

    2. Peel bonding primer helps even out less-than-perfect surfaces before painting, giving a smoother completed finish

    3. Air, surface and material temperature must be above 35 degrees for 4 hrs after application

  8. Caulk

    1. Gaps and fixed joints can be filled with Sherwin Williams PowerHouse or MaxFlex caulking after priming the surface

    2. Allow proper drying time before application of the finish

  9. Paint the Surface

    1. Brush the surfaces with 2 coats of Sherwin Williams Emerald, Waterbased Alkyd Urethane (different temperature requirements) or equivalent paints in a satin or semi gloss finish finish for ultimate protection. 

    2. OHR preferred sash brush: 2” angled ultra stiff sash brush

    3. Air, surface and material temperature must be above 35 degrees for 48 hrs after application

  10. Clean the surface

    1. Remove any paint from glass with a lubricated razor blade

    2. Clean glass with glass cleaner and paper towels

    3. Glass should be clean when viewed from 6 feet away

    4. Property should be clean of all construction debris and paint chips

    5. Trash can be disposed of at Old Home Rescue or construction dumpster on-site.

  11.  Notes on Painting Wood Windows

    1. The above specifications are for painting wood windows for stabilization, protection and maintenance on a cyclical basis. Window painting’s cosmetic results should be viewed from 5 feet away as there may still be inconsistencies in the paint surface. 

    2. If the Neighbor is interested in additional surface preparation or replacements parts to their window, direct them to the Old Home Rescue Project Manager, who will discuss off-site restoration or reproduction windows.

Click the image below for an up-to-date checklist!