Vinyl window frames are more durable and show less wear than wooden frames, but they do not come in as many colors as you may want. Painting vinyl is no longer a hopeless dream, as a result of the range of primers and specially formulated paints now available. The key to painting plastic frames so that the paint job lasts is at the prep work.

Cover the floor under the windows with drop cloths. Old sheets or fabric tarps are much less slick than plastic ones. This is important if you’re going to be standing on a ladder.

Dissolve 1 to 2 tsp of degreasing cleanser in 1 gallon of warm water. Dish liquid is formulated to cut through grease, rinses off easily and will not hurt plastic — so it is a good choice for this job.

Dampen a sponge with soapy water and wash from the window frames. Rinse them with a moist cloth and then dry them thoroughly with a shop cloth that may leave no lint behind.

Rough up the surface of the vinyl with 220-grit sandpaper. Be gentle, because you simply need to remove the surface shine to help the primer adhere to the plastic.

Wipe away all traces of the dust brought on by sanding with a tack cloth. Even the smallest particles can make the result look rough or bumpy.

Cover the windows within the frames with paper and fasten it with painter’s tape. Either tape paper over the walls in the region around the window frames or shield them with painter’s tape, depending on how accurate you’re with a spray can.

Coat the window frames with a thin spray of cushion that’s especially formulated to stick to vinyl. Primer labels generally say which surfaces they work with.

Allow the primer dry in line with the period that the label recommends. Add one to two hours if you’re painting on a rainy day or your own climate is generally humid.

Apply a thin, even coat of paint that’s formulated to be used on vinyl. Use either a spray paint or brush it on, depending on your own personal preference. Use a sponge brush to avoid brush marks should you decide not to utilize spray paint. Allow the first coat dry completely with regard to the time frame recommended by the producer.

Apply another coat if you believe that your window frames require it. Sand the paint very gently with 220-grit sandpaper between coats to get a smoother finish.

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