How Do You Paint Aluminum Window Frames

This step-past-step tutorial will testify you how to pigment aluminum windows and door frames. It's a quick and like shooting fish in a barrel way to update your old doors and windows for just a few dollars.

While we've made lots of improvements and updates to our home over the terminal several years, replacing the aluminum windows and sliding glass doors only isn't in the budget right now.

We have ii sets of sliding doors that lead out to our huge screened porch and as much as I dear all the light they let in, the blank metal terminate really merely fabricated them look a bit cheap and unfinished.

sliding glass doors with metal frame and track

I painted the interior of the sliding doors several years ago and the pigment has held up really well.

At that place is a bit of chipping on the door handle, simply everything else all the same looks pristine.

I'chiliad in the middle of updating our screened porch so this seemed like the perfect time to tackle the exterior of the doors.

And while I was at it, I likewise painted the aluminum windows on our porch as well as all of the metal outlet covers.

Today I'm sharing step-by-step instructions and photos equally well every bit a video tutorial of the entire procedure.

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Materials

Vacuum (for cleaning sliding glass door tracks and window sills)
All-purpose cleaner
Painter's tape ( ii-3 inch thick record is best for this project)
Roll of kraft paper or wrapping paper
Spray pigment

How to paint aluminum windows and door frames

The get-go step of any painting project is cleaning. Our sliding doors had accumulated quite a bit of pollen and grit in the door rails then I started past vacuuming it out.

And then I used an all-purpose cleaner and rag to clean everything I was going to be painting.

Spray pigment is definitely the all-time paint for painting almost anything metal.

It adheres well and goes on quickly. Almost general use spray paints will work for this projection.

But double-check that your paint says it is advisable for use on metal and tin can be used outdoors.

I used Rustoleum Semi-Gloss Protective Enamel in white for my ain doors and windows.

You will demand to do a chip of extra prep when using spray paint to make sure the overspray doesn't mess up anything nearby.

Commencement by using painter'southward record to tape all along the edges of where you volition be painting.

This would be a keen fourth dimension to employ 3″ Painter's record to provide more protection.

I only had the regular ane″ painter's record on hand, so I did a few rows of tape around my windows and doors.

I besides covered the unabridged glass department of the windows and doors. This isn't completely necessary but I like the extra protection it gives.

sliding glass doors ready to be painted with painter's tape and paper covering adjoining areas

My money-saving trick is to use whatever old rolls of wrapping newspaper if you don't have brown kraft paper on paw.

I always seem to have an excess of wrapping paper somehow and this is a swell way to repurpose it.

aluminum window frames and metal outlet covers surrounded by painter's tape

Once you take everything prepped, yous tin can start painting.

Whatsoever time you spray paint, showtime by shaking your pigment thoroughly for about a minute and then shaking it every few minutes as y'all work.

It's also a expert idea to wear a protective mask when working with spray paint.

Hold the spray paint six to 8 inches from the surface y'all are painting and slowly move it over the surface with a steady dorsum and forth motion.

Make certain you keep the can moving to avoid thick, drippy areas.

You lot desire to do ii-three sparse coats of paint. Don't be tempted to attempt for one very thick coat, you'll only cease up with drips and uneven coverage.

Check the instructions on your tin of spray paint to run into how long you demand to wait earlier adding a 2nd glaze of pigment – usually, it is merely a infinitesimal or ii.

sliding glass doors with a layer of white paint, surrounded by painter's tape and paper

When you're done painting, plow the paint upside down and spray for five seconds.

This will make sure the can doesn't clog and will work just as smoothly for your side by side projection.

Once the pigment is mostly dry, you tin can carefully remove the painter's record and paper.

If you find whatsoever petty spots where paint managed to sneak through your barrier onto the glass, it's easy to remove using a razor blade scraper.

Painted Metal Doors and Windows

Here are some before and later photos and then you can really see the divergence the paint made.

Fifty-fifty though the colour deviation from bare aluminum to white is subtle, the windows and doors expect and so much nicer (and less inexpensive) now.

I love how they alloy in with everything else instead of standing out.

metal sliding glass doors before paint and after being painted white

aluminum windows before paint and after being painted white

I also built new shutters for the windows, but even without the shutters, I was actually surprised at just how much improve those windows wait.

aluminum windows painted white with gray shutters

And the metallic outlet covers to blend in nicely now. Which is great, since nosotros accept at least a dozen scattered effectually our porch.

metal outlet covers before paint, while being painted, and after being painted white

This project was peculiarly quick and easy. I used three cans of spray paint to paint two sets of sliding glass doors, ii windows, and a dozen outlets.

And the unabridged project was done in a couple of hours.

The majority of that time was spent cleaning and taping everything.

The actual painting took less than ten minutes.

Video Tutorial

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sliding glass doors before and after white paint

Materials

All-purpose cleaner
Painter's tape
Coil of kraft newspaper or wrapping paper
Spray paint

Instructions

Offset by removing whatsoever pollen and dust in the door frame by vacuuming information technology out.
Use an all-purpose cleaner and rag to clean the surfaces yous will be painting.
Secure painter'due south record all along the edges of the surfaces you will be painting.
Cover the entire glass department of the windows and doors with kraft paper or wrapping newspaper.
Shake your pigment thoroughly for about a minute and then begin painting.
Hold the spray paint 6 to 8 inches from the surface and move information technology with a steady back and along motion.
You will demand ii-3 thin coats of paint.
Once the pigment is dry out, remove the painter'southward tape and newspaper.