• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DIY Doctor
MENUMENU
  • DIY Doctor menu logo
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • All Projects
    • Brick, Block, Marsonary and Concrete
    • Damp, Condensation, Rot and Woodworm
    • Doors, Windows and Conservatories
    • Electrical
    • Fencing, Decking, Paving and Patios
    • Floors, Walls, Ceilings and Lofts
    • Garages, Sheds and Outbuildings
    • Gardening and Landscaping
    • General Building, Self Build and Renovation
    • General Repairs and Cleaning
    • Green Living and Eco DIY
    • Ground work, Foundations and Drainage
    • Heating, Central Heating and Boilers
    • Joinery and Carpentry
    • Materials, Fixings and Fixing
    • Painting, Decorating and Finishing
    • Planning Regs, Project Management and Safety
    • Plastering, Plasterboard and Rendering
    • Plumbing
    • Roofing and Gutters
    • Tiling and Tiles
    • Tools, Appliances and Access
    • DIY Tips
  • UK DIY Forums
  • DIY Videos
    • Bathroom DIY Videos
    • Building Foundation Videos
    • Building Videos
    • Carpentry and Woodworking Videos
    • Damp and Damproofing Videos
    • Decorating Videos
    • Electrical Videos
    • Fitting Blinds Videos
    • Flooring Videos
    • Gardening Videos
    • Green and Eco Friendly Videos
    • Hand and Power Tools Videos
    • Heating and Central Heating Videos
    • Kitchen Videos
    • Plastering and Drylining Videos
    • Plumbing Videos
    • Security Videos
  • Find Tradesmen
    • Find a Tradesman
    • Contract Download
    • Working with Tradesmen - Ultimate Guide
    • Home Improver Protection
    • Price Doctor
  • Tool Store
    • Tool Store
    • Bookstore
    • Tool Reviews and Product Reviews
  • Blog
    • Blog
    • DIY Competitions
  • About us
    • About DIY Doctor
    • What we do
    • Trade Shows and Exhibitions
    • Master Classes
    • Contact Us

Home > DIY How To Projects and Tutorial Guides > How to Paint a Sash Window – Painting Techniques to Avoid Windows Sticking

How to Paint a Sash Window – Painting Techniques to Avoid Windows Sticking

How to paint sash windows in the right order to ensure that you get the best possible finish. Find out how to painting sash windows in the right way and using techniques to avoid windows sticking.

Don't want to do this job yourself? Let us help you find a tradesman local to you

TwitterFacebookPin ItBuffer
Project MenuProject Menu
  • How to Tutorial
  • Video
  • Find Tradesmen
  • Help

Painting a sash window can lead to all sorts of trouble. If it is not painted in the correct order the sashes will stick together or each sash may stick in the frame rebate. This demonstration is one example of the best order to paint the various parts of a sash window. There are other ways but this is the one we have found to be best.

Different stages of painting a sash window

Different stages of painting a sash window

  1. Remove all locks and handles from the window frame. Its hard enough to paint as it is without painting round all the ironmongery. See our project on replacing a sash cord if the window does not open or shut in a balanced way. Just as with every decorating job these windows will need proper preparation. Sash windows fit very tightly together and the more paint you put on them the tighter they get. At some point in the decorating life of a sash window one has to start again and strip the paint back. If this is the time it may be best to follow the instructions in the project above and take the window to pieces.
  2. To get at all the parts of the sash window its necessary to reverse the sashes. Lift the bottom sash as high as it will go and pull the top sash down. Many people try to put masking tape on the glass but this causes more problems than it solves. Don’t worry about a bit of paint on the glass, we will deal with how to get that off later. Make sure you remove all dust when you have sanded down. Use the hoover on the window to be certain of this. One of the reasons for painting windows and doors in the order we do is simply to do it in a way which keeps your fingers and elbows out of the wet areas you have just painted. Its not a scientific as it seems and most of it is just common sense!
  3. Start painting the bottom section of the sash which you have pushed up to the top. The mullions come first. Mullions are the division strips within the frame that hold the individual panes of glass. Paint carefully but don’t worry about a little paint on the glass. As already said we will deal with that later. If you are right handed start at the top left corner and work across to the right just as you do when writing. Many people prefer to paint one side of all mullions first, then go back to paint the other side and finally the front. This is a good way to do it as the job is time consuming and painting all of 1 mullion can lead to the paint getting a little "sticky" as you finish. This makes it harder to get a really smooth finish. We tend to paint the left hand side of each mullion first, then go back to painting the right side.We also paint the underside of each horizontal mullion separately before going back to do the top.
  4. Paint the mullions in the lowered to sash. You wont be able to get to them all but paint the ones you can get to easily. Use the same method as above.
  5. Paint the face of the frame on the lower sash which you have pushed to the top.
  6. Paint the underside of the rebate into which the top sash will push when the job is finished. Push the top sash back up now but do not push it all the way into the rebate. Stop short of any painted surfaces meeting.
  7. Window scraper

    Window scraper

  8. Paint the remaining mullions and frame faces. Anything you could not reach before is now accessible.
  9. Finally the frame casing and the cill can be painted and the special weapon bought in to tidy up the paint on the window panes. Push the blade of the scraper onto the glass and run gently in towards the mullions. Now hold the blade vertically and run it carefully along the edge of each mullion where it meets the glass. This will cut through the paint so when you scrape the surplus paint will lift and leave a clean edge.

Another common problem with sash windows are the draughts caused by gaps in the frames. Once your paint is fully dry, this can easily be overcome by installing Gapseal leaving you with beautifully painted and draught free windows!

Take a look at our video section on painting and watch a film on how to paint window frames for a visual demonstration on this common DIY task.

All project content written and produced by Mike Edwards, founder of DIY Doctor and industry expert in building technology.

TwitterFacebookPin ItBuffer

Video

Back to the Top

Apologies, but we don't seem to have a video for this project yet, but we will do our best to get one up soon

Find a Reliable Local Tradesman

Back to the Top
Don't fancy doing this project yourself? We work with the industries best to ensure that we recommend only reliable and trustworthy tradesmen.
Let DIY Doctor help you find a tradesman

Find a tradesman now!


More Help

Back to the Top
Related Projects That May Help You:
  • DIY Guide to Preserving and Treating Wooden Windows
  • How to Paint Casement Windows and get a Great and Lasting Finish
  • Painting Panel Doors – How to Correctly Prepare Timber Panel Doors for Painting and What Order They Should be Painted in
  • Painting a Flush or Flat Door – A Simple Guide to Painting Flush Doors to Get a Great Finish
  • Paint Stripping – Using Different Techniques to Strip Paint From a Variety or Surfaces
  • Cleaning Paint Brushes and How to Clean Oil or Water Based Paints Out of Brushes
Give us Some Feedback!
Was this page useful:
We read and respond to all feedback by email. To allow us to do so you will be added to our email list, however you can unsubscribe at any time using the links at the bottom of any of our emails. Find out more in our privacy policy. Any DIY questions should be posted to our Forum
Sign me up to the DIY Doctor Newsletter:

Primary Sidebar

DIY Doctor deal of the week

DIY Utility Kit:

Build your own work bench!

RRP Price: £49.99

Special Price: £39.95

Get it here now

See our other deals now!

Master Basic DIY - By DIY Doctor

Our Book - Master Basic DIY

Grab your copy now for all the DIY help you need right at your finger tips!

Buy it Here!

Signup for our Newsletter

Keep up to date with our DIY projects, tips and latest deals

Sign Me Up!

Our Sponsors

Find out about advertising on DIY Doctor

Advert

Other Similar Projects
  • An Explanation Of The Various Types Of Varnish And Stains – What They Do And When To Use Them
  • How To Clean Paint Brushes
  • Diy Guide To Preserving And Treating Wooden Windows
  • How To Cut In Before Painting A Room – How To Paint A Straight, Crisp Edge Between The Walls And Ceiling
  • How To Paint A Casement Window
  • How To Paint A Panelled Door
  • How To Strip Paint
  • How To Paint A Flush Door

Footer

DIY Doctor

Site Menu

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Media/Press
  • Community Work
  • DIY Projects
  • DIY Videos
  • Superstore
  • DIY Tips
  • DIY Suppliers
  • UK DIY Forum
  • DIY Webinars

Other Stuff

  • Advertise
  • Competitions
  • T and Cs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • NHIC
  • Sitemap

DIY Doctor Social Channels

Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on YouTube
Follow us on Pinterest
Follow us on Tumblr

DIY Doctor are members of:

© DIY Doctor Ltd 2021 All Rights Reserved