How to Paint a Window: The Cardboard Trick

Blue tape works on standard windows, but when you've got six panes of glass in one window, using blue tape would be a pain. :-) So I show you how to use cardboard to paint the window. Makes it easy.

Formats available: YouTube, Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv), MP3 Audio (.mp3), MPEG-4 Video (.m4v)

Tags: paint, window, blue, tape, cardboard

Comments

[Homeowner]

Why dont you get a putty knife or a glass screper. It makes it a lot easier to even be concerned with holding the cardboard. I just did it this weekend and got great results...

[Kevin]

You should buy some new windows, those old 6 pane windows cant be very energy efficient

[Painter]

Only amateurs use tape or such tricks as you show here. A real painter has the brush control to do it without, few people realize this.

[John Leeke]

Steve is doing good by maintaining his existing windows. Nothing wastes more energy that replacing good old wooden windows that will last for a century with vinyl replacement windows that will have to be replaced again in 8-12 years when they fail.

It's true that professional window specialists can "paint to the line," but Steve's cardboard method will save time for the do-it-youselfers. I suggest also painting one final stroke after the cardboard comes out, lapping onto the glass just 1/16th inch, to seal the joint between the wood and the glass. This will help keep moisture from getting into the joint and causing peeling paint in the future.

You can learn more about window maintenance and repair over at the Historic HomeWorks Forum:

http://historichomeworks.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=16

John
by hammer and hand great works do stand
with no strain he sets the pane

www.HistoricHomeWorks.com

[steve Garfield]

Thanks John.

We just installed new Harvey storm windows. They work great.

There's no reason to replace these great old windows.

[Marc]

Steve,

What's the difference between the top and both of the windows? I like a straight edge razon blade to scrap any excess paint off the glass. Angle cut brushes help getting into the corners.

Marc

[My Home FX]

As real painters know, you want the paint to lap onto the glass for an extra amount of sealing between the glass and the wood. It helps keep them secure, seals drafts, makes for a perfect line if the wood is good. Then you cut and scrape the edge with a razor blade which takes all of 20 seconds per pane.

[john leeke]

As real painters who really know real painting know, you paint to the line lapping onto the glass just a little and the edge of the paint heals down to the glass providing long-term resistance to moisture. They know that scraping away the paint with a razor blade is a method that leaves a "raw edge" to the paint that is susceptible to moisture and results in short-term life. The razor blade methods takes more time because it is an extra step that is not needed if painting to the line.

John
paints to the line, looks real fine

www.HistoricHomeWorks.com