When you select vinyl home replacement windows, you have a wide range of color options to choose from for your exterior trim. Additionally, there’s a whole rainbow of interior finishes to choose from, from a unobtrusive modern looking white to sleek wood look effects.
One of the biggest advantages about vinyl home replacement windows is the easy maintenance associated with them. They wipe clean easily, and never need to be painted. Tilt-in features make it easy to wash windows, even in multi-story homes.
However, there are times when a homeowner might get the urge to redecorate and paint their house. Perhaps they’ve moved into a home that already features vinyl home replacement windows — not unlikely, especially in this competitive housing market, where buyers want every bell and whistle they can get for the money. After all, vinyl replacement windows enhance not only the look but the energy efficiency of the home. No wonder buyers want them!
The question remains: can you paint over your vinyl windows?
The answer is not as simple as you might think. Obviously, you can paint vinyl windows — just like you can do anything. You can juggle chainsaws, if you set your mind to it, or teach your large, scary Rottweiler to kiss you on the lips. However, just because you can do something doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a good idea.
Without exception, replacement vinyl window manufacturers stand united when it comes to the painting of vinyl windows. They say: “Don’t Do It!” They mean it too — painting your vinyl windows will often immediately void your warranty. You don’t want to mess around with your warranty. It protects the several thousands of dollars you’ve invested in your home replacement windows.
Paint dealers and certain online websites will be happy to tell you that you can paint your vinyl windows — if you buy their special, very high priced paint. Save your money. There’s not a paint out there that has been proven to work well on vinyl windows. Part of the attraction of vinyl windows is that they don’t need to be painted. The color goes right through: if your window frames get scratched, nicked or otherwise damaged, the result will be less visible because you’re looking at an interior color that matches your exterior frame!
There are two main problems to consider when it comes to painting vinyl windows. Paint does not want to stick to vinyl: it slides off, which is not attractive. To counter this, specialty paint manufacturers reduce the amount of expanders in the paint, in an effort to make it adhere better. However, vinyl, like most materials, expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations. Paint that has been chemically altered this way can’t flex with the window frame, and invariably cracks and flakes off.
This is one time when it’s better to work with what you have rather than attempt to force your vinyl window frames into a ‘new look’ that just doesn’t fit.