Keep Yourself Out of a Sticky Situation: Painting Windows the Right Way

It’s a warm spring day. Before bed, you want to turn off the AC and let the breeze in. Any time you can open a window is a good time. Unfortunately, when you go to do so, you remember that is jammed up, and no amount of shaking can get it open. Why is that? Some previous owner or careless painter probably painted it incorrectly, letting the paint coat and seal the crack between the window. Maybe they never even intended to open the window, so they caulked all the windows shut and painted over them. Whatever the case may be, it’s frustrating, right? Then you’re faced with having to peel back layers of material to try to get it to open again – which can be a lot harder than it seems.

There are two ways to deal with this. One is to have professional painters do the job right the first time, and the other is to pry it open. Sometimes, this is a big job that, if not done right, can damage the window, causing more problems than it is worth. That’s why it is good to have Main Line professionals help get the air back into your life.

Trust the Pros and Get the Job Done Right the First Time Around

To keep yourself out of this situation in the first place, it’s always a good idea to hire professional painters to handle paint jobs that include windows. If you’re thinking of a new paint job for your windows (or for the walls around them), there are techniques that an experienced team can use to give your window sills and sashes a nice smooth finish that fully coats them without sealing them together and making their hinges useless.

While inexperienced painters don’t know how to paint windows without painting them shut, professionals know the proper techniques to avoid this. Whether it’s loading the paintbrush to avoid drips and get a nice even coat, using proper taping techniques to make sure the paint stays in-bounds, or having the tools and experience to handle complex trim, a professional can give you a paint job that improves your window, rather than creating a new problem to solve.

However, if you’re already stuck, you’re going to have to get unstuck to enjoy your window again.

Fresh Air: Unsticking the Stuck Window

Unsticking windows once they have been painted into place takes a fair amount of work, but it’s not impossible – especially for experienced painters and carpenters. First, to unstick windows the crusted layers of paint that are actually binding the window sash to the window sill have to be scored with a sharp tool on the inside and outside of the window. Then the carpenter can take a putty knife and other prying tools to gently unstick the sash from the sill. With skill and care, the window can be opened again without damage to the walls around it.

Trimwork and molding can complicate things, though. The process of unsticking and restoring a stuck window can require replacing some of the surrounding molding that just can’t avoid taking some damage in the process. Luckily, Nolan can also design, install, and paint molding around your windows.

Nolan Offers Window Painting and Repair for the Main Line

Nolan’s team of professional painters and carpenters can help you get your windows back to their original, fully-functioning splendor. We’re proud to be the trusted partner for painting and home repair along the Main Line and throughout Southeast Pennsylvania. We want you to make the most of your windows. Contact us today for a consultation.