How To Make Aluminum Window Frames Look Better

This stride-past-step tutorial volition show you how to paint aluminum windows and door frames. It's a quick and easy way to update your old doors and windows for merely a few dollars.

While nosotros've fabricated lots of improvements and updates to our home over the last several years, replacing the aluminum windows and sliding drinking glass doors just isn't in the budget right now.

We accept ii sets of sliding doors that atomic number 82 out to our huge screened porch and as much every bit I love all the light they let in, the blank metallic finish really only made them look a chip inexpensive and unfinished.

sliding glass doors with metal frame and track

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

There is a bit of chipping on the door handle, but everything else still looks pristine.

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

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

Today I'm sharing step-by-footstep instructions and photos likewise as a video tutorial of the entire process.

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Materials

Vacuum (for cleaning sliding drinking glass door tracks and window sills)
All-purpose cleaner
Painter's tape ( 2-3 inch thick tape is best for this project)
Whorl of kraft newspaper or wrapping paper
Spray paint

How to paint aluminum windows and door frames

The first pace of any painting project is cleaning. Our sliding doors had accumulated quite a bit of pollen and dust in the door track then I started by vacuuming information technology out.

Then I used an all-purpose cleaner and rag to clean everything I was going to exist painting.

Spray paint is definitely the all-time paint for painting near anything metallic.

Information technology adheres well and goes on rapidly. Most general use spray paints volition piece of work for this projection.

Just double-cheque that your paint says it is appropriate for apply on metal and tin can be used outdoors.

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

You will need to do a bit of extra prep when using spray pigment to make certain the overspray doesn't mess up anything nearby.

Start by using painter's tape to tape all along the edges of where you will exist painting.

This would be a great time to use 3″ Painter's tape to provide more protection.

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

I also covered the entire glass section of the windows and doors. This isn't completely necessary only I like the actress 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 any erstwhile rolls of wrapping paper if y'all don't have dark-brown kraft paper on manus.

I ever seem to have an excess of wrapping newspaper somehow and this is a great style to repurpose it.

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

Once you have everything prepped, you tin start painting.

Any time you spray paint, showtime past shaking your pigment thoroughly for well-nigh a infinitesimal and then shaking it every few minutes as you work.

Information technology'due south also a good idea to vesture a protective mask when working with spray paint.

Hold the spray paint 6 to 8 inches from the surface you are painting and slowly move it over the surface with a steady back and forth motion.

Brand sure you continue the tin moving to avert thick, drippy areas.

You desire to do ii-3 sparse coats of pigment. Don't exist tempted to try for one very thick coat, you'll just terminate up with drips and uneven coverage.

Bank check the instructions on your tin can of spray paint to see how long you need to wait before adding a 2d coat of paint – usually, information technology is but a minute or ii.

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

When y'all're done painting, turn the paint upside down and spray for v seconds.

This volition make certain the can doesn't clog and will piece of work simply as smoothly for your side by side project.

Once the paint is mostly dry, you can carefully remove the painter's tape and paper.

If y'all find any footling spots where paint managed to sneak through your bulwark onto the glass, it'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to remove using a razor blade scraper.

Painted Metal Doors and Windows

Here are some before and after photos so y'all can really see the difference the pigment made.

Fifty-fifty though the color difference from bare aluminum to white is subtle, the windows and doors await so much nicer (and less cheap) now.

I dearest how they blend 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 congenital new shutters for the windows, but even without the shutters, I was really surprised at just how much improve those windows look.

aluminum windows painted white with gray shutters

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

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

This project was particularly quick and easy. I used three cans of spray paint to pigment two sets of sliding glass doors, two 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 bodily 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 record
Curl of kraft paper or wrapping paper
Spray paint

Instructions

Start past removing whatever pollen and dust in the door frame by vacuuming information technology out.
Use an all-purpose cleaner and rag to clean the surfaces you volition be painting.
Secure painter's tape all forth the edges of the surfaces you lot will be painting.
Cover the entire drinking glass section of the windows and doors with kraft paper or wrapping paper.
Milkshake your pigment thoroughly for nearly a infinitesimal and so brainstorm painting.
Hold the spray pigment 6 to viii inches from the surface and movement it with a steady back and along movement.
Y'all will need two-3 thin coats of pigment.
Once the paint is dry, remove the painter's tape and newspaper.