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Mending, Making, Restoring And A DIY Guide To Painting And Decorating Sash Windows

Sash windows can be fun to repair, so here is a DIY Guide to painting and decorating sash windows. After removing the lock, and old putty with a putty knife, or even a butter knife, along with any other sealants that may have been put on over the years, sand the wood of the windows. It does not need to be perfect, but sand it as smoothly as you would like to see the paint over it. Then take a damp cloth and wipe the loose sand off, making sure it is clean to paint.

To protect the glass from painting it in error and splashes, you can use masking tape or painters tape, but do not worry if you accidentally paint the glass. It comes off easy enough while it is still wet. If it does dry, this can always be easily removed with the edge of a straight razor.

Using a primer first is always a good idea. It will seal the wood better and hold on to the paint longer. So primer the wood of the windows first. When this dries, you are ready to paint. The indoor and outdoor will be best for this, as your windows will be exposed to the elements to a degree.

Start with the bottom sash, beginning somewhere on the center mullion. Paint the sides of your window, and then the mullions that are vertical. The next step is to paint the tops of your mullions that are horizontal. If you cannot paint all of the vertical mullion, do not worry about it. Just paint what you can see. The steps for painting these windows are to the preference of the painter, of course. Whatever is easier will be the right way for you.

When the paint is dried, and your window looks great, it is time to decorate it. Be imaginative. You can buy window treatments and draperies, or you can make them customized to your window. Either way, you will need to measure the dimensions of the window to make sure you have enough material for the homemade draperies, or you will need the measurements for the store-bought ones. A more modern look will show mini blinds or wooden blinds only. Sometimes curtains are not used at all. Or you can use a combination of light-weight curtains for a breezier look. Or a combination of blinds and curtains.

Whatever you decide, a DIY Guide to painting and decorating sash windows will be used again in the future for your other windows.