Can you paint vinyl windows? Expert painters urge caution and vital steps to avoid damage

A fresh lick of paint is a great way to refresh tired old window frames without having to replace them. And vinyl or PVC windows can be painted – there are just a few reasons why it might be better not to.

Vinyl windows are a low-maintenance, energy-efficient option, and they do a brilliant job of keeping our houses warm. While they offer a range of positives – especially when you compare them to aluminum, wood, composite or fiberglass frames – the main drawback is that they are susceptible to wear and tear.

Over time, the material expands and contracts when exposed to changing temperatures, causing the frames to sag and crack. We asked experts if taking on the DIY project of painting vinyl windows is the solution.

Can you paint vinyl windows?

Vinyl windows are made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC, a synthetic polymer used to make pipes and fittings for plumbing. In other words, PVC is plastic, so it can be hard to paint.

Reasons not to paint vinyl windows

First, the paint professionals generally advise against it: 'The truth is that no matter how much prep is done and what kind of paint is chosen, no paint will last as long as the original vinyl finish,' says Matt Stone from Hometown Painting. This may cause paintwork to chip and leave it looking unsightly before long.

Second, it can nullify your warranty. Shlomo Cherniak, a handyman and the owner of Cherniak Home Services in Baltimore says that while you can certainly paint vinyl windows, doing so while they are still under the warranty is not the best idea. 'Those kinds of DIYs can void your warranty, which I believe is not worth it,' he comments. So be sure to call your manufacturer and run the paint selection by them before going ahead.

Shlomo Cherniak

Shlomo Cherniak is a handyman and founder of Cherinak Home Services in Baltimore. He has over seven years of experience in home improvement, with him and his team specializing in everything from installing kitchen cabinets to fixing leaky faucets to hanging pictures on the wall.

Zach Kozuch from Bear Mountain Custom Painting highlights various issues you can run into when painting vinyl windows. 'Vinyl doesn't play nicely with paint, and you have to sand it down before you can even get started,' he begins. 

'You also can't really paint over a dark vinyl window frame (forest green, for instance). You can only paint over lighter-colored vinyl frames. If you want to go from dark green vinyl windows to eggshell, for instance, you probably need to buy new windows.' 

Painting frames a darker color will also cause them to absorb more heat, which can cause them to get damaged in warmer weather.

How to make paint last on vinyl

To make your paint last as long as possible on vinyl, pro painter Matt Stone offers up the following advice:

1. Use a bonding primer – this will help the paint to stick to the slick vinyl surface
2. Lightly sand the vinyl window frames first to scuff them up
3. Use a vinyl-safe color – many paint manufacturers will list which colors they recommend for vinyl
4. Use the highest quality paint you can afford
   

'If all this prep is done you should not have to repaint your vinyl window frames any more regularly than the rest of your house,' he says.

After you have finished, neaten things up by getting paint off glass and getting rid of condensation inside windows.

The type of paint to use

'Paint choice is crucial. In general, you should choose a paint that is specifically designed for use on vinyl surfaces,' advises Ray Brosnan of Brosnan Facility Management. 'This type of paint is formulated to adhere to the slick surface of the vinyl and can withstand the expansion and contraction that occurs due to temperature changes.'

For example, you may want to pick a paint from this list by Sherwin Williams.

FAQs

Be patient and give paint plenty of time to dry between coats, and keep hold of the paint you use so you can give the frames a touch-up every now and then to keep them looking their best.