How to save time (and your sanity!) when painting window frames and mirror frames.
Does it feel impossible to paint the trim around your window or mirror without getting paint all over the glass, and sometimes under the frame? It is! But here’s how you can overcome that problem, with one simple product.
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First, a little background. We are in the process of making over our front door and side lights. I can’t wait to show you that, but it’s not quite finished yet. So in the meantime, I thought I’d bring you one of the highlights of this project. I found an amazing time saving hack!
We installed new sidelights in the frame around the door, and I needed to paint both the inside and the outside of the frames. When I tried my best, with my steadiest hand, to paint a clean line on the window frames, I found I couldn’t do it, no matter how hard I tried.
It wasn’t the end of the world, because I could just use a razor later to remove the overpaint. But that took time, and I was dismayed to find that some of the paint bled between the frame and the window, where I can’t reach to clean it. There had to be a better way.
Then I remembered a friend recommended this painting masking liquid to me back when she used it on her home. At the time I thought I could do fine on my own, so I’d probably never use it. But then this project humbled me and I was ready to give it a try.
Let me tell you, I am a believer. This stuff is so easy to use and saves so much time, both on the painting end, and on the cleaning up end. There’s no reason not to use it, and I will be using it anytime I’m painting frames on glass or mirrors.
Here’s how easy it is to use masking liquid for perfect painted window frames:
You’ll need:
First, make sure your window and frame are clean and dust free. Also, ventilate your workspace. This stuff is a little stinky!
Use a brush to paint the masking liquid onto the window, overlapping the frame a little bit. This feels counterintuitive since you’re trying not to get any paint on the glass, but that’s the great part! The masking liquid seals off that tiny space between the frame and glass, so when you paint, nothing will seep under the frame or onto the glass.
Let the masking liquid dry. This won’t take long, maybe 30 minutes to an hour, depending on conditions. You’ll know it’s dry when it turns from a milky color to clear. In the meantime, you can clean your brush with water.
Then paint the frames, without having to think too hard about getting paint onto the glass. Just slap that paint on!
Once the paint dries, use a razor blade to slice a line through the masking layer and paint layer, where the frame meets the glass. Then simply peel the film off the glass.
It’s so satisfying to peel this stuff off after all that work and reveal a super clean, straight paint edge. You can also use the flat edge of the razor blade to clean any extra mask off the glass.
Besides a nice clean paint line and no paint bleeding onto the glass, this stuff helps keep paint from getting trapped under the frame, which you can sometimes see in mirrors or the back of a window. It gives your paint job a much more professional finish, and saves time in the process. Win-win!
Masking Liquid FAQs:
Can you leave the masking liquid on for multiple coats of paint?
Yes. It can go several days and still peel off easily. This is great if you’re doing multiple coats of paint.
Can you spray on the masking liquid?
Yes. In fact, if you’re doing several small panes like a French door, that might be easier. With its water based formula, it’s easy to use in a paint sprayer.
Is this product better than painter’s tape for glass?
So much better! This masking liquid works waaaaaay better than tape for glass. If you’re painting a room or baseboards, stick with tape for edges because this is specifically made for glass. But if you’re painting mirrors or window frames, this is what you want.
Where’s the finished product?
Looking for “after” pics? Stay tuned for the final project, where you can see these nice clean lines in action in the complete front door makeover!
Save Time Painting Window Frames
Time saving trick for painting window frames and mirrors with no hassle and no paint bleed through!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Clean your window frames and ventilate your space.
- Brush masking liquid on window, overlapping the frame a little.
- Let masking liquid dry till clear.
- Paint window frames, without worrying about getting paint on glass!
- Allow paint to dry and recoat if necessary.
- Score the edge of the masking liquid along the window frame and peel off masking liquid and paint. So satisfying!
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