Exterior Painting in Marietta, GA

Windows are where an exterior paint job is tested hardest. Sills catch rain, glazing putty dries and cracks, and the joints around each frame open a little more every year. When we plan exterior painting in Marietta, the windows often take more preparation per square foot than any other part of the house.

Sills and bottom rails come first

Water sits on a window sill after every storm, and it runs down the glass onto the bottom rail of the sash. That is why paint fails there first, and why soft wood is so often found at sill corners and the lower ends of side casings. Each sill is probed with an awl during the visit; small soft areas can be hardened with a wood consolidant and filled, while a sill that is soft through needs a section replaced or a full new sill.

A sound sill should shed water outward. If it has flattened or tips back toward the house, that is noted, because paint on a sill that holds water will not last long.

Glazing putty on older wood sashes

Older wood windows hold their glass with glazing putty, which hardens and cracks over time. Loose or missing putty lets water reach the wood around the glass. Failed sections are removed, the bare wood is primed, and new glazing compound is applied and given time to skin over before it is painted.

The paint on the putty is carried just slightly onto the glass, a thin line that seals the joint. Any wider smear is scraped off the glass once the paint has dried.

Keeping windows working

A window painted shut is a common complaint after a repaint. Sashes are moved during the job so paint does not bridge the gap between sash and frame, and jamb tracks, weatherstripping and balance hardware are not coated. Locks and lifts are masked or removed.

Vinyl and factory-finished aluminum windows are usually left unpainted. Only the wood trim around them is prepared and painted, with care taken to keep paint off the frames.

Rusty lintels and metal around openings

On brick walls, a steel angle called a lintel spans the top of each window and door opening. When lintels rust, they swell and can crack the brick or mortar above, and rust streaks run down the wall. Surface rust is scraped and wire-brushed, then the steel gets a rust-inhibiting primer before the finish coat. A lintel that has lost significant thickness, or brick that has cracked around it, needs masonry repair rather than paint.

Aluminum storm windows and metal drip caps get attention too. Aluminum is cleaned and, if it is to be painted, primed with a product made for it.

What gets caulked around a window

Gaps between the outer casing and the siding are filled with a paintable sealant that stays flexible, as are cracks at mitered corners. Some joints stay open. Weep holes and drainage slots in window frames are left clear, and the gap above a metal head flashing is not sealed in a way that would trap water behind it. If a window leaks, the source is found first instead of piling caulk on the outside.

Sash colors and sheen

Window sashes are a popular place for an accent. Dark sashes against lighter trim give a crisp outline, while sashes matching the trim keep the look quiet. A semi-gloss finish on sashes and sills wipes clean and sheds water well. On casings with many filled cracks or repaired joints, satin can hide small flaws better than a high sheen.

Windows over porch roofs or on upper floors are reached from planks, roof brackets or a lift, which is worked out during the visit so those windows get the same attention as the ones at ground level.

Marietta permit contact

Marietta is in Cobb County. If window work turns into replacing framing, or the plans grow to include plumbing or electrical changes, check with the City of Marietta Building Division about permits. If you also want rooms freshened inside, see our interior painting services in Marietta.

Window painting questions from Marietta homeowners

Why does paint keep failing on my window sills?

Sills sit nearly flat, so rain and dew rest on them far longer than on walls. Sun then heats the same surface, and the constant wet and dry cycles break down paint quickly. If the sill has flattened, has open joints at the ends, or has soft wood beneath the paint, failure comes even sooner. Repairing the wood, priming bare spots and using a durable enamel all help.

Can vinyl replacement windows be painted a darker color?

It is generally not recommended. Vinyl expands with heat, and darker colors absorb more of it, which can warp frames or make sashes stick. Painting may also affect the manufacturer’s warranty. Some window makers offer approved paints or factory colors, so their instructions are the place to start. Most homeowners leave vinyl frames as they are and choose trim colors that suit them.

Is it normal for paint to overlap onto the window glass?

A very thin overlap is intentional on wood windows with glazing putty. Carrying the paint just past the putty onto the glass seals the joint so water cannot get under the putty. Anything beyond that narrow line is scraped off once the paint has dried. On vinyl or aluminum windows, there should be no paint on the glass or the frame.

Set up a visit for your windows and trim

Reach us at 404-409-4448 to describe your windows, whether they are original wood, replacements or a mix. We can look at the sills, putty and trim, and write an estimate that lists the window repairs separately from the rest of the painting.