I just can’t have white or beige windows on my home, therefore I was planning on getting wood or Al-clad wood. However, I just noticed that Kolbe windows will sell you their vinyl windows with a “polyurathane coating” in various colors. Seems like “painted” to me.
I need a dark color, so this leads to two questions:
1) Would the “painted” Kolbe windows last?
2) Could I paint another brand vinyl window?
It’s not the paint sticking to the vinyl that I’m worried about- I know that works because I painted some cruddy vinyl storms and it worked fine. What I’m wondering about is adverse effects on the window. I would just get wood, but I’m on a budget here and need it to be energy-star approved to get the fed tax credit and a local $250/window rebate from the state gov’t. The wood windows that meet that standard (Marvin, etc) are spendy.
Thanks
Erik
Replies
Andersen allows painting of their Terratone color vinyl window frames. I've seen it done and paint adheres fine when applied according to instructions.
I would be careful, particularly with a dark color. The rule of thumb with painting vinyl that is going to be exposed to the sun is to paint it no darker than the original color to prevent over heating.
I wouldn't recommend painting a white vinyl window without the approval of the manufacturer or you may end up with a miss shapened, warped piece of vinyl with embedded glass and a manufacturer saying you voided the warranty, your problem.
That was my concern. The Kolbe windows offer a factory paint option, including dark colors, which I was not aware was possible with vinyl.
I have a local distributor coming over tommorow to get some pricing, I might consider it if it significantly cheeper than wood.
ThanksErik
Must be ten years or so back I painted a wooden halfround window covered with a white vinyl trim. Used an oil base forest green stain on the west side of the house away from intense summer heat.
No problems outside of encrusted spider poop.
seeyou invented poop.
Edited 10/6/2009 8:27 pm ET by rez