When it comes to painting the glasses of your windows, they are different paints that can be used to do so. Painting windows is considered an easy task but you can also choose if you want to temporarily paint the windows, meaning using a paint that is easily removable or you may rather a more permanent solution meaning a long-lasting paint.
There’s also deciding on the color you may want to use to black out the windows. Either way, there may be many reasons you may have to blackout your windows, people tend to blackout their windows to darken a room or for artistic purposes, for example, it’s easy and comes in very handy.
Steps To Blackout Windows With Paint
So, if you would like to give it a try, below we will list some steps on how you can blackout your windows.
Step 1 – Cleaning Your Windows
Making sure your windows are clean will help you achieve a smooth surface when painting. They are many ways to clean your windows from dirt and oils. You can choose a homemade solution which consists of water with a bit of dishwasher and a sponge. Soak the sponge into the solution, squeeze out excess water and scrub the windows, you can do this once or twice, and once done, clean the windows with a clean rag and allow to dry before applying paint.
There is also a natural solution if you’re on a budget, which can be used to assist you with cleaning your windows. This consists of mixing vinegar with water. Depending on the size of your windows, you may not need much of this solution. Mix 50% of water to 50% of distilled vinegar into a container or a spray bottle. Spray your windows and wipe the dirt away with paper towels or a clean cloth.
Another method of cleaning your windows is by using commercial solutions which are specifically designed to clean windows. They come in different shapes or forms, at different prices, and provide a quick cleaning solution. Most of them are known as glass cleaners, simply spray it on your window and use a microfiber cloth to clean away dirt, a paper towel can be used as well.
Step 2 – Masking Your Windows
Masking your windows is an important step to prevent the paint from splattering on the frames of the windows and also to prevent paint from dripping to unwanted areas of your floor. You can also use drop sheets also known as kraft paper to prevent this. It is optional to use painter’s tape to mask the area, these types of tapes provide cleaner lines once removed and are inexpensive but any regular tape will do. For successful masking, simply apply strips of tapes around the window frames until completely covered.
Step 3 – Adding A Primer
Start the painting process by adding a primer to the window. Primers are great in providing good adhesion and making paint durable. Primer paints are also known for protecting the paint from wear and offering a base coat for a smooth application. Whether you use a spray-on method or choose to brush on the primer, applying 1-2 thin coats will do the trick allowing 5-10 minutes in between coats for the primer to dry. Once the primer is added, allow 1-2 hours for the primer to fully dry before applying the blackout paint.
Step 4 – Painting Your Windows
Once your windows are dry with the primer, you can proceed with the painting. When it comes to blacking out the windows acrylic paints are widely recommended since they stick really well to glass and don’t easily rub off. There’s also choosing between water-based paints and oil-based paints which can add some sheen to your windows. There are also different methods to apply the paint to your window, whether you choose to spray paint it on or choose a brush-on method instead.
In this case, we will talk about the most used method to blackout windows which is acrylic paints, they tend to provide full coverage and dry faster. To black out the windows, the color black should be used. Once applying the paint, you can choose to paint the edges first if you’re using a brush-on method, use the brush to paint each corner, painting along the edges of the window so that it is easier to fully paint the entire window. Apply 2-3 thin coats of paint and allow 10-20 minutes in between coats for the paint to dry. Once the paint is fully added, allow up to 24 hours for the paint to completely dry.
If you’re choosing a spray-on method, make sure you shake the can well before using it and that the area is well ventilated as this spraying method is considered to be toxic. Also make sure you’re using protective gear such as masks, goggles, and gloves when manipulating this type of chemicals. start by applying thin coats all over the window from top to bottom or from left to right to ensure full coverage without concentrating on any specific area to avoid paint running.
When it comes to spray painting there is no wrong or right method other than ensuring full coverage. Apply 3-4 thin coats of the spray allowing 5-10 minutes in between coats. You can also choose to add more coats if you considered it necessary depending on how dark you want the paint to be. You may also need to tape kraft paper around the windows to avoid the spray paint from spreading to the walls or to other objects. Once the paint is fully added, allow up to 24 hours for the paint to completely dry, it may also depend on the environmental conditions.
Step 5 – Removing The Masking
Once the paint is fully dry you may remove the masking tape and any kraft paper you may have added around the windows. Blacking out your windows is relatively easy if the right approach is used. They are many other options and materials that can be used to achieve such a goal but painting the windows is definitely considered one of the best and most effective methods to blackout your windows. We hope you found these tips and tricks helpful.
